Published: October 22, 2008 11:41 am            

VMS loses first; playoffs begin Thursday

Getting contributions from numerous players, Collins Middle raced past visiting Valley 36-20 Thursday, handing the Greyhounds their first football loss since late October 2006.

Also Thursday, the Mount Hope Colts cruised by Fayetteville 40-6 to improve to 6-1 and post the second-place seed in the upcoming Fayette County Single-A Conference playoffs.

Ray Sullivan nearly cracked the 200-yard rushing barrier for the Little Devils, gaining 195 yards on 15 carries and scoring touchdowns on runs covering 60 and 90 yards. Demarcus Hughes and Jovanne Staunton each accumulated 115 yards on six carries, with Hughes tallying an 85-yard score and Staunton a 75-yard TD. Erving Fruit reached paydirt from long-range, too, on a 70-yard jaunt on his only carry of the evening.

Fruit and Sullivan each caught a two-point conversion pass from Staunton.

Sullivan also powered the Collins defense, registering 12 tackles and three assists. Shawn Traynham had eight tackles, Jeremy Waddell collected six tackles and a sack, Kyalo Bradford had six stops, Jovare Brown had a sack and a fumble recovery, and Jimmy Hiser picked off two Valley passes.

“It was a great effort from both the offense and the defense all night,” said CMS coach Greg Nunn. “The kids played real well.

“Valley had a good running back (Ken Haynes) and I thought we did a good job of containing him for the most part.”

Meanwhile, Mount Hope turned in a solid team effort to topple Fayetteville.

“My line both offensively and defensively came a long way this week,” explained Mount Hope coach Bo Morrison. “They played much better.

“They blocked better and played better defense. And we got good efforts from other players, too.”

Linemen who made contributions included Brandon Williams, Robert Donell, Chris Evans, Chris Jones, Daniel Hicks, Josh Powers and Josh Donell.

Jalen Jones scored on runs covering 40 and 20 yards and caught a 60-yard TD pass from Deon Marion. Larry Palmer also found the end zone on a 15-yard run, and Josh Donell snared a three-yard scoring pass from Marion.

Jones, Palmer, Robin Gore, Josh Donell and Shemar Mays collected two-point conversions.

In addition to his two TD passes, Marion launched an 85-yard run that cam up just short of the end zone.

Williams, Robert Donell and Jones each got into the act in the backfield with a rushing attempt.

Mount Hope entertains Fayetteville at 6 p.m. Thursday to begin postseason play, while Valley plays host to Ansted at Martin Field at the same time.

Collins ends its regular season with a home contest against Park at 6 p.m. Thursday.



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Following is the Valley roster for 2008:

Eighth grade — Arik McGinnis, Myles White, Shane Myers, Drew Jones, Ken Haynes, Matt Whiteside, Mark Hess, Cody Winter, Nathan Phillips, Shane Hypes and Slayton Beard;

Seventh grade — Aaron Liddle, Raeshawn Breckenridge, Keyshawn Payne, John Riddle, Joseph Eckert, Darius Hutchinson , Casey Stewart, Jacob Bess, Steven Mitchell, Bradley Higginbotham, Garren Rowe, David Browning and Ryan Hanshaw; and

Coaches — Chip Warden (head), Bobby Barber, Lawrence Sandoro and Joe Craffey.

— E-mail: skeenan@register-herald.com

        

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