Balanced Bearcats top Cedarville
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
BAINBRIDGE — Two touchdowns from sophomore Mark Clifford, along with a strong defensive effort, put the Paint Valley Bearcats back on the winners' side of the scoreboard. The Bearcats defeated the Cedarville Indians 18-14, Friday night at George Knisley Field in Bainbridge for their second win in three weeks.
The Bearcats (2-1) scored touchdowns in the first, second and third quarters, helping them match their season total in wins from last season.
"We knew going in Cedarville was better than their record," Paint Valley head coach Pete Hollon said. "They had two kids return who missed the first two weeks, and that made a difference for them.
"They ran the veer-option very well, but we played assignment football to a tee. What was big for us was we made them go east-to-west and not north-to-south."
Their first touchdown drive came on a nine-play, 74-yard drive, which was capped off with a 9-yard run by sophomore Mark Clifford with 8:11 left in the opening quarter.
After the Indians (0-3) scored on a 37-yard run with 1:06 left in the first, Paint Valley regained the lead with 3:12 left in the second quarter. The drive, which was nine plays for 51 yards, ended with senior quarterback Eli Barker on an 11-yard run. The missed PAT left the score 12-6 in favor PV.
Barker finished the game with 93 yards rushing on 14 carries with one touchdown. In the air, the senior quarterback was 11-of-16 for 175 yards with two interceptions. The interceptions came in the end zone and on the 5-yard line.
Five different receivers had at least one reception for the Bearcats, including Dallas Immell with three receptions for 30 yards. Robbee Wallace finished with two catches for 47 yards. Dylan Estep caught two passes for 28 yards. Logan Ackley caught two passes for 38 yards, and Nate Yoakum had one catch for 11 yards.
The Bearcats lost the lead with 5:11 left in the third quarter when Hudson Grant passed 11 yards to Kyle Oldigier for the score. A two-point run by Young gave Cedarville a 14-12 advantage.
Cedarville's (0-3) lead didn't last long as Paint Valley scored on a 4-yard run by Clifford (his second touchdown run of the game) with 1:15 remaining in the quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Bearcats ahead 18-14. The touchdown drive went 14 plays for 52 yards.
Clifford finished the game with 83 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns.
On defense for the Bearcats, Riley Markko led PV with seven tackles and one sack. Tyler Murray had six tackles, followed by Yoakum and Quentin Tesi each with five tackles.
"Our defense played well and tackled very well," Hollon said.
PV will play again this Friday as they will travel to Zane Trace High School to face the Pioneers. ZT lost to Logan Elm 38-0 in Week 3 to the Logan Elm Braves. ZT is 1-2 overall.
"We are just looking for consistency as a team," Hollon said. "We've made big strides from Week 2 to Week 3. We let some scoring opportunities get away from us in the first half, and that goes back to being consistent."
BOX SCORE
CHS 6 0 8 0 — 14
PV 6 6 6 0 — 18[[In-content Ad]]
The Bearcats (2-1) scored touchdowns in the first, second and third quarters, helping them match their season total in wins from last season.
"We knew going in Cedarville was better than their record," Paint Valley head coach Pete Hollon said. "They had two kids return who missed the first two weeks, and that made a difference for them.
"They ran the veer-option very well, but we played assignment football to a tee. What was big for us was we made them go east-to-west and not north-to-south."
Their first touchdown drive came on a nine-play, 74-yard drive, which was capped off with a 9-yard run by sophomore Mark Clifford with 8:11 left in the opening quarter.
After the Indians (0-3) scored on a 37-yard run with 1:06 left in the first, Paint Valley regained the lead with 3:12 left in the second quarter. The drive, which was nine plays for 51 yards, ended with senior quarterback Eli Barker on an 11-yard run. The missed PAT left the score 12-6 in favor PV.
Barker finished the game with 93 yards rushing on 14 carries with one touchdown. In the air, the senior quarterback was 11-of-16 for 175 yards with two interceptions. The interceptions came in the end zone and on the 5-yard line.
Five different receivers had at least one reception for the Bearcats, including Dallas Immell with three receptions for 30 yards. Robbee Wallace finished with two catches for 47 yards. Dylan Estep caught two passes for 28 yards. Logan Ackley caught two passes for 38 yards, and Nate Yoakum had one catch for 11 yards.
The Bearcats lost the lead with 5:11 left in the third quarter when Hudson Grant passed 11 yards to Kyle Oldigier for the score. A two-point run by Young gave Cedarville a 14-12 advantage.
Cedarville's (0-3) lead didn't last long as Paint Valley scored on a 4-yard run by Clifford (his second touchdown run of the game) with 1:15 remaining in the quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Bearcats ahead 18-14. The touchdown drive went 14 plays for 52 yards.
Clifford finished the game with 83 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns.
On defense for the Bearcats, Riley Markko led PV with seven tackles and one sack. Tyler Murray had six tackles, followed by Yoakum and Quentin Tesi each with five tackles.
"Our defense played well and tackled very well," Hollon said.
PV will play again this Friday as they will travel to Zane Trace High School to face the Pioneers. ZT lost to Logan Elm 38-0 in Week 3 to the Logan Elm Braves. ZT is 1-2 overall.
"We are just looking for consistency as a team," Hollon said. "We've made big strides from Week 2 to Week 3. We let some scoring opportunities get away from us in the first half, and that goes back to being consistent."
BOX SCORE
CHS 6 0 8 0 — 14
PV 6 6 6 0 — 18[[In-content Ad]]