GLENHAYES, W.Va. - Out from the flames, the Rebels arose.

It is likely the only way to describe the scene from Wilts Salmons Athletic Complex on Friday night after Tolsia earned a 28-21 win over Point Pleasant, who was a preseason Class AA top-10 team in state-wide polls.

One week after being defeated 53-0 on the same field by Magnolia - another top team in Class AA - the Rebels got the game-winning touchdown when 6-3, 270-pound tight end Virgil Salmons hauled in a 35-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Copley with 41 seconds to go.

The play not only gave the football team its first win of the season, but also the program's first win since fire ripped through the football team's field house last October, literally destroying every single memory in the 22 years of football at the school.

The Rebels haven't been the same on the field since.

The healing process has been slow and so has the rebuilding of the facility that was ravaged by arson.

Just how difficult has it been?

Before Friday, Tolsia had played in five games, losing all five by a combined score of 211-45. Prior to the fire last year, the Rebels were sitting at 4-2 and in contention to make the Class AA playoffs.

I'll never forget the scene as I went to cover that fire last year.

Charred team pictures and the smell of burnt plastic from game films that had been melted filled the air outside while tears and awkward silence filled the school's atmosphere inside.

Tears were once again prevalent on Friday night, but these were tears of a different kind.

These were tears that helped quench a fire that had been burning in the hearts of the Rebels for the last 11 months.

HONOR ROLL: There were several solid performances in the high school ranks over the weekend.

Here are a few of the top performances from the area:

-n- Anthony Evans, Spring Valley - After being limited to one yard rushing in the first half, Evans exploded for 132 yards in the game, including a 64-yard score in the Timberwolves' 12-10 win over the Highlanders.

-n- Jacob Copley, Tolsia - Copley threw for two scores and rushed for another pair of TDs in the Rebels' 28-21 win over Point Pleasant. Copley hit Virgil Salmons on a 35-yard scoring strike for the game-winner with 41 seconds left.

-n- Josh Thompson, Hurricane - Thompson rushed for 105 yards and two scores on 14 carries in the Redskins' 35-0 win over Nitro.

-n- Chad Fisher, Fairland - Fisher ran for 142 yards and threw for another 84 in the Dragons' 13-6 loss to Meigs. Fisher scored Fairland's lone touchdown on a 25-yard run in the fourth.

-n- Larry Brandon, South Point - Brandon scored on a pair of second-quarter touchdown runs and ended the evening with 107 yards on 18 carries in the Pointers' 48-20 win over Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Can.).

-n- Evan Herrell, Symmes Valley - Herrell rushed just six times, but gained 144 yards, including a 96-yard scoring run, in the Vikings' 43-0 win over River Valley.

-n- Tyler Farley, Raceland - Farley opened the game with a 72-yard scoring toss and finished 11-of-14 for 260 yards and five touchdowns in the Rams' 49-14 win over Fleming County.

-n- Sam Hunter, Ashland - Hunter had 300 all-purpose yards and four scores in the Tomcats' 36-22 win over Belfry. He went 9-of-14 for 138 yards and two touchdowns through the air while rushing for 162 yards and a pair of touchdowns as well.

-n- Corey Lyle, Greenup County - Lyle had 199 yards on 22 carries with a pair of scoring runs in a 28-7 win over Portsmouth Notre Dame.

Grant Traylor is a sports writer for The Herald-Dispatch. He can be reached via E-mail at gtraylor@herald-dispatch.com or by phone at (304) 526-2759. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/granttraylor

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