Bearcats defense halts Westfall; PV moves to 4-0 in SVC

For the fourth straight week, the Paint Valley Bearcats were victorious in the Scioto Valley Conference, this time overcoming lots of rain and muddy conditions to defeat the Westfall Mustangs, 44-8 Friday night at WHS.

The Bearcats scored points in all four quarters of the SVC win to move to 5-2 overall and 4-0 in the conference, holding a one-game lead in the SVC with three weeks left in the regular season.

On Friday, PV struck first with a 1-yard run by Teagan McFadden, and a PAT by Anthony McFadden put the Bearcats ahead by a 7-0 score. Teagan McFadden finished with 16 carries for 145 yards.

"The offensive line played well," PV head coach Pete Hollon said. "Once again, they gave up size to the opponent but controlled the line of scrimmage.

"Considering the weather, we played well. Footing was at a premium."

For the game, PV's offense totaled 323 yards.

In the second quarter, it was PV adding 16 more points to their overall lead, for a halftime advantage of 23-0 over the host Mustangs.

That quarter saw Anthony McFadden race 13 yards for a touchdown, then he went into the end zone for a 2-point conversion. Also in the second, Tony Hatfield caught a 22-yard pass from Anthony McFadden. A 2-point run by Caleb Johnson put the Bearcats ahead by the aforementioned 23 points.

Anthony McFadden rushed for 67 yards and passed for 66 yards on three completions. Besides the catch by Hatfield, the other two receptions for PV were by Chris Fellenstein for a total of 33 yards.

The Mustangs (2-2, 2-5) broke up the shutout with a four-yard TD reception by Grant Finch from Cole Harden. WHS also converted a 2-point conversion.

That score was answered with a 15-yard touchdown run from Anthony McFadden.

In the fourth, Hatfield scored his second TD with a 30-yard interception to the end zone. Anthony McFadden raced in for another PV 2-point conversion.

The final TD came off a 4-yard run by Teagan McFadden, followed by an Anthony McFadden PAT.

PV's defense held the host Mustangs to 89 yards of offense, including forcing four turnovers, with three fumble recoveries and the interception.

"The defense was lights out," Hollon said. "When you hold a team to 89 yards, you have to be pleased. Coach Cooper has the defense playing well, and I'm happy where we are at."

The next game for the Bearcats will be at home against the Adena Warriors (1-3, 2-5) on Friday, Oct. 17. The rest of the PV schedule will include a Week 9 game vs. the Piketon Redstreaks and in Week 10 at Huntington.

"We are still having the same motto as we always have, 'We just want to be 1-0,' after each game," Hollon said. "We just have to stay focused. We never get too high after a win or too low after a loss.

"As for this upcoming game, Paul (Thomas) has a good coaching staff, and we just have to refocus and get back at it. Adena is more dangerous that their 2-5 record. I expect a good and tough game. They play us tough every year."