by Gregg Meadows
For the first quarter of the TV vs Clinton Massie game, it looked like the players traded their football cleats in for track shoes, as an eye-popping 43 points were scored between the two squads in a fast-paced first 12 minutes of action, with the visiting Scotties taking a 29-14 lead into the second period.
But from that point on, Tri-Valley dominated the host Falcons, leaving town with a decisive 57-28 victory on a night where junior tailback Leevi Wade ran wild, eclipsing his own single game school rushing record with a whopping 345 yards overland, AND six touchdowns.
The Scotties wasted little time in lighting up the scoreboard, as junior QB Stone Spiker hooked up with senior wide receiver Lucca Gargasz on TV’s first play from scrimmage for a 65-yard scoring combo, with a two-point conversion rum from freshman AJ Pusz giving the visitors a quick – very quick that is – 8-0 lead just 14 seconds into the contest.
But the host Falcons responded just as quickly, with a long 60-yard run for six points and a PAT that left them a point behind at 8-7 less than two minutes into the game.
The Scotties again wasted little time finding the end zone, as a Stone Spiker to AJ Pusz pass-catch-and run saw the talented freshman weave his way down the right sideline for a long gain, getting stopped just two yards shy of paydirt, from where Leevi Wade cleaned up the drive with a short scoring run, and a Pusz PAT had the visitors up 15-7 at 9:25 of the first quarter.
A Falcon fumble on the ensuing drive, set up a quick 60-yard zip to the end zone from Wade, then just minutes later the Scotties had possession of the pigskin again, with an athletic and nifty 52-yard QB keeper down the right sideline from Pusz – as his fourth PAT conversion of the opening period had the visitors from Dresden up 29-7 with 6:51 still left in the opening salvo.
To their credit – and keeping with the first quarter’s hectic opening pace – host Clinton Massie added to the home scoreboard’s frenzied opening barrage total yet again, with a score with :59 ticks left.
After the early fireworks show ended in southwest Ohio, Tri-Valley owned a 29-14 lead, with a majority of the game left to be played.
Both offenses caught their breath in the second period and the defenses tightened up, but a 59-yard scoring jaunt from the ever-present Wade, saw the Scotties take a 36-14 lead to the halftime lockerroom.
Both teams added third quarter scores – CM on a 38-yard run, and TV another Wade six-pointer, as the young men in black-and-gold took a 43-21 lead to the fourth quarter.
The host Falcons made things interesting in the fourth quarter, scoring on a 17-yard run to cut the score to 43-28, then successfully recovering an onsides kick. But the Scottie defense forced Clinton Massie to turn the ball over downs, then Leevi Wade slammed the door shut on the Falcons with a 56-yard scamper to paydirt at the 6:05 mark, then the nail in the coffin – a final 76-yard sprint for six points with 1:33 remaining for the final 57-28 tally.
From the I-Pad of Davis Keel: Wade’s big night (24 carries – 345 yds – 6 TDs) led the winners, with QB Stone Spiker going 5-12 for 180 yards and a score, and rushing for 50 yards. AJ Pusz had four quarterback keepers for 56 yards and a score. Lucca Gargasz caught two balls for 85 yards and a score.
Tri-Valley and Clinton Massie offenses combined for an incredible 1,014 yards of total offense, with Scotties accounting for 637 of that total (457 rushing, 180 passing), and the Falcons 377 (346 rushing, 31 passing).
Defensively for the Dawgs, Chris Reid had nine tackles, Copen Barker and Madden Povlinko eight stops each, and Logan Heemeyer, Kaden Brock, and Alex Fogarty credited with six tackles apiece.
This Friday night, Sep. 11, Tri-Valley heads to Duncan Falls and Sam Hatfield Stadium, as the Scotties and Philo Electrics will match their 2-1 marks in what promises to be a dandy, with kick-off set for 7:00 p.m.
Last season in Dresden, the Scotties and Electrics were deadlocked at 15-15 headed to the fourth quarter before Tri-Valley scored 22 straight points to take the 37-15 win. Leevi Wade’s 167 yards on 27 carries and three scores led the winners.
