Three Yards and a Cloud of Dust
Germantown, OH — I think Woody Hayes would have liked what he saw from the Spartans last night, given his "3 yards and a cloud of dust theory." A new era in Valley View football was ushered in by Drew Smith, Brock Bolen (193 yards) and company. You didn't see long bombs for sudden scores. What you did see was a brand of "in your face" football that left many Wildcats looking for the license plate of the truck that just hit them.
The game started out with the Spartans fumbling on their first play, but soon the Wildcats would return the favor. It didn't take long for Bolen to make his presence felt when he broke for 48 yards and then Smith finishing off the drive with a 16 yard pass to Ted Buehner for the first score with 7:26 left in the first quarter. The PAT was added by Justin Givens. The next series saw Tommy Byrd intercept a Franklin pass and then proceed to run over people on his return to the Franklin 37. This ended with a 50 yard FG attempt by Jeremy Partin that fell just short. Franklin was forced to punt and Mike Whaley returned it 82 yards to score with 7 seconds left in the quarter. VV 14 - Franklin 0.
The first score of the second quarter occured when the Franklin punter fumbled in the endzone leading to a safety for the Spartans. Valley View again scored on a 2 yard run by Smith. Another score on a pass from Smith to Buehner was called back on a penalty and VV was forced to punt. Franklin then struck back with a 51 yard pass from Young to Kremer that took them to the 3 yard line, scoring on the next play with 2:22 in the half. VV finished off the half with a 23 yard field goal by Partin. VV 26 - Franklin 7
The third quarter saw a completely different game littered with penalties with neither team able to do much. But on the last play of the quarter, Franklin broke another pass from Young to Longworth that went for 67 yards and a score. The two point conversion was good. VV 26 - Franklin 15
The Spartans seemed re-charged in the fourth. Starting the quarter with a drive from their own 18 yard line and marching 82 yards, that ended in a touch down (in less than 5 minutes) set up by a 21 yard run by Daniel Gonzalez. Smith scdored on a 5 yard run. The Spartan kick off left the Wildcats at their own 8 yard line eventully ending with a Brandon Storer interception. Bolen and company then capitalized on the turnover with a 28 yard touchdown run with 9:18 left in the game.
Franklin marches back but stalls on the Valley View 22 yard line where the Spartans took over on downs. Marching back down the field, Vallye View scored with 2:29 left on a 16 yard run by Smith. The Spartans finished out the game with another interception by Ryan Clark and ran out the clock. Final score Spartans, 47 Wildcats 15.
