Published: October 28, 2008 05:53 pm            

Furious VHS rally falls just short

Don’t look now, but the Lumberjacks are wielding a sharper ax.

Richwood posted a thrilling 44-42 triple-overtime victory over Valley Friday at WVU Tech’s Martin Field, sending the Greyhounds to their sixth loss in eight games while securing the third consecutive triumph of their own following five losses to start the season.

The victory came on the heels of a 42-22 Richwood conquest of Tygarts Valley and a 40-18 defeat of Hannan. But this victory was the sweetest.

“My team showed great character,” Richwood coach Jason Rogers exclaimed following the marathon win.

It bothered Rogers that the Lumberjacks squandered a 30-6 lead near the end of the third period, but not too much.

“I’m disappointed we had the letdown we did, but I’m proud of the boys for finishing strong,” he said.

“We had too many chances given away,” said Valley coach Benny Hopkins, whose team was on the positive side of a multiple-overtime game with Meadow Bridge earlier this season. “We didn’t play until the last four or five minutes (of regulation).

“The game should have been over (before OT).” Two score-thwarting fumbles in the red zone haunted Valley as the game progressed.

In the third extra period, Richwood scored on a 33-yard pass from Sam Tindal to Spencer McPherson, the duo’s second TD hookup after the regulation buzzer had sounded, then Tindal ran the conversion in for a 44-36 lead. The go-ahead score occurred on a second-and-23 from the 33.

The Greyhounds responded with a 14-yard scoring pass from Jack Simms to Nick Accord, but Dustin Brown led the Richwood charge in preventing Valley slotback Dillon Ganoe from reaching the end zone on the pivotal two-pointer, leading to a joyous Richwood celebration.

The third straight win allowed the ‘Jacks to maintain their late-season momentum.

“We were banged up,” said Rogers. “This is Sam Tindal’s first game back at quarterback and Storm Delaney’s first game back at tailback.

“The other guys did a good job of stepping in while they were gone. We’re finally starting to come together.”

Tindal rushed for 168 yards, including 158 in the first half, as his team built up a 24-point margin.

But, taking advantage of several late RHS miscues, Valley rang up 24 points in a 6-minute, 48-second span in the fourth. In that time, Cameron Belmont made a nice adjustment in the end zone and caught an 18-yard TD pass from Simms, Marcus White scored from nine yards out, and Simms crossed the goal line from 18 yards away.

Valley assumed a 36-30 lead in the second OT on a 1-yard Simms burst. Then, McPherson snared a 20-yard scoring aerial on a reverse flea-flicker from Tindal, and the kick was blocked to leave the score at 36-36.

Simms passed for 127 yards and three scores and rushed for 53 yards and two more six-pointers. White amassed 159 yards on the ground, primarily in the second half as the ‘Hounds made their valiant surge. Petey Foster rushed for 48 yards and caught a 10-yard pass. Belmont caught three balls for 59 yards and a score, Ganoe had three catches for 56 yards and a six-pointer, and Accord had the 14-yard TD reception.

Defensively for Valley, White and Travis Brogan recovered fumbles, with Brogan’s leading to a Simms TD, and Accord had an interception that preceded Belmont’s score.

Valley hosts Class A co-No. 18 Midland Trail (4-4) Friday, while Richwood visits Summers County the same night.

— E-mail: skeenan@register-herald.com

        

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