SPRINGDALE–A squeaky-tight, competitive contest was broken open in the fourth quarter when the Pomeroy Pirates–on the legs of quarterback Brandon Bales–rallied with three touchdowns for a 60-38 non-conference win over Mary Walker here Friday, October 11.

The win was the third straight after the Buccaneers sustained three losses at the start of the season. Pomeroy travels to St. John Friday to face St. John-Endicott-LaCrosse, kickoff at 7 p.m.

The Pirates were trailing 38-36 when the third quarter ended and the Pirate defense had its hands full with the Chargers. Bales moved the offense to the five where he punched one in for the go-ahead score with 7:22 on the clock. After Bales ran the extra point, Pomeroy took the lead 44-38 and never looked back.

Bales got away from Mary Walker defenders on their next possession, scrambling 50 yards for the touchdown and a 52-38 lead after again running in the PAT. Bales put the exclamation point on the game by slashing through the defense for a 45-yard touchdown with under a minute to play. Bales’s pass to Jakob Blackly on the point after was good for the 60-38 final.

Bales completed nine of 14 passes for 64% and three touchdowns in addition to rushing for 218 yards on 21 carries and four touchdowns. He snagged a Springdale pass on defense as well.

Pomeroy’s leading receiver was Trent Gwinn with three catches for 76 yards. Devon Noffsinger caught two passes for 48 yards and one touchdown.

The Pirates took the first lead with a Bales five-yard run but the Chargers scored with :40 remaining to tie it 6-6. Mary Walker got the ball back and scored on a 32-yard Ethan Penland ramble, with the two-point conversion, led 14-6 after one quarter.

Byron Stallcop’s 13-yard reception in the end zone, with Bales’s two-point conversion, knotted it 14-14, and the Bucs came right back with another Bales-to-Stallcop connection to take a 22-14 lead with 8:15 on the clock.

Mary Walker’s Avery Kitt and Penland scored next putting the Chargers up 26-22 with under three minutes to play in the half. But the Pirates weren’t finished: Bales found Devin Noffsinger open for a 37-yard scoring play, and Gwinn’s extra point put the Pirates up 30-26.

Then it was MW’s turn. Quarterback Brandon Sinclair hit Penland for a 71-yard touchdown and a 32-30 lead over the Buccaneers at halftime.

Defensive adjustments held the Chargers to just six points in the second half while Trent Gwinn and Bales tallied four touchdowns to put the game out of reach.

Gwinn and Stallcop were tackle leaders with eight each; Bales and Maves made five solo tackles, and Blachly, Slaybaugh and S. Bales each made four.

Pomeroy 60, Mary Walker 38

Pom 6 24 6 24-60

MW 14 18 6 0-38

Pom-Bales 5 yd run. Run failed.

MW-Penland 9 yd run. Kick failed.

MW-Penland 32 yd run. Houghton run.

Pom-Stallcop 13 yd pass from Bales. Bales run.

Pom-Stallcop 4 yd pass from Bales. Noffsinger run.

MW-Kitt 16 yd run. Run failed.

MW-Penland 50 yd run. Kick failed.

Pom-Noffsinger 37 yd pass from Bales. Gwinn run.

MW-Penland 71 yd pass from Sinclair. Run failed.

MW-Penland 63 yd run. Run failed.

Pom-Gwinn 8 yd run. Run failed.

Pom-Bales 5 yd run. Bales run.

Pom-Bales 50 yd run. Bales run.

Pom-Bales 45 yd run. Blachly pass.

Pom MW

First Downs 25 16

Fumbles-Lost 2-2 3-3

Interceptions 2 1

Penalties-Yds 4-25 3-15

Punts 0 0

Total Offense 480 427

Passing 169 93

Rushing 311 344

Individual Stats

Rushing-Pomeroy: Bales 21-218, 4 TDs; Gwinn 13-75, 1 TD; Noffsinger 5-29; Knuteson 1-(-11). MW: Penland 20-218, 4 TDs; Kitt 11-57; 3-48; 3-11.

Passing-Pomeroy: Bales 9/14-64%, 169 yds, 3 TDs, 2 Int. MW: Sinclair 1/4-25%, 71 yds, 1 TD, 1 Int.

Receiving-Pomeroy: Gwinn 3-76 yds; Noffsinger 2/-48 yds, 1 TD; Slaybaugh 2-28; Stallcop 2-17. MW: Penland 1-71 yds, 1 TD; Kitt 1-19; Fuentes 1-3.