Coach Cam West and his Tri-Valley football team knew that their Week 12, second-round playoff clash with perennial post-season powerhouse Bloom Carroll would be a tough one – and as it turned out – it sure was.
The Scotties fell to the Bulldogs 20-7 on Friday night, Nov. 4 in Dresden at Jack Anderson Stadium, and exited the Ohio High School Athletic Association state playoffs. Tri-Valley finished the 2022 season with a solid 9-3 overall record.
Bloom Carroll entered the D-III, Region 11 contest with the Scotties averaging over 40 points per contest, but a tough Scottie defensive effort held the high-scoring Bulldogs to just 237 total yards and a pair of end zone visits with two field goals.
But in the end, the host Scotties couldn’t overcome three costly turnovers on offense, as Bloom Carroll advances to Week 13, and a Round 3 state-playoff date with the Muskingum Valley League champion Sheridan Generals.
The rough-and-tumble Bulldogs – whose offensive line averaged a height of 6’4” and a weight of 273 lbs. (opposed to TV’s 6’0, 212 lb. avg) relied on a bruising ground game all season long, led by 6’3”, 225 lb. Ken State recruit Andrew Marshall, who averaged 140 yds. per contest, while their defense held opponents to less than 10 points a game.
But the Scotties held Marshall in check most of the contest as he ran for 101 yards on 15 carries. However, an inconsistent Tri-Valley offense couldn’t crack the Bulldogs defense, as a late fourth quarter 10-yard Drake Durst rushing score was the only points the home team managed in the loss, as a Carter Dinan point-after-touchdown with 1:36 remaining in the contest was the last tally for the Dawgs on the 2022 season.
Tri-Valley’s first drive of the game was thwarted by a Bulldog interception on a trick play by the Scottie offense, and the visitors wasted little time taking advantage of the miscue, as an eventual three-yard rushing TD by BC’s Chase Plantz had the visitor’s up quickly at 7-0, giving the Bulldogs a shot of momentum they would hold the entire night.
Bloom Carroll added a second quarter field goal and took just a 10-0 lead to the halftime lockerroom. But a third period Andrew Marshall short scoring run, and Treyton McKee’s second field goal of the contest late in the quarter saw the Scotties down 20-0 heading to the fourth quarter.
The Scottie offense actually outgained Bloom Carroll in total yards – 282-237 – and were led by quarterback Max Lyall, who finished off a memorable (and record-breaking) sophomore season hitting 15 of his attempted 31 passes for 153 yards with two interceptions. Lyall also rushed for 31 yards on seven carries.
Drake Durst led Scottie rushers with 83 hard-earned yards on 18 carries with a touchdown, Jayden Walker led TV receivers with nine catches for 70 yards, Thomas Williams snared three passes for 23 yards, and Ashton Sensibaugh added a pair of snags for 51 yards.
Senior Jake Slaboden had an interception as well for the Scottie defense, who say good-bye and good luck as well to tough-as-nails senior starters Mason Prouty, Aaron Frueh, Hansel Holmes, Ethan Helms, Thomas Williams, Jayden Walker, and senior offensive lineman Drew Hines.
Post script: Bloom Carroll continued its post season roll a week later, disposing of the 2022 Muskingum Valley League champions Sheridan 17-7 on Friday night, Nov. 11 at host site Lancaster High School’s Fulton Field. Bloom-Carroll took advantage of ill-timed Sheridan turnovers, and sending the Bulldogs to a fourth straight regional championship game – but their first in Division III. The Bulldogs (12-1 and 12-3 in playoff games since 2019) will play Central Catholic League power Columbus Bishop Watterson for a berth in the state semifinal on Friday night, Nov. 18 at St. Francis Desales Alumni Stadium.
