Bearcats gain first win of 2010 season
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — The Paint Valley Bearcats are winners for the first time this season after a 13-12 Scioto Valley Conference, Week 8 win over rival Huntington.
The final five minutes of the battle of two teams looking for their first win had many twists-and-turns, with a combined five turnovers in that span and the Bearcats scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 1:22 left in regulation.
"This was a weird game," PV head coach Pete Hollon said. "In our game last week against Piketon we played well, and this game we could have done more.
"We were inside their 20 three times in the first half, but had a touchdown turned back and missed two field goals. We had a turnover that led to one of their scores."
The score by the Bearcats was earned when Brenan Dove pounded his way into the end zone from 3 yards out. The drive started on the 8-yard line when the Bearcats recovered a fumble by the Huntsmen.
For the game, Dove had 16 carries for 91 yards. The senior tailback also had three receptions for 60 yards.
PV freshman Mark Clifford rushed for 68 yards on 12 attempts. PV junior quarterback Eli Barker was 4 of 12 for 64 yards.
That fumble recovery was the fourth turnover in the aforementioned five-minute span.
The turnover machine began with Huntington recovering a PV fumble on the 20-yard line. PV gave the ball back with a Huntington interception, after the Bearcats took the ball to the Huntsmen 27-yard line.
Huntington didn't capitalize, with the Bearcats answering with a interception of their own. But again, PV had another turnover with 2:30 left, with their second interception near the goal line.
PV came back with a tough defensive stand on first and second down. On third down, Huntington went to a spread formation, with the Bearcats forcing the fumble they recovered on the 8-yard line that led to the eventual go-ahead touchdown.
The final turnover came when Garett Tyree picked the ball off after Huntington took the ensuing kickoff to the PV 29-yard line. After that, the Bearcats kneeled the ball to seal their first win.
On the defensive side for PV, Nate Yoakum had nine tackles but left the game with an injury. Wes Hurley had seven tackles with a fumble recovery. Tyree had four tackles with one interception. Dove had one interception.
It was the Bearcats who scored first in the SVC game during the first quarter with 8:12 remaining. The score was a 5-yard run by Dove. Tyree converted the PAT for a 7-0 lead for the Bearcats.
Huntington came back with a touchdown with 4:12 left in the second quarter as John Mayners caught a 5-yard pass from Scott Perkins. The PAT was no good.
The Huntsmen (0-5, 0-8) took the lead with 2:07 left in the third with Mayners catching a 14-yard pass from Perkins. The 2-point conversion attempt was no good.
"We were sluggish after the halftime break, and Huntington increased their intensity," Hollon said. "This was a pretty gutsy performance by our team. We were down to our rival, with a large crowd. This was a good win for us."
PV will host Unioto (3-5) this Friday at George Knisley Field in Bainbridge.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
PVHS 7 0 0 6 — 13
HHS 0 6 6 0 — 12
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