Sports
Maysville Aims to Prevent Another Tri-Valley League Title
By: Andrew Hines, Nathan Wiseman
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Tri-Valley coach Justin Buttermore is used to pressure.
He has led Tri-Valley to four consecutive conference titles and thrives in games with league titles and playoff contention on the line. Last season, in a similar scenario with the MVL title on the line in week nine, the Scotties defeated Maysville 35-7 and went on to play into the second round of the playoffs.
The Scotties will hit the road to play Maysville on Friday in the MVL showdown of the year with a fifth league title on the line. Friday’s game will feature two Gridiron Glory Player of the Year Watch List nominees in Maysville’s Chase Roberts and Tri-Valley’s Tyler McGee.
The comparisons of both teams statistically stack up similarly. Both the Scotties and Panthers enter the showdown with 7-1 overall records with their respective losses being their closest games of the season; Tri-Valley’s a 10-7 loss to Zanesville and Maysville’s a 14-6 loss to Sheridan.
Both Maysville and Tri-Valley are averaging about 40 points per game while allowing 8.8 and 3.8 points per contest, respectively. However, Tri-Valley could be hard-pressed to maintain that average going up against a dynamic running back in Chase Roberts who has accumulated 855 total yards and 15 touchdowns.
Roberts has experienced only one down game and it came during Maysville’s lone loss. Sheridan held Roberts to just 21 yards.
Unlike Maysville’s offense, Tri-Valley’s attack is not centered around one explosive player. Rather, Tyler McGee orchestrates an offense full of versatile weapons.
The Scotties boast a slew of running backs who are capable of big performances, such as Cody Collins and Andrew Newsome who have combined to total over 900 yards and 13 touchdowns on 108 carries. Wide receivers Quentin Gaiters and Colin Slaboden also contribute their fare share, leading Tri-Valley’s receiving core.
A strong performance from that core of players will secure Tri-Valley’s fifth consecutive outright title. Should Maysville contain Tri-Valley and come away with the win, and Sheridan top Crooksville, the three teams would enter week 10 tied for the League lead.
Since Maysville plays non-conference Claymont in week 10, it can only clinch a share of the MVL title with a win on Friday. Should Maysville win, Tri-Valley’s fate would depend on its and Sheridan’s week 10 results.
The stakes are as high as they can be for the MVL game of the year with the league crown on the line and playoff hopes looming in the near future.
Kickoff is set for 7 pm at Maysville High School.