Zane Trace clears another SVC hurdle, eliminates Paint Valley from title contention
By: Shane Scalfaro
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BAINBRIDGE, Ohio (WOUB) — In an important conference matchup in the SVC the Zane Trace Pioneers took down the Paint Valley Bearcats 35-27.
The Bearcats used the ground game effectively on their opening drive with Running back Braylon Robertson. The Bearcats got in the end zone with a one yard run from Robertson but failed a two-point conversion attempt making the score 6-0. The Bearcat’s defense held strong forcing the Pioneers to punt on their opening drive.
The Pioneers leaned heavily on the ground game with Daniel Barnhart to start the second quarter. Barnhart was able to find the endzone making the score 7-6. The Bearcats fumbled the ball on their next possession and the Pioneers recovered, making it a turnover on downs. The Pioneers used the ground game with Riley Hartsaugh and QB Carter Langley to get in the red zone. Langley found the end zone on a one-yard QB draw making the score 14-6.
Things didn’t get much better for the Bearcats because on the next drive Cooper was intercepted by Pioneer Linebacker Ryan Hartsaugh and he took 42 yards to the house for a pick six making the score 21-6.
Halfway through the second quarter the Pioneers were driving down the field and it looked like they were going to add to their lead, but the Bearcat’s defense wouldn’t allow them. Saftey Cooper got a strip fumble on Daniel Barnhart to give the Bearcats the ball back. The Bearcats were able to capitalize off this huge turnover with a touchdown run from Braylon Robertson making the score 21-13.
The Pioneers on their next drive went back to the ground game with Daniel Barnhart. With just a minute left in the second quarter the Bearcat defense being keyed on stopping the Run, Langley found his tight end Kyle Stonerock wide open in the end zone making the score 28-13 at halftime.
The Bearcat defense forced a three-and-out to start the third quarter, but their offense failed to do anything on their next drive. On the Pioneer’s next drive, Carter Langley found a wide-open Daniel Barnhart on a third and four, extending their drive. The Pioneers capped off this drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown from Barnhart making the score 35-13.
The Bearcats would not give up as they were able to drive down the field and get into the red zone on their next drive. Braylon Robertson found the end zone on a one-yard carry making the score 35-20 with just 28 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Bearcats were able to stop the Pioneers midway through the fourth quarter, but the Pioneers were able to use up over five minutes of clock.
On the Bearcats next drive, they were able to use a combination of the run and the passing game to get themselves deep in the red zone.
Braylon Robertson was able to punch in a one yard carry for a touchdown making the score 35-27.
With just two minutes left on a third and two, Daniel Barnhart took his carry for 10 yards forcing the Bearcats to call their final timeout and icing the game making the final score 35-27.
Paint Valley (5-4, 4-2 in conference) will look to bounce back as they will be away against Southeastern next week for their final game of the season.
Zane Trace (9-0), 6-0 in conference will be away next week against Adena as they look to end their season undefeated.