Tri-Valley Ends Southern’s Come-back Season

Written by: Shawn Weller on Saturday, December 5th, 2009. Follow Shawn Weller on Twitter.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN: In a game that seemed to have a bit of everything, the Bulldogs of Tri-Valley come up big, downing the Southern Columbia Tigers 35-32 in the single A State Quarter-final.

The game started normally enough, with both teams testing each others’ strengths and weaknesses. Tri-Valley received the opening kick-off and were held to only a one-yard gain before punting to Southern at the Bulldog 42. With excellent field position, the Tigers began to march when, on 3^rd & 10, quarterback Jake Townsend attempted his first pass of the night. It was a short pass completed to Billy Shoop who has it almost immediately stripped away at the Bulldog 29. The Tiger defense was able to get the ball punted back, but it pinned Southern at their own 10 yard-line. Unable to connect on a 3^rd & 5 pass, Southern then punted back to Tri-Valley at the Bulldog 40. At this point in the game, it looked as if it would be a defensive struggle, with neither team putting up big numbers offensively. But, looks can be deceiving.

Four plays into their drive, Matt McGinley hit Matt Helper for the 43-yard go-ahead score. The Tigers didn’t help themselves much on their next possession, throwing an interception to Brandon Auman at his 45 yard-line. With two turn-overs killing two of the first three drives, the Tiger defense needed to come up big – and the did. After stalling a 10-play 52-yard drive inside the red-zone, at the eight, sophomore Matt Moore came around the end to block the fieldgoal attempt. Southern recovered the ball at the 26.

This time, a 12-play, 74-yard drive would end with Townsend finding Jake Morton for an eight yard touchdown reception, knotting the score at seven each. The Tiger defense forced another 3 & out series, giving SC possession at their 43. Two plays later Morton Rumbled 46 yards and was tripped-up just short of the goal-line at the three. The next attempt by Morton was stopped at the two. Next Morton dove over the pile and looked to break the plane, but, after a delayed call, the ball was spotted at the one. This time Townsend called his own number and pushed his way across the goal-line. However, after he was across, a teammate pushed him further into the end-zone and was called for assisting the runner. The poor call forced Southern to settle for a field-goal and a 3-point lead at 10 -7. They held that score until half-time.
Receiving the kick-off to open the second half, Southern increased their lead to 17-7 on an eight-play 67-yard drive, capped by a 30-yard touchdown pass from Townsend to Tim Benner. Tri-Valley would not be intimidated by the ten point deficit, and they answered right back with a five-play 68-yard drive of their own. McGinley connected with Auman for a 32-yard touchdown pass, cutting the lead to 17-14.
Southern was then held to a second 3 & out in the game while momentum built for Tri-Valley. A 49-yard toss to Tanner Troutman netted a 1^st & 10 at the 12.McGinley finished it off, punching it in from the two yard marker, retaking the lead at 21-17. Early in the fourth quarter Southern had an opportunity when Kieth Day recovered a fumble, but they failed to capitalize as the Bulldog defense swarmed the ball-carriers and forced the Tigers to two more 3 & out series.
Tri-Valley continued to turn up the heat in what became a wild final quarter. Utilizing the option, they took advantage of Southern’s inability to tackle Wyatt Straub. After a 42-yard gain on an option pitch to Straub, McGinley then kept the option and scored easily from the 15. Things now looked bleak for the Tigers, down by two scores with eight minutes left in the contest. However, Benner was having a carer night and got his team great field-position at their 45 on the ensuing kick-off return. From there Morton caught a short pass and, with little room to run, pitched it back to Cody Rosenburger, netting 16 yards to the Bulldog 39. On the next play Morton broke tackles and rumbled into the end-zone, cutting Tri-Valley’s lead to 28-24.

The tenacious Bulldogs had plenty of fight left in them, as they marched off 73 yards on seven plays, capped by a 21-yard pass to a wide-open Bowman. With the score 35-24 and only 3:51 on the clock, Tri-Valley was in command. But Benner, once again, fought his way close to mid-field on the kick-off return. This set up a 35-yard gain by Morton to the Bulldog 25. Townsend then, under heavy pressure, lobbed the ball to a leaping Benner for the score. A two-point conversion run by Morton brought the Tigers to within a field-goal with 3:11 left to play.

The excitement continued when senior kicker, B J Snyder, kicked a textbook on-side kick which was recovered by Moore. The Tigers still had life, and they clawed their way down-field into field-goal range, chewing up precious time off the clock. Here an official threw a flag for holding away from the play, which placed Southern at the 32. Tri-Valley stopped Morton for a short gain at the 29, where Townsend was forced to spike the ball and bring up a 4^th & 12 – and a big decision. Coach Roth decided not to put the pressure of a 46-yard, game-tying field-goal attempt of 46 yards on BJ Snyder’s shoulders. A fourth-down pass attempt fell incomplete and an elated Bulldog squad got the ball on downs to end the game. A better game of high school football is seldom seen. This time, two battle-tested teams slugged it out for 48 minutes. Tri-Valley(10-4) just wanted it a little bit more. They will take in the winner of Saturday’s Millersburg – Bishop McCort match-up in the state semi-final.

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7 Responses to “Tri-Valley Ends Southern’s Come-back Season”

1. Paul says:
   December 9th, 2009 at 4:49 pm

   Still have to look back at the final score and wonder what the outcome would have been if that horrible call was not made in the first half.

2. Bob Thomas says:
   December 7th, 2009 at 3:01 pm

   No matter what kind of calls were made throughout this game it was still 48 minutes of football, where the better team has to face adversity and rise above it and the bulldogs played the better game and deserved this win.

3. Jess Henninger says:
   December 7th, 2009 at 1:16 pm

   Awesome win and a great game well played! It’s nice when credit is given and good playing is recognized! It was a game well played on both sides of the ball. Southern gave us a run down to the last second. But the Tri-Valley Offense could not be stopped (almost 500 yards!)and the Black Swarm D played a great game and stepped up BIG when needed. GO DAWGS!

4. Brian says:
   December 7th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

   I agree again a great game, tri valley deserved to win, sca fought to the end, it is a shame the officials felt necessary to have an impact on a game played by kids. i mean its not like snyder would’ve made the 40 yd attempt, he did make a 42 yd fg earlier in the season, but not with that kind of pressure. I agree the assisting the runner call was bogus because it never gets called, even though it is in the rules. i also saw the officials hand go up for a TD and 2 seconds later the flag came, so even if he was pushed it was after he already broke the goal line. the convenient holding call was poor too. I would like to know what district those officials were in during the season. anyway, sca didn’t lose the game because of those 2 calls, they lost because they couldn’t stop tri valleys offense in the 2nd half. give credit to the tri valley coaches for preparing a great game plan and for the players who executed it almost flawlessly.

5. Glenn Weller says:
   December 6th, 2009 at 11:29 am

   Just like the game at North Schuykill’s stadium ten years ago, or some of the games back in the 80’s, this was a fun game to watch. Both teams showed a “no quit” attitude right up to the very end. It was just ashame that the officials felt the need to inject their influence, especially at the very end, taking away BJ Snyder’s opportunity to tie it with a field goal, by a convenient holding call, taking SC out of range.

6. paul stanziale says:
   December 6th, 2009 at 12:41 am

   It was a great battle to the end. Taking nothing away from a very good Tri Valley, who did a great job with handling a school whos’ history speaks for itself but, ASSISTING THE RUNNER, you have got to be kidding. When was the last time anyone saw that call being made? The official must have been up all night Thursday looking in his manual for loopholes in football officiating.

7. Donna Slater says:
   December 5th, 2009 at 5:59 pm

   I really enjoyed your write-up, and you are right about one major thing…A better game of high school football is seldom seen…IT WAS JUST AWESOME…I am so proud of our boys…Tri Valley never gets enough recognition by the media or people in general, and I want to personally thank you for the coverage…