Indians get revenge over Red Streaks, 24-7
By: Cameron Crego
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LUCASVILLE, Ohio (WOUB) — The Valley Indians moved to 3-0 on the season after a 24-7 win against the Piketon Red Streaks Friday night in Lucasville. Both teams had this game fresh on their minds – Piketon defeated Valley 25-14 in this matchup last year. This year though, with a refreshed mindset and the home-field advantage, Valley pulled off the win. Both teams entered this game coming off of hot starts to their season. Piketon entered this game at 2-0 and had amassed a +65 point differential after a 42-19 win at Northwest and a 50-8 win at home against Wellston. Valley’s first two games were also quite dominant, also starting 2-0 after shutting out both of their opponents, opening the season with a 33-0 win at Paint Valley and a 47-0 win against Fayetteville-Perry.
These teams started their seasons by exemplifying strong offenses and defenses, but this game would start as a defensive battle. Piketon went three-and-out on their first two drives and Valley
fumbled the snap on a field goal attempt, but Valley would end up striking first, as multiple big runs by Anthony Aaron set up junior Hunter Cunningham’s 11-yard touchdown pass to junior
Aiden Spang with twenty seconds remaining in the quarter, giving the Indians a 7-0 lead after the first.
Offensive struggles continued in the second quarter, but with 2:14 remaining in the half, Valley got the ball and on the first play of the drive, senior Gabe McNeil took a Cunningham screen
pass to the house to put the Indians up 14-0 at halftime. The Red Streaks did get a spark to start the second half, as Valley fumbled the opening kickoff return which gave Piketon the ball on the Indians’ 34-yard line. However, Gabe McNeil again made a big play, this time on the defensive side, sacking Piketon’s Luke Gullion on 4th & 9 to force a turnover on downs. The offensive woes would continue for Piketon, as junior Braxten Conaway made an interception and took it to the Red Streaks’ 15-yard-line, which set up a field goal to put the Indians up 17-0.
Piketon did shift some momentum in their favor on the next drive. After converting a 4th & 2 in their own territory, senior Wyatt Savage took it 60 yards to the house to put Piketon on the board,
making the score 17-7 and ending the Indians’ shutout streak with 33 seconds left in the quarter. The big plays continued for Piketon, with senior Noah Ross intercepting Cunningham on the first
play of the fourth quarter, forcing the Indians’ second turnover of the game and season. However, after a five-minute drive, Piketon failed to convert a 4th & 16 in Indians territory, as
Gabe McNeil made another huge play on defense by coming down with an interception. With the momentum back on their side, Valley would end up sealing the game. After a big Braxten Conaway run to set up Anthony Aaron’s second touchdown of the game, making the score 24-7, junior Blake Lundy recovered a Marquis Robinson fumble with 23 seconds remaining, allowing the Indians to kneel out the clock and seal the 24-7 victory. Many players showed out big-time for the Indians. Gabe McNeil dominated both sides of the ball, with the second-quarter touchdown, but also a key sack and interception. Hunter Cunningham had two touchdowns through the air, and Anthony Aaron scored two on the ground. Coach Nolan Crabtree complimented many of his defensive players as well. “Blake Lundy, in the middle of the defense there, number 11, was just phenomenal,” Crabtree said post-game. He also praised the cornerback core of Lex Logan, Aiden Spang, Braxten Conaway, and Jehu Howard for following the Cover 0 gameplan and allowing the safeties and linebackers to make big plays. Both teams will begin their conference slate next week. Valley looks to keep the undefeated streak alive as they travel to Waverly to face a currently winless Tigers squad, while Piketon will be returning home and will look to rebound against a strong Zane Trace team also coming off of their first loss of the season.