Bearcats tested by Panthers; stay undefeated
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
BAINBRIDGE — The Paint Valley Bearcats were tested, taken to the limit on homecoming night, and still stayed undefeated with a 34-24 victory over the Southeastern Panthers, Friday.
The Scioto Valley Conference win by the Bearcats saw them come back for a 10-0 first quarter deficit to outscore their conference rival, 34-14 in the final three quarters.
PV lead at halftime, 13-10.
This was the type of game the undefeated, 6-0 (3-0 in the SVC), Associated Press Division VII state-ranked Bearcats needed, as there are four regular season games remaining on the schedule.
"We saw on film Southeastern was a very good football team," Paint Valley head coach Pete Hollon said. "We probably needed a game like this because they tested us big time.
"Credit Southeastern (whom Hollon spoke to in their postgame huddle), they forced us to do things we weren't used to doing. We beat a good football team (Friday)."
As PV trailed by 10 points entering the second quarter, the deficit didn't last long when Tony Hatfield raced down the Paint Valley sideline for 70 yards and a touchdown with 11:05 left in the quarter. The PAT by Mark Clifford cut the deficit to three points.
"We have a great senior class," Hollon said. "We told the kids this was going to be a tough game. We said there will be points during the season and in life where they would have to face adversity.
"Dakota Morgan (offensive/defensive line) took over as our vocal leader in this game and that leadership showed."
Following a 20-yard punt return by Dylan Estep, the Bearcats scored their second touchdown with 7:28 left in the first half when Clifford pounded his way 1-yard for the score and a 13-10 lead.
Getting to the 1-yard line came through the air for the Bearcats. The yardage came when quarterback Anthony McFadden found Mason McCoy wide-open, with one player defending him, for a 40-yard gain on first-and-10 from the SE 41-yard line.
"Anthony is a great quarterback" Hollon said of his sophomore signal caller. "When you have an athlete like Anthony at QB, he can not only beat you with his feet, but his arm as well."
Once SE regained possession of the ball, they took it to the Bearcat 18-yard line, but missed a field goal attempt.
The Panthers drop to 3-3 on the season, 1-2 in the SVC with the loss.
In the third quarter, following a possession where SE didn't take advantage of a Bearcat turnover on a rare fumble, Paint Valley reached the end zone for the third time.
The touchdown came as Caleb Johnson had a 17-yard touchdown reception, in single coverage, beating the defender by two steps. Johnson caught the pass from McFadden in the end zone with 4:29 left in the third.
That score was set up two plays earlier when Clifford broke a couple tackles, crossed the field from the left side to the right side for a 61-yard run, on a first-and-10 play from their own 18-yard line.
SE made the game interesting when Desmond Perkins raced 65 yards for a touchdown, breaking through the Bearcats' defense, untouched on a straight path to the end zone with 3:06 left in the third. The PAT by Dylan Miles brought the Panthers to within three points of a tied score at 20-17.
PV had a touchdown called back on an illegal pass penalty, but in the grand scheme of the game it didn't matter because the Bearcats still scored on the drive.
The Bearcats scored on a fourth-and-9 play from the Panther 32-yard line, as Estep caught a pass for a 32-yard touchdown. Estep pointed to the student section behind the goal post in celebration of the TD and a 26-17 lead with 51.4 left in the third.
In the fourth, McFadden intercepted a pass on second down, giving the Bearcats possession on their own 4-yard line, leaving 10:13 left in regulation.
The next series of events didn't go as planned for the Bearcats. They eventually had to punt from their own 16-yard line, and following a high snap and good pressure by the Panthers, SE ended up with the ball on the PV 24-yard line.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, the Panthers scored on a 24-yard touchdown reception with 6:16 left in the game, trailing the host team by two points at 26-24.
Again, the Bearcats were able to answer.
Regaining possession of the ball with 6:08 on the clock from their own 33-yard line, PV ended up back in the end zone when McFadden raced 18 yards to pay dirt.
McFadden broke a tackle at the 10-yard line with a stiff-arm, then continued his path to six points, leaving 3:17 in the game for the eventual final score of 34-14.
That play was set up with Johnson having a 26-yard reception on a third-and-9 to keep the drive going.
"The win is a momentum builder," Hollon said. "This was a playoff atmosphere, and I tip my hat to the kids. They stepped up in a tough situation and we took a big step in this game.
"Caleb is one of the best tight ends in the area and he's just a sophomore. We have to keep him healthy in games, so he just plays offense right now. Not only did he make the catches, he also blocked well."
PV will host Westfall next week.
"We have to get back to assignment football," he said. "I have to credit the coaching staff of Southeastern … they had their kids ready to play. Their offensive line blocked us up front, and we had to work for everything we gained."
The game was more of a reunion of past and present Paint Valley coaching staff members, as SE head coach Evan Gallaugher and others were facing PV for the first time. Gallaugher was a long-time assistant coach at PV.
Hollon described the matchup as "painfully exciting."
"We are all still close," Hollon said. "We had to go against coaches that were here for 16 yards or longer. It was bittersweet, but I'm so proud of Evan and how he and his coaching staff had their team ready to play.
"I take great pride in what he's done with the Southeastern program."[[In-content Ad]]
The Scioto Valley Conference win by the Bearcats saw them come back for a 10-0 first quarter deficit to outscore their conference rival, 34-14 in the final three quarters.
PV lead at halftime, 13-10.
This was the type of game the undefeated, 6-0 (3-0 in the SVC), Associated Press Division VII state-ranked Bearcats needed, as there are four regular season games remaining on the schedule.
"We saw on film Southeastern was a very good football team," Paint Valley head coach Pete Hollon said. "We probably needed a game like this because they tested us big time.
"Credit Southeastern (whom Hollon spoke to in their postgame huddle), they forced us to do things we weren't used to doing. We beat a good football team (Friday)."
As PV trailed by 10 points entering the second quarter, the deficit didn't last long when Tony Hatfield raced down the Paint Valley sideline for 70 yards and a touchdown with 11:05 left in the quarter. The PAT by Mark Clifford cut the deficit to three points.
"We have a great senior class," Hollon said. "We told the kids this was going to be a tough game. We said there will be points during the season and in life where they would have to face adversity.
"Dakota Morgan (offensive/defensive line) took over as our vocal leader in this game and that leadership showed."
Following a 20-yard punt return by Dylan Estep, the Bearcats scored their second touchdown with 7:28 left in the first half when Clifford pounded his way 1-yard for the score and a 13-10 lead.
Getting to the 1-yard line came through the air for the Bearcats. The yardage came when quarterback Anthony McFadden found Mason McCoy wide-open, with one player defending him, for a 40-yard gain on first-and-10 from the SE 41-yard line.
"Anthony is a great quarterback" Hollon said of his sophomore signal caller. "When you have an athlete like Anthony at QB, he can not only beat you with his feet, but his arm as well."
Once SE regained possession of the ball, they took it to the Bearcat 18-yard line, but missed a field goal attempt.
The Panthers drop to 3-3 on the season, 1-2 in the SVC with the loss.
In the third quarter, following a possession where SE didn't take advantage of a Bearcat turnover on a rare fumble, Paint Valley reached the end zone for the third time.
The touchdown came as Caleb Johnson had a 17-yard touchdown reception, in single coverage, beating the defender by two steps. Johnson caught the pass from McFadden in the end zone with 4:29 left in the third.
That score was set up two plays earlier when Clifford broke a couple tackles, crossed the field from the left side to the right side for a 61-yard run, on a first-and-10 play from their own 18-yard line.
SE made the game interesting when Desmond Perkins raced 65 yards for a touchdown, breaking through the Bearcats' defense, untouched on a straight path to the end zone with 3:06 left in the third. The PAT by Dylan Miles brought the Panthers to within three points of a tied score at 20-17.
PV had a touchdown called back on an illegal pass penalty, but in the grand scheme of the game it didn't matter because the Bearcats still scored on the drive.
The Bearcats scored on a fourth-and-9 play from the Panther 32-yard line, as Estep caught a pass for a 32-yard touchdown. Estep pointed to the student section behind the goal post in celebration of the TD and a 26-17 lead with 51.4 left in the third.
In the fourth, McFadden intercepted a pass on second down, giving the Bearcats possession on their own 4-yard line, leaving 10:13 left in regulation.
The next series of events didn't go as planned for the Bearcats. They eventually had to punt from their own 16-yard line, and following a high snap and good pressure by the Panthers, SE ended up with the ball on the PV 24-yard line.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, the Panthers scored on a 24-yard touchdown reception with 6:16 left in the game, trailing the host team by two points at 26-24.
Again, the Bearcats were able to answer.
Regaining possession of the ball with 6:08 on the clock from their own 33-yard line, PV ended up back in the end zone when McFadden raced 18 yards to pay dirt.
McFadden broke a tackle at the 10-yard line with a stiff-arm, then continued his path to six points, leaving 3:17 in the game for the eventual final score of 34-14.
That play was set up with Johnson having a 26-yard reception on a third-and-9 to keep the drive going.
"The win is a momentum builder," Hollon said. "This was a playoff atmosphere, and I tip my hat to the kids. They stepped up in a tough situation and we took a big step in this game.
"Caleb is one of the best tight ends in the area and he's just a sophomore. We have to keep him healthy in games, so he just plays offense right now. Not only did he make the catches, he also blocked well."
PV will host Westfall next week.
"We have to get back to assignment football," he said. "I have to credit the coaching staff of Southeastern … they had their kids ready to play. Their offensive line blocked us up front, and we had to work for everything we gained."
The game was more of a reunion of past and present Paint Valley coaching staff members, as SE head coach Evan Gallaugher and others were facing PV for the first time. Gallaugher was a long-time assistant coach at PV.
Hollon described the matchup as "painfully exciting."
"We are all still close," Hollon said. "We had to go against coaches that were here for 16 yards or longer. It was bittersweet, but I'm so proud of Evan and how he and his coaching staff had their team ready to play.
"I take great pride in what he's done with the Southeastern program."[[In-content Ad]]