Vinton County Ends Skid, Dominates Meigs
By: Andrew Woods
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McArthur, Ohio (WOUB) – After starting the season 0-3, the defending Tri-Valley Conference Champion Vinton County Vikings (1-3) were desperate for a big win as conference play began. They got the win defeating the Meigs Marauders 49-17. This was Marcus Games’ first win as a head coach.
Meigs began the game with the ball and immediately drove down the field. The drive was capped off by Dustin Vance, who was starting for an injured Gunner Cleland, hitting Isiah Arms for a 30-yard touchdown. In all, Vance passed for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
Vinton County looked like they would respond immediately. However, on a run that looked like it would go all the way, Clayton Lester fumbled just short of the end zone. After a defensive stop, Lester got redemption, breaking off a 63-yard touchdown rush to tie the game. In all, Lester rushed for 235 yards and totaled 276 all-purpose yards.
Early in the second quarter, a confusing moment happened when Jase Moore’s 31-yard pass to Lane Haybron was ruled a touchdown, but the Vikings did not realize it. This led them to fail a 2-point conversion attempt, leaving the score at 13-7.
The Marauders took back the lead on the very next drive. Dustin Vance found Landon Deweese for a 38-yard passing score. Meigs kicker Paolo Perales scored the extra point to take the lead, 14-13. After getting a defensive stop, Perales struck again, hitting a 28-yard field goal to extend Meigs’ lead to 17-13.
Meigs did not take this lightly. Clayton Lester moved the ball to the Meigs 10 on a 37-yard rush. Lane Haybron looked like he scored on the very next play, however, the run was called back for holding. Lester gained back the penalty yardage and more, and an offsides later, Lane Haybron punched in a 2-yard touchdown to take back the lead. Haybron totaled 230 all-purpose yards.
Vinton extended their lead late in the second quarter with another Lane Haybron touchdown run, this time for 35 yards. After what looked like another Vikings touchdown was called back by a penalty, Vinton County took a 27-17 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, both defenses stood strong, as no points were scored. However, as the fourth quarter began, Clayton Lester scored a 23-yard rushing touchdown and Lane Heybron scored a two-point conversion to extend the Vikings’ lead further.
On the very next drive, a tipped pass by Dustin Vance fell into defensive lineman Luke Dimel’s hands. Dimel did not waste any time and ran to the end zone for a 75-yard pick-six. The Vinton County defense impressed in the second half, not allowing any points.
As time wound down, Lane Haybron found the end zone one more time, scoring a 7-yard rushing touchdown. This marked Haybron’s fourth touchdown of the game.
Vinton County looks to continue their MVC title defense against the red-hot Athens Bulldogs (4-0).
Meigs looks to get back in the win column against River Valley (0-4).