Sports
Biggest Games of 2014: Tri-Valley Conference
By: Kelsi Steele
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Editor's Note: With fall practices beginning in a matter of days, our reporters have scanned the schedules to find the biggest games of the 2014 season. We continue with the Tri-Valley Conference.
TVC-OHIO
Alexander at Vinton County, Week 6
Alexander’s bright spot in 2013 came in week five against Vinton County when the Spartans fell in an overtime thriller, 40-34. Alexander proceeded to drop all five of their conference games, but don’t count them out for this season. Alexander will seek redemption for loss it suffered last season.
Meigs at Nelsonville York, Week 6
In 2013, Meigs surprised much of the conference, as they were contention for the TVC-Ohio crown for parts of the season. Last year, the Marauders completely dominated Nelsonville York by a score of 47-6, a complete 180 from the year before in which the Marauders lost to the Buckeyes 54-8. The winner of this game will most likely be the biggest challenger to Athens for the TVC-Ohio title.
Wellston at Meigs, Week 9
Wellston is always a team to watch because of its tendencies to pull off an upset. Wellston finished at 2-3 within the TVC-Ohio in both 2012 and 2013, but defeated different opponents in both years; Nelsonville York and Alexander in 2013, and Meigs and Vinton County the year before. Last season Meigs blew out Wellston 40-7, but Wellston quarterback Braydon Womeldorf—part of the 2013 all-TVC Ohio team—was an inexperienced sophomore. Womeldorf will be crucial to revamping the Wellston offense and potentially drawing an improving Meigs team to a halt this year.
Athens at Nelsonville York, Week 10
Athens controlled the TVC-Ohio last season, and will most likely repeat as champions in 2014, returning quarterback Joe Burrow, running back Trae Williams and wide receiver Ryan Luehrman for their last seasons. However, even with as dominant as the Bulldogs are expected to be, they cannot be crowned as champs without going through Nelsonville York. A bit of a rivalry has been built between the two programs that consistently meet each other right before the postseason begins, and while the Buckeyes will be the underdogs, they will have home field advantage.
TVC HOCKING
Wahama at Trimble (Week 6)
For the first time in four years the Trimble Tomcats and the Wahama White Falcons will not be meeting in week two of the regular season. In 2013, the White Falcons lost to the Tomcats, 12-7, as the Tomcats’ defense kept Wahama running back—and 2013 Gridiron Glory Player of the Year—Kane Roush completely under wraps, crushing Wahama’s offensive attack. When week six rolls around this year, TVC-Hocking fans should expect to see a totally different game unfold, as both teams will be in their prime, and most importantly, prepared.
Federal Hocking at Eastern (Week 4)
Within the last three years it has been a back-and-forth battle between these two squads. In 2011, Eastern suffered a heart-wrenching 20-19 loss. The following year the Eagles were able to avenge their loss with a two-point, 25-23 victory over the Lancers. And in just this past year Eastern fell once more in yet another close game, 20-14. It will be quite interesting to see how this matchup plays out between two teams who usually lean to the lower half of the TVC-Hocking standings.