Three Yards and a Cloud of Dust...no make that 7, 8, or 9
West Carrollton, OH — The Valley View Spartans stuck to their running game, sinking the West Carrollton Pirates 46-0 to up their record to 2-0 overall.
The game began in almost similar fashion to the week before when Teddy Buehner fumbled on the first play from scrimmage. The defense however, rose to the occassion and stopped W. Carrollton on 3 and out.
The Spartans then took the ball on their next possession and on just 4 plays scored with 8:15 remaining in the first quarter. Brock Bolen carried the load, scoring the opening TD. The Pirates again went 3 and out with spectacular defensive plays by jr. LB Clint Hanahan.
It was the first play of the Spartan's second offensive series that QB Drew Smith took a snap from center that sailed over his head. Smith rolled out to his left, picked up the errant ball, and without thinking and on the run, made a spectacular pass to Brandon Meyers who raced to mid-field. Two plays later Bolen crossed the endzone for his second TD. The two-point conversion failed putting Valley View up 13-0 with 5:11 left to go in the first quarter.
It wasn't long before the Spartans had the ball back. A Joe Swanson QB tackle and a Hanahan fumble recovery gave Valley View the ball back at the Pirates 25 yard line. Four plays later W. Carrollton would get the ball back on an interception in the endzone, killing the Spartans drive.
Defensively the Spartans owned the first quarter. The Pirates could do nothing but go 3 and out. Again Valley View regains the ball this time scoring on 4 plays with Daniel Gonzalez crossing the goal line for the third score of the evening. A Teddy Buehner pass, on the two point conversion, to Joe Swanson gives Valley View a 21-0 lead with :10 left to play in the first.
The Spartan defensive effort continued to stymie the Pirates. Despite several longer drives, the Valley View "D" would come up with right combination of plays to stop W. Carrollton and force a punt. This was even more apparent late in the fourth quarter when the Pirates moved the ball handily against the j.v squad, deep into Spartan territory, before LB Justin South sacked the Pirate QB, stopping the Pirates on fourth down and sealing a Valley View shutout.
Michael Whaley, whose performance against Franklin drew considerable criticism, rallied to show his critics that they may have been a slight premature in this relatively young season. Whaley's play in the secondary this week was flawless.
Valley View comes back home theis week to open the SWBL with a game against newcomer, Waynesville. The Waynesville Spartans are coming off a lackluster 2000 season and and 0-2 start on the year.
They're only offense against E. Clinton this past week was a field goal. The Valley View Spartan defense could notch their second shutout in a row.
This game could be ugly. The unofficial rankings have Valley View at the number one spot in region 16 and they could just stay there with this week's win. If Jay calls the dogs off early as he did against W. Carrollton, we'll go with a 56-0 outcome.
