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(MCT) After starting 2-0 and being ranked as high as No. 2 in Class AA, Sissonville fell on hard times, dropping four of its next five contests.

With three games left and the door to the playoffs slowly closing, the Indians emphatically stepped their foot in that closing door Friday night.

Trent Stowers rushed for 144 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns as Sissonville kept its playoff hopes alive with a 72-12 romp over Sherman at Joe Sawyer Field.

“This win was huge,” Stowers said. “It let us know that the hope [of making the playoffs] was still there. We have two more games left. Hopefully we can win those games and make the playoffs.”

Stowers showed he meant business by ripping off a 58-yard touchdown run on Sissonville’s third play from scrimmage, and he added another touchdown in the second quarter on a 5-yard scamper.

“That is by far my best start this year,” Stowers said. “It’s hard to tell what I could have finished with if I were able to stay in the game, but I’m proud of my performance and also that we were able to come out with a win.”

With Sissonville leading 41-0 at the half, Stowers was relegated to bench duty as he watched the reserves finish the game.

Quarterback Austin Crawford contributed with 57 yards passing and two touchdowns for the Indians (4-4). Crawford connected with Nathan Miller for both touchdowns on passes of 10 yards each.

“We just have a great connection,” Miller said. “We always throw together in practice, so our chemistry is good. He just puts the ball there and I make the plays.

“We had to get back on a winning track. It was important that we got to .500 tonight if we wanted to make the playoffs.”

Crawford agreed.

“[Sherman is] a decent team but I think the difference was we came in ready to play,” Crawford added. “I’m just glad we were able to get back on the winning track. We want to make the playoffs, so we are going to have to finish strong.”

• In other Boone County football action, Greenbrier West defeated Van 46-28 and the Scott Skyhawks were on a bye week.

(c) 2012 The Charleston Gazette (Charleston, W.Va.)

Visit The Charleston Gazette (Charleston, W.Va.) at www.wvgazette.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services.

Stats:

Sherman 0 0 6 6 - 12

Sissonville 18 23 19 12 - 72

Siss-Stowers 58 run (kick failed)

Siss-Walker 11 run (kick failed)

Siss-Miller 10 pass from Crawford (kick failed)

Siss-Wilkinson 7 run (Miller pass from Crawford)

Siss-Stowers 5 run (Mowrer run)

Siss-Miller 10 pass from Crawford (Crawford kick)

Siss-Walker 27 run (Crawford kick)

Siss-Wilkinson 8 run (kick failed)

Sher-Clark 58 run (pass failed)

Siss-Moore 75 kick return (kick failed)

Sher-Clark 18 run (pass failed)

Siss-Hicks 82 kick return (kick failed)

Siss-Landis 1 run (kick failed)

Team statistics

Sher Siss

First downs 9 21

Rushes-yards 38-171 38-419

Passes 2-10 6-10

Passing yards 16 93

Had intercepted 1 0

Fumbles-lost 2-0 1-0

Penalties-yards 4-25 1-5

Punts-average 6-33.7 1-11.0