by Gregg Meadows
After a closely played first half, Coach Cam West’s Tri-Valley football team came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, as the Scotties shutdown visiting New Lexington 24-0 in the final two quarters for a big 38-8 win over the Panthers on Homecoming Night at Jack Anderson Stadium.
It looked like the host Scotties were going to take a 14-0 lead into the halftime locker room, after a first quarter Max Lyall touchdown pass to Jayden Walker, then another Lyall scoring toss – this one a spectacular 60-yarder six-pointer right before the half, that saw senior standout receiver Ashton Sensibaugh leap high to make a great grab, then outrun a Panther defender to paydirt.
But some last second slight-of-hand from visiting New Lex saw the black and orange cover a quick 85 yards to find the end zone in just two plays, as Bentley Hanson hauled in a 16-yard scoring strike from Isaiah Stephens, and Hanson hit Jeric Braglin for the two-point pass to slice the home team lead to 14-8 at intermission.
But it was all Tri-Valley the rest of the way, as a Max Lyall TD toss to Ashton Winner at 9:35 of the third quarter upped the home team margin to 21-8, then a fourth quarter 19-yard Bode McCullough field goal, followed by another Lyall to Sensibaugh scoring hook-up and a Kade Hindel QB sneak with 3:39 left closed the door on the visitors for the final 38-8 decision.
Lyall finished with some big numbers, hitting on 16 of his attempted 28 passes for 274 yards and four touchdowns, while Scottie standout tailback Jayden Wallace put up some big numbers of his own, rushing for 199 yards in 25 carries and hauling in six of Lyall’s aerials for another 112 yards and a score. Ashton Sensibaugh led Scottie receivers with seven catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Bode McCullough was perfect on the night, going 5-5 on PATs with a 19-yard field goal ‘to boot.’
Tri-Valley held a 478-264 edge in total offense with 204 yards on the ground and 274 through the air.
Defensively for the Dawgs, they were led by Boston Smith’s 6.5 tackles (the .5 is an assisted tackle) with an interception as well, Jaleel Brown’s 5.5 tackles, Gavin Spiker’s five tackles, then: Kam Karns (4.5 tackles), Drake Durst (3.5), Carter Dinan (3.5), Nathan Better (3.5 tackles and an ‘assist’ on an interception), Ashton Winner (3), Kaden King (3), Chris Gargasz (3 with a sack), Logan McClellan (3 with 1.5 sacks), Ryan Lamonica (2 with an interception), and Erik Neal (2 with a sack).
New Lex, now 2-3 on their season, was led by Carson Kellogg, who ran 17 times for 57 yards and also caught five passes for New Lex; NL QB Isaiah Stephens connected on 13 of 22 passes for 184 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Braglin and Hanson caught three passes apiece.
This Friday night, Sep. 22, Tri-Valley travels to McConnellsville – and then some – as the Scotties play Morgan at the Raiders new stadium and field – on their high school property, just south of town. Kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
Last Friday night, Sep. 8 in the Muskingum Valley League opener at Jack Anderson Stadium in Dresden, the Scotties defeated the visiting Maysville Panthers by a 38-13 count to even their record to 2-2.
After a so-so – and admittedly deceptive – 1-2 start to the season, Tri-Valley perhaps felt like they had something to prove against the invading Panthers, who entered Jack Anderson Stadium with an identical 1-2 mark.
And the Scotties wasted little time in setting the tone for their conference lid-lifter, as a 42-yard Max Lyall to Jayden Walker first quarter connection produced the game’s first score, then Bode McCullough followed up his PAT with another boot through the uprights – this one a 29-yard field goal for a 10-0 home team lead at the first break.
Second quarter action saw the Scotties pile on the points thanks to a Lyall to Ashton Sensibaugh 24-yard scoring hook-up, a 48-yard Jayden Wallace rushing romp, then an athletic 20-yard end-zone grab by TV junior talent Kade Hindel of a Lyall toss for six points right before halftime, as McCullough’s third PAT of the period gave the home team a 31-7 lead at intermission.
The only points scored in the second half was a fourth quarter Max Lyall to Kam Karns 25-yard touchdown pass-and-catch followed by a McCullough PAT, and a second score from Maysville’s Todd Saxton for the final 38-13 verdict.
Max Lyall passed for 242 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Scottie offense and Jayden Wallace ran for 135 yards in 16 carries to lead all rushers. Wallace led TV receivers as well with six grabs for 81 yards and a score, while Sensibaugh latched on to three Lyall aerials for 60 yards and a six-pointer, and Keaton Hahn hauled in five catches for 50 yards.
Tri-Valley held a 360-225 edge in total yards and held Maysville to 5-of-15 on third down conversions. Carter Dinan also had an interception for the winners. Maysville quarterback Matt Harper finished the game 13 for 26 for 139 yards to lead the Panthers.
Photos by Matthew Dotson, Dresden Buzz
