Sports
Recap: Athens Bounces Tri-Valley From Playoffs For Second-Straight Year With 41-20 Victory [Video & Slideshow]
By: Corbin Bagford
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In front of a standing room only crowd at Zanesville’s John D. Sulsberger Memorial Stadium, Trae Williams led Athens to a 41-20 playoff victory over Tri-Valley by flaunting his skills on both sides of the ball.
Williams finished the night with 135 rushing yards and two touchdowns, but the senior also led the Athens defense with 10 solo tackles.
Tri-Valley held a 14-13 lead for the majority of the second quarter, but a Joe Burrow touchdown pass to Adam Luehrman with 10 seconds left in the first half gave Athens a lead that they never surrendered.
Burrow completed 13 of his 19 pass attempts for 180 yards and three touchdowns for the Bulldogs. The senior signal caller added a touchdown and 68 rushing yards on the ground and even intercepted a pass on defense late in the game. Zacciah Saltzman reeled in four catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Athens receiving core.
Tri-Valley’s strategy of slowing down the game was showcased on their first drive when they chewed nearly eight minutes off the clock with a 19-play, 71-yard drive that was capped by a Bubby Scott three-yard touchdown.
Logan Bash led the Scotties offensive attack with 149 rushing yards that included a 48-yard touchdown scamper. Brock Fargus went 16 of 36 for 132 yards, a touchdown and an interception in his farewell performance. Fargus connected with fellow senior Hunter Mohler for a 50-yard score in the third quarter.
Tri-Valley’s season comes to a close with a regional semifinal loss to Athens for the second consecutive year. The Scotties’ unblemished regular season record garnered them the Muskingum Valley League Title.
Athens moves on to face St. Francis DeSales in the regional final.