Bearcats pounce Panthers 42-14 in SVC opener

BAINBRIDGE – The Paint Valley Bearcats jumped back on the winning side of things Friday night as they broke a two-game losing skid by dominating the Southeastern Panthers 42-14 in each teams Scioto Valley Conference opener.

            Paint Valley head coach Pete Hollon said besides a five minute spurt toward the end of the second quarter, he was pleased with the effort shown by his Bearcat team.

            “We had total domination for most of the game,” Hollon said. “We gave up a long kickoff return in the quarter, we stopped them, but that play changed the field position game.”

            The rushing performance by the Bearcats proved to set the tone for the game, as senior Wes Parker, junior Garett Tyree and senior Ben Krech combined to rush for 365 yards on 31 attempts.

            Parker led the way with 15 carries for 187 yards with four total touchdowns (two rush, two pass). Tyree finished with seven rushes for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Krech had nine carries for 61 yards.

            Those yards came via the blocking provided by the offensive line, with Hollon saying it was their best offensive line performance of the season.

            “Our o-line is getting better, but from the Coal Grove game on, we were not pleased with their work ethic,” Hollon said. “(Friday) was the first time we had all five projected starters playing at once and it showed.”

            The Bearcats (1-0, 2-2) started off the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run by Parker with 6:31 left in the quarter. Tyree, who converted all six PATs, made the score 7-0. The scoring drive went 18 plays.

            At the 2:12 mark of the same quarter Parker was standing in the end zone again as he caught a 65-yard touchdown from junior quarterback Brennan Dove. Dove had a productive game against the Panthers finishing 7 of 13 for 128 yards, with two touchdown passes.

            The slip up by the ’Cats came in the final minutes of the second quarter when Christian Colburn took the ball 7 yards to pay dirt with 5:08 left in the first half. The converted PAT brought SEHS within one score of tying the game.

            And tying the game is what the Panthers did.

            With PV unable to convert fourth-and-inches at the 50-yard line, Colburn found top receiver Zack Hill for 18 yards, in the air, to earn six points with 3:12 left in the first half. The PAT tied the game at 14.

            “I was pleased with the kids at the half. We felt good about where we were at in the game. We had a chance to take the lead twice before the half ended, but we didn’t,” Hollon said. “We were patient with the kids and we made adjustments. In the second half we had total domination.”

            The Bearcats racked up 28 unanswered points in the final 24 minutes to seal the SVC win.

            At the 10:02 mark the ’Cats showed they meant business by Parker scoring his third TD with a 34-yard glide to the end zone.

            The second score of the third came almost three minutes later as Tyree was the recipient of six points when he carried the ball 27 yards for the touchdown.

            In the fourth quarter Parker scored his fourth TD as Dove launched the ball for a 40-yard score with 11:18 left in the game.

            With 8:12 left, Tyree went 65 yards for the final touchdown of the SVC opening game win.

            Parker and Tyree also produced with their catching abilities, with Parker gaining two catches for 105 yards. Tyree ended the game with three receptions for 49 yards.

            The Bearcat defense held the Panthers to 175 total offensive yards in the 48 minute affair.

            Adam Cooper led PV with nine tackles, followed by Dove with seven and Tyree with six. Dove also had two quarterback sacks.

            Next in line for PV (1-0, 2-2) is defending SVC champion Westfall. Westfall stands at 2-2 (1-0) and are currently on a 34-game SVC winning streak. The game will take place at PVHS at 7:30 p.m. Friday night. This will be the ’Cats’ fourth straight home game.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SEHS 0 14 0 0 – 14

PVHS 14 0 14 14 – 42