Bearcats fall in final quarter
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
BAINBRIDGE — Playing strong for three quarters kept the Paint Valley Bearcats in the game. But high school games are four quarters and the final 12 minutes did in the Bearcats, falling to the Westfall Mustangs 35-14 Friday night.
Celebrating their homecoming and coming off a big win the previous week, the Bearcats pushed the Mustangs the hardest they pushed them in the past few seasons, but Westfall junior quarterback Trent Williamson was just too strong, propelling the Mustangs to their fourth win of the season, third in the Scioto Valley Conference.
"This was a fun game to be a part of," PV head coach Pete Hollon said. "Westfall is an outstanding team, but I'm proud of the kids and how they played Friday.
"We were down for so long, and now we are showing signs of improvement."
PV falls to 3-3 overall and 1-2 with the loss.
The Bearcats led early, scoring the game's first points with a 3-yard run from sophomore Mark Clifford. The run capped off an eight-play, 86-yard drive. Tyler Murray kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead. Clifford finished with 81 yards rushing on 14 carries.
The rest of the first half went back-and-forth as the teams combined for a total of 35 points in the first 24 minutes.
Westfall tied the game with a 4-yard run from Williamson. The PAT was converted to tie the game at 7-7 in the second quarter.
PV came back, regaining the lead with a 7-yard run by senior quarterback Eli Barker, The second-quarter drive was one of the longest scoring drives of the season for PV with a 17-play, 77-yard drive. Murray converted the PAT for a 14-7 lead.
Barker finished with 41 yards rushing on seven carries. He added a 5-of-9 night for 111 yards passing.
"Eli played well at quarterback. He made some good reads for us," Hollon said.
Following the score by Barker, the Bearcats didn't visit the end zone for the rest of the game.
Taylor Salmons tied the game with a 2-yard score in the second. Westfall added another touchdown in the first half with Williamson visiting the end zone on a 4-yard run for a 21-14 Westfall lead at the half.
The final two scores came for Westfall in the fourth quarter with a 53-yard run by Williamson and a 6-yard run by Kyle Hock.
Though PV lost, it was a productive game for them as they forced the Mustangs to punt the football, something Westfall hadn't done against PV for five seasons.
"For the first time in several years, we are playing championship caliber football," Hollon said. "We are playing much better than last season."
PV forced the Mustangs to punt four times on Friday.
Also for the Bearcats, Dallas Immell had three receptions for 96 yards. Kyle Kottenbrook finished with one catch for eight yards, and Logan Ackley had one catch for seven yards and 36 yards rushing.
Overall, PV totaled 311 yards of offense, and the Mustangs totaled 404 yards of offense.
"We had two turnovers inside the 20 that led to two Westfall touchdowns," Hollon said. "We had a big play called back, and that was a difference in the game.
"In the fourth we gave up a big run on the first play of scrimmage, and we just didn't recover. We played outstanding for three and a half quarters, but you have to credit Westfall."
Defensively, Riley Markko led PV with eight tackles, including three sacks for a total of -32 yards.
"Our defense played well," Hollon said. "They had four sacks, and they had their backs against the wall a lot this game. I'm not happy with a loss, but I liked the effort, and we are getting better."
One telling stat of the game was PV had 141 yards of offense in third down plays.
"Their athletes made plays," Hollon said. "Our kids are right there, and we are headed in the right direction."[[In-content Ad]]
Celebrating their homecoming and coming off a big win the previous week, the Bearcats pushed the Mustangs the hardest they pushed them in the past few seasons, but Westfall junior quarterback Trent Williamson was just too strong, propelling the Mustangs to their fourth win of the season, third in the Scioto Valley Conference.
"This was a fun game to be a part of," PV head coach Pete Hollon said. "Westfall is an outstanding team, but I'm proud of the kids and how they played Friday.
"We were down for so long, and now we are showing signs of improvement."
PV falls to 3-3 overall and 1-2 with the loss.
The Bearcats led early, scoring the game's first points with a 3-yard run from sophomore Mark Clifford. The run capped off an eight-play, 86-yard drive. Tyler Murray kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead. Clifford finished with 81 yards rushing on 14 carries.
The rest of the first half went back-and-forth as the teams combined for a total of 35 points in the first 24 minutes.
Westfall tied the game with a 4-yard run from Williamson. The PAT was converted to tie the game at 7-7 in the second quarter.
PV came back, regaining the lead with a 7-yard run by senior quarterback Eli Barker, The second-quarter drive was one of the longest scoring drives of the season for PV with a 17-play, 77-yard drive. Murray converted the PAT for a 14-7 lead.
Barker finished with 41 yards rushing on seven carries. He added a 5-of-9 night for 111 yards passing.
"Eli played well at quarterback. He made some good reads for us," Hollon said.
Following the score by Barker, the Bearcats didn't visit the end zone for the rest of the game.
Taylor Salmons tied the game with a 2-yard score in the second. Westfall added another touchdown in the first half with Williamson visiting the end zone on a 4-yard run for a 21-14 Westfall lead at the half.
The final two scores came for Westfall in the fourth quarter with a 53-yard run by Williamson and a 6-yard run by Kyle Hock.
Though PV lost, it was a productive game for them as they forced the Mustangs to punt the football, something Westfall hadn't done against PV for five seasons.
"For the first time in several years, we are playing championship caliber football," Hollon said. "We are playing much better than last season."
PV forced the Mustangs to punt four times on Friday.
Also for the Bearcats, Dallas Immell had three receptions for 96 yards. Kyle Kottenbrook finished with one catch for eight yards, and Logan Ackley had one catch for seven yards and 36 yards rushing.
Overall, PV totaled 311 yards of offense, and the Mustangs totaled 404 yards of offense.
"We had two turnovers inside the 20 that led to two Westfall touchdowns," Hollon said. "We had a big play called back, and that was a difference in the game.
"In the fourth we gave up a big run on the first play of scrimmage, and we just didn't recover. We played outstanding for three and a half quarters, but you have to credit Westfall."
Defensively, Riley Markko led PV with eight tackles, including three sacks for a total of -32 yards.
"Our defense played well," Hollon said. "They had four sacks, and they had their backs against the wall a lot this game. I'm not happy with a loss, but I liked the effort, and we are getting better."
One telling stat of the game was PV had 141 yards of offense in third down plays.
"Their athletes made plays," Hollon said. "Our kids are right there, and we are headed in the right direction."[[In-content Ad]]