Spartan Defense Ultimately Contains Mohawks
Middletown, OH (September 12 2003) Valley View amassed 586 total yards on their way to steamrolling the Madison Mohawks, 74-12, in SWBL crossover play Friday night.
The Spartans faithful were treated to a passing camp exhibition as QB Teddy Buehner connected on seven of nine passes for 237 yards. His first completion coming on a 55 yard touchdown pass to Senior Nick Alldred with only 35 seconds into the game.
Senior Ross Peters grabbed two other passes for touchdowns, one of which saw Buehner scrambling in the backfield to escape the rushing Mohawk linesmen before spotting the wide-open Peters downfield. Peters finished the night with three catches for 116 yards.
Despite the loss of another offensive linesman, Senior Brock Bolen (picked this week as the number one fullback recruit by ESPN's Tom Lemming) was able to rush for 211 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries.
"The front line hasn't been very lucky this year," commented long-time Spartan trainer, Nikki Barnhart. Senior lineman Nick Burns had to leave the game with an injured knee, adding him to the list with center Luke Casto who was hurt in the opening drive against Troy in week 2. Casto could return as early as this week against Brookville.
The Spartan defense continues their on and off performance, allowing the Mohawks 324 yards on the ground. The bulk of those came from outstanding performances by senior running back Tyler Plumbo (88 yards, 14 carries) and QB Justin Meade (92 yards, 17 carries).
The Spartan defense however, continued to hold tough in the red zone, denying the Mohawks on four tries that helped keep the score to only 12 points. An tipped pass for an interception on Madison's opening drive and a fumble on the one yard line prevented another-wise talented Mohawk team from capitalizing on against a sluggish Spartan defense.
It's hard to complain about a defense that has held opponents to a seven points-per-game average. The true test comes during the last three games of the season when they meet Eaton, Bellbrook, and Oakwood and what and hopefully becomes a tune-up for the playoffs.
Who's Next
Brookville comes to Barker Field in week 5 in what is shaping up to be an old-fashion butt-whipping. The Blue Devils are coming off a loss to Milton-Union at home, where they could only muster a field goal. The Brookville AD will have certainly have a statement later in the week accusing the Bulldogs of some imaginary espionage.
Coach Niswonger will be going for his 200th career win and what better way to do it than at Barker Field where the Spartans last regular season loss was to the Blue Devils.
Valley View hadn't lost a regular season home game since 1991 and Brookville put an end to that streak the last game of the 2000 season with a 17-14 victory. The Spartans went on to the State semi-finals despite the minor setback.
Valley View will be looking to settle that score along with some other insidious Blue Devil hijinx. The fans will be pumped. The players will be pumped. And the coaching staff will be pumped. We don't give Brookville a chance, giving Niswonger his 200th win, rolling over 75+ to nothing.
