Nelsonville-York Clinches TVC-Ohio After Tough Battle Against Vinton County
By: Jack Demmler, Reese Thompson
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NELSONVILLE, Ohio (WOUB) ‒ Nelsonville-York came into senior night hoping to wrap up a share of the TVC-Ohio for the first time since 2019. However, the Buckeyes would have to defeat the only other conference unbeaten to clinch that share, the Vinton County Vikings.
Both teams would have to battle the weather as the game started in a driving rain. After trading punts, Vinton County got on the board first with a 4-yard touchdown rush by RB Broc Moore to go up 7-0.
However, Nelsonville-York was able to respond midway through the second quarter with a 13-yard touchdown pass from QB Drew Carter to WR Leighton Loge. Vinton County was able to block the extra point to maintain a one-point lead.
Vinton County would not keep that lead for very long though, as after a Viking fumble, it only took the Buckeyes two plays to punch it in again. Drew Carter took in a QB sneak on the goal line but was stopped on the 2-point conversion to have the Buckeyes take a 12-7 lead into the half.
Vinton County was able to grab momentum to begin the second half as Nelsonville-York muffed the opening kickoff and the Vikings were able get the ball at the Buckeye 25. Unfortunately for the Vikings, their momentum would be stopped immediately by a strike of lightning, which resulted in a long delay.
After the delay, the Buckeyes defense stepped up and kept the Vikings offense from moving the ball. The teams sat in a stalemate for most of the third quarter, but the Buckeyes continued to chip away at the Vinton County defense until finally the Vikings were overwhelmed. NY’s RB Hudson Stalder dealt the death knell with a 71-yard touchdown run as the Buckeyes win 20-7.
The Buckeyes can clinch their first outright TVC-Ohio since 2017 with a victory at Athens next week. If Nelsonville-York is upset by the Bulldogs, it will open the door for Vinton County or Wellston to lock up a share.
The Vikings and Rockets play each other next week to wrap up their regular seasons.