by Gregg Meadows | Photo by Dan Vincent
For Coach Cam West and his Tri-Valley football squad, the much-anticipated match-up with unbeaten New Lexington and the Dawgs – on the Panthers’ home turf – was a tale of two halves, for sure.
Luckily for the Scotties, it was the second half that the black-and-gold dominated, in collecting their fourth straight win with a convincing 23-12 win over a very good New Lexington team.
The win propelled the Scotties to 4-1 on the season and 2-0 in Muskingum Valley League play at the mid-way point of the regular season. The victory also saw them likely rise – jumping up four spots – to the top spot in this week’s OHSAA D-III, Regional 11 computer poll — the official poll is released each Tuesday; the trusted Joe Eitel poll has the Dawgs leading the pack with 10.55 points, over second-place Granville (9.15). The top 16 prep teams in Ohio in each division and region following week 10, qualify for the post-season playoffs.
In the New Lex win, the home side of a packed Jim Rockwell Stadium was silenced quickly, as the host Panthers’ first play from scrimmage resulted in a hard hit from TV cornerback Jayden Walker on a NL receiver, knocking the ball loose and into the hands of Scottie lineman Chris Gargasz, who made a heads-up play and rumbled down the sideline to the one-yard line. Hansel Holmes then capped the big turnover one play later, finding the end zone from the wildcat formation, and after a Carter Dinan PAT, TV led 7-0 just 17 seconds into the game.
But that was all the scoring offense the Scotties could muster the rest of the first half, as a costly interception at the goal line on a late first-quarter drive by the Dawgs, resulted in a 99-yard scoring drive from the hosts, whose unsuccessful two-point conversion saw them trailing 7-6 at 10:00 of the second period. Another long scoring drive later in the quarter from the Panthers saw them take the lead 12-7, which they took to the halftime locker room.
Whatever Coach West’s halftime words were to his team, they worked.
The Scottie defense – led by seniors Aaron Frueh, Ethan Helms, Hansel Holmes, Mason Prouty, Thomas Williams, and Jake Slaboden, and sophomores Kam Karns and Chris Gargasz – – shut down New Lex’s high-scoring offense in the third and fourth quarters, allowing just 62 yards in a second-half shutout. Meanwhile, the Scottie offense came alive, scoring twice on QB Max Lyall touchdown tosses of 40 and 31 yards to ‘Mr. Big Play’ – TV receiver and leading scorer Ashton Sensibaugh – then getting a big insurance, last-minute 27-yard field goal from Carter Dinan, as the visiting Scotties held on for the big 23-12 win.
Lyall finished hitting 10 of his attempted 18 passes for 164 yards and two scores, with Sensibaugh leading TV receivers with five grabs and his two scores, while Drake Durst’s steady play included 61 yards rushing to lead Scottie ground gainers. New Lex’s leading rusher Hunter Rose – coming off a 190-yard rushing performance the week before vs West M. – was held to 66 yards on 20 carries. Panther QB Lukas Ratliff led NL going 22-34 for 203 yards and a TD, with Jerek Bragglin’s seven snares for 57 yards leading the hosts receiving corps. TV’s Hansel Holmes punted three times for a hefty 42.3 yard average, with Chris Gargasz and Thomas Williams each adding an interception for the Dawgs. The Scotties were also flagged seven times for 85 yards in the game.
Looking back:
Back on September 9 in South Zanesville at the Maysville Athletic Complex, the Scottie football team won their third straight game with a hard-earned 21-0 shutout win over the host Maysville Panthers, in the conference opener for both MVL ‘Big School’ division member schools.
Once again, the Scotties relied on a gritty defense to keep Maysville at bay and off the scoreboard, surrendering just 123 total yards of offense to the Panthers on their home turf.
Scottie sophomore signal caller Max Lyall connected with TV receiver Jayden Walker on a short 11-yard scoring pass with just 11 ticks left on the first half clock, and a Carter Dinan PAT had the visitors up 7-0 at intermission.
After a scoreless third quarter, Lyall and Walker hooked up again at 8:47 of the fourth quarter from 14 yards out, followed by another Dinan PAT for a 14-0 lead. Tri-Valley added a final late score, when Lyall found Ashton Sensibaugh in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard six-pointer with just 1:49 left in the game. Dinan’s third PAT made the final score 21-0.
Lyall finished 13 for 23 for 165 yards and three scores from his QB spot, with Thomas Williams’ five catches for 60 yards leading the way, (Williams also had an interception) followed by Sensibaugh’s three snares for 61 yards and a score, and Walker’s two scoring grabs as well.
Scottie rushers fared well also, led by Drake Durst’s 13 rushes for 71 yards, followed by Jayden Wallace, who had seven carries and gained 69 yards.
Hansel Holmes punted five times for a 36.8-yard average in the win; Holmes anchored the Dawg defense as well in the shutout win, with plenty of help from Mason Prouty, Ethan Helms, Chris Gargasz, and Aaron Frueh.
September 23 in Dresden at Jack Anderson Stadium, the Scotties and visiting Morgan Raiders will match 4-1 records on Homecoming Night in Scottieland. Morgan defeated Coshocton last Friday night, 31-0 in McConnellsville.
