Valley View Overcomes Weather, Defeats Bulldogs, 44-0
Germantown, OH (September 27, 2003) As the Spartans and their fans traveled the long route to Milton-Union, the fans knew it was game that would be powerful. Just as the players took the field lighting struck behind the school, and at that point everyone knew it was going to be a long wait.
The monsoon came and eventually the game was rescheduled for Saturday. As the people exited the stadium they saw the small river growing in the middle of the field and could only wonder what it would look like the next day.
Valley View coach Jay Niswonger knew that getting pumped up for a game like this one, and then having to wait couldn't be good, but the team pulled through and played well, recording a 44-0 win to move to 6-0 overall and 1-0 in league play.
"It's hard to get all geared up and when youšve got all the adrenaline going and then you have to come back to a field, well a field that's good for just having three inches of rain."
Saturday came and the fans returned.
The game started out slow, but began to speed up when Spartan QB Teddy Buehner threw a short pass to Ross Peters. Peters hugged the ball, sprinting towards the endzone. The extra point was good and the Spartans began the scoring, 7-0.
Throughout the first quarter the Spartans defense continued to hold Milton-Union to three and out with some nice tackles by Trey Weidle, Josh Deeter and Andrew Pritchett.
The Bulldogs began their second possession on their own 35, running the ball down field only to be smashed near the sidelines by Weidle. Corey Reed stopped the next attempt to rush and on the following play Stephen Moyer plowed into a Bulldog contender, pushing him back five yards, the Bulldogs were now at their own 40. Then on the next play there was a long, way long, snap and the Bulldogs were pushed back, again, to their own 11. On third-and-50, Craig Burtonstopped their last hopes with a great tackle and moving them farther away from their goal.
Valley view took the ball on Milton-Union's 32 and drove it 12 yards after two runs, by Bolen (5) and Clark (7). Following the drives, Buehner's pass was incomplete and the Spartans came to their fourth down with still four to go. On the next play, Buehner pulled back to pass, while Bolen slammed down a competitor, who was attempting a sack, and Buehner threw a bomb to Clark. Bolen drove in an extra three yards and Buehner threw to Peters, who in turn dodged the Bulldogs and ran into the endzone. The play was a de ja vu from the first touchdown in the game.
Valley View attempted to kick for the extra point, but, because of pressure from the Bulldogs, Buehner gripped the ball and went for the endzone, for the two-points.
The second half began with possession in Milton-Union's corner, but that soon changed when Weidle intercepted the Bulldog's at the 34-yard line. Bolen was in charge during this possession as he rushed for 26 yards on four separate plays, including an eight yard run into the endzone. Clark contributed with a two yard run and a six yard pass from Buehner.
Once again Milton-Union couldn't maintain their possession as Bobby Minor recovered a fumble on the Bulldogs 24. Bolen again took control, driving through the line of scrimmage and swinging left into the endzone to make the score 35-0.
The Bulldogs had the ball again, but the Spartan defense was just too strong. Brad Osborn, Deeter, and Reed refused to allow even a two-yard gain and the Bulldogs punted.
On their next possession the Spartans struggled on four offensive plays and gave the ball back to the Bulldogs. but the Spartans didn't easy for them. Buehner ensuing punt went to the three yard-line and with Valley View's strength defensively they pushed teh Bulldogs back into the endzone for a safety. The score became 37-0, with 2:19 left in the quarter.
Bolen drove down the field, off the free kick, to the Milton-Union 33-yard line. Nick Alldred bobbled Buehner's pass for a second before taking full control and running in for the touchdown. The xtra point was good, making the score 44-0.
Niswonger was happy for the win, but felt they could've played harder, offensively. "I wasn't pleased with some of the stuff offensively, we didn't do a lot up front," Niswonger said.
Defensively the Spartans were unstoppable and Niswonger saw them pushing extra hard during practice. "Defensively they challenged us all week, saying that their defense was as good as ours," Niswonger added, alluding to a Dayton Daily News article.
On Friday, the Spartans' return to their home turf for Senior night, as they host Preble Shawnee.
