Senior wide receiver Jon Gidney (13) races for Jefferson's second touchdown after a pass reception from quarterback Sammy Roberts. David Pennock

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION — In the middle of Frankfort’s scorched-earth scoring blitz of Jefferson, it was easy to see how unbeaten teams can shed early-game troubles and use their hard-won confidence and patience to make a game-saving comeback.

The Falcons from Mineral County came to Shenandoah Junction with a 4-0 record, after breathing continued life into their 2020 season with a 21-20 win in overtime against Spring Mills in late September.

Jefferson pounced on the Falcons, taking a 13-0 lead and sending hope through the home side’s stands.

But then Frankfort flew back. Scoring 28 consecutive points, the Falcons rose from the deficit to eventually claim a 28-19 win and move their record to 5-0 overall.

Now 1-3 overall after playing three of four games at home, Jefferson is scheduled to travel west to Monongalia County to see just-starting University High. The Hawks actually opened their season last Friday with a 31-point first quarter that led them directly to a 46-14 win over Albert Gallatin High of Uniontown (Pennsylvania).

Jefferson tight end Caysen Lanza (7) pulls in a pass in the first half of Jefferson's game against Frankfort. David Pennock

Virtually owning the early minutes of the coolish night, Jefferson was denied points when Frankfort’s Luke Robinertte intercepted a pass inside his five-yard line. Once more Jefferson threatened, but the gritty Falcons blunted a fourth-and-goal Jefferson miss to keep the scoreless tie in motion.

The third Jefferson scoring move proved to be the charm, when quarterback Sammy Roberts completed his first of three scoring passes. Spencer Powell’s five-yard pass catch gave the Cougars a 7-0 lead just before halftime.

When Roberts connected with Jon Gidney on a 47-yard scoring play, the Cougars had themselves a short-lived 13-0 lead.

Frankfort was at its confident best, when it marched 97 yards and halved its deficit on Colton McTaggart’s short scoring run.

Before it stopped scoring, the late-blooming Falcons notched another 21-straight points.

Jansen Moon sent the Falcon sidelines into a raised-arms upheaval when his short scoring bolt gave Frankfort a 14-13 lead, with only seconds left in the third period.

The next Frankfort points came, when Peyton Clark intercepted a pass and returned it about 50 yards, to increase the Falcons’ advantage to 21-13.

With its defense getting control and stopping Jefferson on downs, Frankfort lit the scoreboard again — this time for its 28th consecutive point — on Cole Hiett’s six-yard run.

It was already 28-13 when the Cougars managed their third score, making it 28-19 on Roberts’ third TD throw that came with only 40 seconds to play.

This week’s Jefferson opponent University High was able to finally play a game last Friday when it started very quickly against Albert Gallatin. With the COVID-19 Pandemic running rampant in Monongalia County for so long, the Hawks could not play any games.

Frankfort, a Class AA school near Cumberland, Md., wiped out its early-game deficit and went on a scoring tear emblematic of its unbeaten status and ability to find another way to stay unblemished.