by Gregg Meadows
In the long series of gridiron battles between pigskin rivals Tri-Valley and Sheridan, there have been numerous nail-biters, a few blowouts, and even a controversial ending – the infamous ‘Pylon Plunder’ at Jack Anderson Stadium in 2008 when the Generals escaped Dresden with a 22-21 win and MVL title thanks to an overturned call on a winning two-point conversion.
In last season’s annual skirmish, the Generals won by the slimmest of margins – 14-13 – in Dresden at Jack Anderson Stadium on a late fourth quarter score. The victory handed the visiting Generals a Muskingum Valley League ‘Big School division’ title – their 20th conference crown, which is the most in the MVL.
This year’s annual battle was another classic, as the Scotties earned a share of the school’s 13th MVL football title with their thrilling come-from-behind 28-17 win over the host Generals on Friday, Oct. 13 at Paul Culver Jr. Stadium.
Tri-Valley can win the conference big school championship outright with a win on Friday night, Oct. 20 with a victory over visiting – and once beaten – John Glenn on Senior Night at Jack Anderson Stadium. Kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m. with the Senior Night ceremony slated for 6:30.
In the big Sheridan win, the Scotties spotted the host Generals an early 10-0 lead, but the visitors found the end zone twice in the second quarter and led 14-10 at the half. Tri-Valley workhorse tailback Jayden Wallace powered his way to pay dirt with a 15-yard run at 6:49 of the second period to get the Dawgs on the board, then TV QB Max Lyall zipped a sideline pass to Ashton Sensibaugh, who turned the completion into an athletic 38-yard score with just 59 seconds left for his team’s intermission advantage.
Back came the Generals in the third quarter however, as SHS rusher Justin Munyan capped a long drive by the hosts with a short scoring plunge that gave the lead back to his team at 17-14 at 4:32 of the third period. TV got the ball back and started what would be their winning drive late in the quarter. Aided by a big fourth down fake punt and first down run from Erik Neal, the Scotties score their go-ahead points on an 11-yard strike from Lyall to Senisbaugh at the 9:05 mark of the fourth quarter.
Tri-Valley relied on its stingy defense the rest of the way to stop the Generals, while the offense capped the contest on a late 6-yard scoring run from Wallace. Bode McCullough’s fourth PAT of the night gave the Dawgs their winning 28-17 margin, and much cause to celebrate their share of the conference crown.
Wallace led the winners with his yeoman effort of 30 carries for 143 yards and a pair of scores, Sensibaugh led TV receivers with three grabs for 57 yards and two scores, Keaton Hahn added three snares (including a beauty of a first half sideline catch), Wallace had two catches, and Erik Neal a big grab for 22 yards as well. Lyall finished a most efficient 11/20 for 135 yards and two scores. TV outgained SHS in the total yards dept. as well – 290 to 206.
Defensively for the Dawgs, Kam Karns led TV tacklers with eight stops, followed by Carter Dinan who was credited with six tackles (and a big interception), then plenty of help from Drake Durst, pass-rusher Chris Gargasz, and fellow Scottie defensemen Nate Better, Kade Hindel, Logan McClellan, Tanner Newton, Gavin Spiker, and Ashton Sensibaugh.
In Week 8 action for the football Scotties, host Tri-Valley outscored visiting Philo by a 52-35 count in front of a packed house at Jack Anderson Stadium Oct. 6 on Hall of Fame Night.
The host Scotties posted a pair of first quarter scores to take a 14-0 lead at the first break thanks to a Max Lyall to Erik Neal 12-yard hookup and a Jayden Wallace 43-yard streak to paydirt.
An entertaining second period of action saw Tri-Valley and Electrics combine for 35 points, with the host Scotties getting a Lyall to Keaton Hahn 12-yard connection (an athletic grab for sure), a Tanner Newton one-yard run, then a sensational score for the home team on the last play of the first half, as Lyall lofted a perfect pass to the corner of the end zone that Hahn leaped high for and brought down for the score. Bode McCullough’s fifth PAT of the game saw the home team post 35 points by intermission, but Philo slid into halftime with 14 points, thanks to a one-yard score by QB Talon Preston, and a spectacular 70-yard scoring run from Preston as well.
Lyall found Hahn yet again for a 25-yard scoring completion at 8:20 of the third quarter, but the pesky Electrics got another six-pointer from their QB on a three-yard run, as TV took a 42-21 lead into the fourth quarter.
Both offenses were far from done however, as the black-and-gold saw Lyall team with Jayden Wallace for a 24-yard score at 11:49, then a 27-yard field goal from McCullough that accounted for Tri-Valley’s 52-point total. Meanwhile the Electrics cashed in a pair of fourth frame big plays, a 73-yard scoring hookup between Talon Preston and Seth Henning, and another long scoring run – this one 80 yards – from QB Preston to round out the scoring for the final 52-35 tally.
Max Lyall’s big night saw the tall and talented junior Scottie signal caller complete 19 of his attempted 28 passes for 265 yards and a hefty five scores. Jayden Wallace led all rushers with a big night on the ground – 192 yards on 24 totes of the pigskin – and a score, while grabbing two Lyall aerials for 32 yards and a score as well. Keaton Hahn led Scottie receivers with six catches for 95 yards and three TDs, with Erik Neal adding five grabs for 56 yards and a score as well. Bode McCullough was 7-7 on PATs, and kicked a field goal.
Talon Preston led Philo with 189 yards rushing from his QB spot, while throwing for 99 yards and a score as well.
The Tri-Valley defense was led by top tacklers Kam Karns, Logan McClellan, Tanner Newton, Chris Gargasz, Ashton Sensibaugh, Gavin Spiker, Nathan Better, Boston Smith, Carter Dinan, and Landon Clapper.
Photo by Dan Vincent.
