WAVERLY, Ohio (WOUB) — The 2021 OHSAA football playoffs have begun, and on opening night, the 12 seed Valley View Spartans traveled to Waverly to face off against the 5th seeded Waverly Tigers.
Waverly comes into this game with only one loss to Southern Ohio rivals Wheelersburg. The underdog Spartans come into Waverly at 5-5 with a conference loss to Eaton last Friday.
Waverly would receive the ball first and shockingly go three and out. The Tiger offense is known for being an up-tempo spread offense with lethal playmakers on the outside.
Valley View controlled the field of possession throughout the first half. The Tigers would be backed up into their own 25-yard line when the Spartans were starting at mid-field a majority of the time.
Great field possession was successful for the Spartans offense as they made a field goal to put the score at 3-0. After another three and out from the Tiger offense, upset alert would be on full blast as Valley View running back Jake Rush would find the endzone. The offense didn’t come off the field after a two-point conversion to make it 11-0 Spartans.
Waverly finally found some offense. They would drive into Valley View territory and disaster would strike when QB Wade Futhey gets picked off for a Spartans touchdown. This would make it 18-0 all Spartans heading into the halftime break.
Waverly couldn’t get anything going offensively which is not normal. Waverly didn’t have the ball and when they did, it was in terrible field position that made them drive the full length of the field.
On the other side, Valley View employed a dominant read option game plan that kept the Tigers on their toes. A stout run defense made the Waverly offense pass and would often result in an incompletion on a long 3rd down.
After halftime, the pace switched. Waverly created the offense they are known for and kept the Valley View defense on the field for long periods of time. At the end of this one, Waverly would survive the upset 28-18.
The Waverly Tigers make their entrance at Raidiger Field in Waverly, Ohio for a home football game against the Valley View Spartans, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
The Waverly Tigers make their entrance at Raidiger Field in Waverly, Ohio for a home football game against the Valley View Spartans, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
The Waverly High School marching band plays for the school’s fan section during a football game between the Waverly Tigers and the Valley View Spartans at Raidiger Field in Waverly, Ohio, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Waverly senior Will Futhey (6) makes a drive through the Valley View defense during their football game at Raidiger Field in Waverly, Ohio, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Valley View senior J.T. Ferguson (2) escapes a tackle attempt by Waverly senior Penn Morrison (9) during a football game at Raidiger Field in Waverly, Ohio, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Penn Morrison (9), a senior with the Waverly Tigers, is stopped by Jedrek Lynch (32) and Zach Myers (56), a sophomore and senior with the Valley View Spartans, during a football game at Raidiger Field in Waverly, Ohio, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Waverly senior Penn Morrison (9) completes a catch from quarterback Wade Futhey before being tackled by Valley View senior Hunter Piasecki (27) during a football game at Raidiger Field in Waverly, Ohio, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Waverly senior Penn Morrison (9) is stopped by the Valley View defensive line during a football game at Raidiger Field in Waverly, Ohio, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Valley View sophomore Micah Valenti (33) misses a pass during a football game at Raidiger Field in Waverly, Ohio, against Waverly High School, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Waverly senior Penn Morrison (9) completes a catch during a football game against Valley View High School at Raidiger Field in Waverly, Ohio, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Waverly senior Wade Futhey (15) prepares for an offensive push in the first half of a football game at Raidiger Field in Waverly, Ohio, against Valley View High School, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Waverly senior quarterback Wade Futhey (15) is tackled by Valley View senior Brandon McGuinn during a football game at Raidiger Field in Waverly, Ohio, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
As the Spartans season comes to an end, revenge is on the mind of this Waverly Tigers team. They move ahead to match up against Clinton-Massie, the team that eliminated Waverly last season. This is a game Waverly has been looking forward to and now they will finally get their chance at the sweet taste of revenge.
