by Gregg Meadows
Coach Cam West and his football Scotties owned a ten-point halftime lead, but a pair of costly third quarter turnovers proved to be the difference, as the host Granville Blue Aces rallied, then hung on for a 32-29 victory over Tri-Valley on Nov. 3 in a OHSAA state playoff, D-III, Region 11 quarter-final contest at Walter J. Hodges Stadium.
Granville – now 12-0 on the season – advances to the Regional semi-final on Friday, Nov. 10 when they play Bellefontaine, who knocked off previously unbeaten London 35-28 in their Regional quarter-final state playoff contest.
Tri-Valley – which graduates just eight seniors – finished the 2023 season with a 9-3 overall record, won the school’s 13th Muskingum Valley League football title, and a Week 11 state playoff win as well over Buckeye Valley at Jack Anderson Stadium.
The visiting Scotties looked to be in control after two quarters of play, as they headed to the halftime locker room with a 21-11 lead. Scottie junior Carter Dinan gave his team great field position for their first drive of the contest with his 53-yard punt return, setting up a five-yard Jayden Wallace end zone visit. The first of three Bode McCullough’s PATs gave Tri-Valley an early 7-0 lead, just three minutes into the game.
Granville answered with a drive that produced a field goal, but the Scotties then stormed down the field again, capping a scoring drive with an early second quarter 18-yard touchdown run from Wallace for a 14-3 lead. But the host Blue Aces answered the Tri-Valley score with a Beckett Long to Maxton Messner 13-yard scoring strike; a successful two-point conversion saw Granville cut the TV lead to 14-11.
Tri-Valley countered the Blue Aces’ score with another Wallace scoring run for a 21-11 lead, which they took to the halftime locker room, thanks to a late second quarter interception from Scottie senior defensive back Nate Better, that thwarted a Granville scoring drive.
The game turned on Tri-Valley’s first possession of the second half, as a promising drive deep into Granville territory was stopped by an interception by Blue Ace junior Cash Thomas, who returned the pic 65 yards and set up a Granville score on a Beckett Long QB two-yard run that cut into the Scottie lead at 21-18.
Disaster then struck again on TV’s next drive, as a Scottie fumble gave the ball back to Granville, who capitalized with another six-pointer – this one a Beckett Long to Dante Varrasso six-yard scoring hookup that gave the hosts the lead for good at 25-21.
Granville added to their lead with a fourth quarter score – aided by a 30-yard gain on a fourth and one conversion pass and catch from Long to Varrasso, as the hosts led 32-21 with 7:53 left to play.
But the Scotties weren’t done yet, as their ensuing 76-yard, 12 play drive – aided by a big fourth down Lyall to Kade Hindel pass and catch – was capped by a Max Lyall to Keaton Hahn 21-yard scoring hookup. Lyall then hauled in a pass from Hindel and bowled into the end zone for a successful two-point conversion, and with 3:41 still left, visiting Tri-Valley was down just 32-29.
But Tri-Valley never touched the ball again, as the Blue Aces collected a pair of first downs and successfully ran the clock out to get the big win and advance in the OHSAA state playoffs.
Jayden Wallace led the Scotties on offense, scoring three touchdowns and collecting 113 yards on the ground on 19 carries – but 92 of those yards came in the first half. Max Lyall was 18 of 28 through the air for 228 yards and a score, while Kade Hindel led Scottie receivers with 10 grabs for 119 yards, followed by five catches from Wallace good for 47 yards, and Hahn’s three snares for 51 yards. Ashton Sensibaugh closed out his stellar career as a two-way standout with a catch for 14 yards. Hindel also was 2-2 passing for 17 yards.
Tri-Valley outgained Granville in total yards by nearly a hundred yards – 381-287 – with 236 through the air and 145 yards rushing. The Blue Aces were led by Beckett Long, who went 20-33 for 211 yards and two scores, and also rushed for 59 yards on 25 carries and two scores. Standout receiver Dante Varrasso led Granville receivers with eight catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.
In all three of the Tri-Valley’s 2023 losses – Desales, Clinton Massie and Granville – the Scotties outgained their opponent in total yards. But it was costly turnovers and mistakes that cost the black-and-gold in all three of their losses, and none more so than in the heartbreaking Granville defeat. It’s notable as well that the Scotties had a whopping 14 penalties that cost them 121 yards in the Granville playoff loss, while the host Blue Aces were flagged just five times for 35 yards.
Tri-Valley junior Bode McCullough finished his season with an incredible stat for a placekicker – at any level – as the talented left-footer was perfect on the 2023 season for PATs, connecting on all 62 of his attempts.
The Scottie defense in the Granville loss was led by top tacklers Carter Dinan, Drake Durst, Kade Hindel, Ashton Sensibaugh, Chris Gargasz, Logan McClellan, Steyr Rognon, Gavin Spiker, Nate Better and Tanner Newton.
Congratulations and best of luck in the future to the eight departing Scottie football seniors — Jaleel Brown, Tanner Newton, Nick Tolliver, Nate Better, Drake Durst, Ashton Sensibaugh, Austin Osborne, and Erik Neal.
