Missed Chances Send Valley Packing
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
WABASH - It's been a frustrating pair of games for Tippecanoe Valley and head coach Scott Bibler.
One week after the Valley defensive unit gave up 54 points to an upstart Manchester squad, it was the Viking offense that just couldn't punch it in at Southwood, resulting in a 17-3 loss.
Tippecanoe Valley had the ball in the red zone five times and at the 10-yard line three times, but came away with just three points. The lost opportunities and missed chances in what would have been a key Three Rivers Conference upset left Bibler looking for answers.
"Our goal was to win, and we didn't win," Bibler said. "It's hard. Three losses in a row is really hard. We had some great chances down close, and they (Southwood) brought the heat. I'm disappointed.
"I've got to have a gut check myself," Bibler said. "I feel like we need to apologize to our fans. Stick with us and keep supporting us; we need to get some confidence. We're on the verge. I'm not going to give up on these guys - we're improving."
Looking at the numbers, this game was a dead heat. Unfortunately for the Valley squad, Southwood was able to convert three of its five red zone opportunities into points and converted critical third downs in staving off the hungry Vikings.
The Vikings were just three of 13 on third down, while the host Knights picked up a first down on five of nine third down tries.
Tippecanoe Valley kept Southwood at bay in the first period, snuffing a Southwood 1st and goal situation on the Knights' opening drive. Valley's Micah Lukens sacked Knight quarterback Paul Wright for a 10-yard loss on fourth down from the 4-yard line to keep the score tied at zero.
Southwood, fresh off a 53-20 shellacking of Whitko last Friday, finally got on the board with 8:14 left in the first half when Clint Marshall's 27-yard field goal split the uprights. The Knights had a 2nd-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the drive, but the Valley defense threw Southwood for losses of 3 yards and 7 yards in the next two plays.
The Knights found paydirt less than four minutes later when Lonnie Heck ran in from 5 yards out. His score put Southwood on top 10-0.
The Vikings had a great opportunity to put points on the board before the half expired, but couldn't punch it in from 10 yards out. The drive was highlighted by a fake punt run by Eric Prater, which netted 36 yards. Southwood maintained the 10-0 lead at the half.
Tippecanoe Valley's first possession of the second half resulted in a 9-play drive that ended with Nathan Moore's 27-yard field goal with 4:22 left in the third. His kick pulled the Vikings within 10-3, and that's how the score remained entering the fourth period.
Valley forced a punt early in the fourth quarter, but again, the Viking offense couldn't capitalize.
The Vikings picked up two first downs and would have had a third had it not been for a fumble with 8:12 to play. Valley's Eric Prater, who led his team with 65 yards rushing on eight carries, had enough for the first down but coughed up the football, which was promptly recovered by the Southwood.
Southwood scored another touchdown six plays later, and the margin proved to be too much to overcome. The Vikings put together a 13-play, 60-yard drive that ended just 10 yards from paydirt with a minute to play, and Southwood held on the 17-3 decision.
Junior Valley quarterback Brandon Eaton had a good night, completing 13 of 26 attempts for 144 yards. Eaton completed five straight passes in the final Valley possession and didn't throw an interception. Prater hauled in five passes for 52 yards, and Josh Wagoner caught three for 33 markers.
Tippecanoe Valley, 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the TRC, will try to get back on track when it hosts Northfield Friday at Death Valley.
SOUTHWOOD 17, VALLEY 3
Valley 0 0 3 0 - 3
Southwood 0 10 0 7 - 17
TV SW
First downs 13 9
Rushes-yards 38-108 39-193
Passing yards 144 72
Comp.-Att.-Int. 13-26-0 3-6-0
Total offense 252 265
Fumbles-lost 5-2 3-2
Punts-avg. 3-35 2-34
Penalties-yds. 4-35 6-45
Second Quarter
SW - Clint Marshall 27 field goal, 8:14, 3-0 SW
SW -ÊLonnie Heck 5 run (Marshall kick), 4:17, 10-0 SW
Third Quarter
TV -ÊNathan Moore 27 field goal, 4:22, 10-3 SW
Fourth Quarter
SW - Dallas Dillon 1 run, 6:03, 17-3 SW
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing - Tippecanoe Valley: Eric Prater 8-65, Charles Hall 12-27, Brandon Eaton 11-17, David Reese, 3-11, Nathan Patterson 4-(-2). Southwood: D.J. Marshall 15-179, Dillon 13-20, Heck 3-10, Paul Wright 8-(-16).
Receiving - Tippecanoe Valley: Prater 5-52, Josh Wagoner 3-35, Patterson 2-24, Adam Smith 2-19, Luke Gibson 1-14. Southwood Heck 2-36, Marshall 1-36.
Passing - Tippecanoe Valley: Eaton 13-26-0-144. Southwood: Wright 3-6-0-72. [[In-content Ad]]
WABASH - It's been a frustrating pair of games for Tippecanoe Valley and head coach Scott Bibler.
One week after the Valley defensive unit gave up 54 points to an upstart Manchester squad, it was the Viking offense that just couldn't punch it in at Southwood, resulting in a 17-3 loss.
Tippecanoe Valley had the ball in the red zone five times and at the 10-yard line three times, but came away with just three points. The lost opportunities and missed chances in what would have been a key Three Rivers Conference upset left Bibler looking for answers.
"Our goal was to win, and we didn't win," Bibler said. "It's hard. Three losses in a row is really hard. We had some great chances down close, and they (Southwood) brought the heat. I'm disappointed.
"I've got to have a gut check myself," Bibler said. "I feel like we need to apologize to our fans. Stick with us and keep supporting us; we need to get some confidence. We're on the verge. I'm not going to give up on these guys - we're improving."
Looking at the numbers, this game was a dead heat. Unfortunately for the Valley squad, Southwood was able to convert three of its five red zone opportunities into points and converted critical third downs in staving off the hungry Vikings.
The Vikings were just three of 13 on third down, while the host Knights picked up a first down on five of nine third down tries.
Tippecanoe Valley kept Southwood at bay in the first period, snuffing a Southwood 1st and goal situation on the Knights' opening drive. Valley's Micah Lukens sacked Knight quarterback Paul Wright for a 10-yard loss on fourth down from the 4-yard line to keep the score tied at zero.
Southwood, fresh off a 53-20 shellacking of Whitko last Friday, finally got on the board with 8:14 left in the first half when Clint Marshall's 27-yard field goal split the uprights. The Knights had a 2nd-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the drive, but the Valley defense threw Southwood for losses of 3 yards and 7 yards in the next two plays.
The Knights found paydirt less than four minutes later when Lonnie Heck ran in from 5 yards out. His score put Southwood on top 10-0.
The Vikings had a great opportunity to put points on the board before the half expired, but couldn't punch it in from 10 yards out. The drive was highlighted by a fake punt run by Eric Prater, which netted 36 yards. Southwood maintained the 10-0 lead at the half.
Tippecanoe Valley's first possession of the second half resulted in a 9-play drive that ended with Nathan Moore's 27-yard field goal with 4:22 left in the third. His kick pulled the Vikings within 10-3, and that's how the score remained entering the fourth period.
Valley forced a punt early in the fourth quarter, but again, the Viking offense couldn't capitalize.
The Vikings picked up two first downs and would have had a third had it not been for a fumble with 8:12 to play. Valley's Eric Prater, who led his team with 65 yards rushing on eight carries, had enough for the first down but coughed up the football, which was promptly recovered by the Southwood.
Southwood scored another touchdown six plays later, and the margin proved to be too much to overcome. The Vikings put together a 13-play, 60-yard drive that ended just 10 yards from paydirt with a minute to play, and Southwood held on the 17-3 decision.
Junior Valley quarterback Brandon Eaton had a good night, completing 13 of 26 attempts for 144 yards. Eaton completed five straight passes in the final Valley possession and didn't throw an interception. Prater hauled in five passes for 52 yards, and Josh Wagoner caught three for 33 markers.
Tippecanoe Valley, 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the TRC, will try to get back on track when it hosts Northfield Friday at Death Valley.
SOUTHWOOD 17, VALLEY 3
Valley 0 0 3 0 - 3
Southwood 0 10 0 7 - 17
TV SW
First downs 13 9
Rushes-yards 38-108 39-193
Passing yards 144 72
Comp.-Att.-Int. 13-26-0 3-6-0
Total offense 252 265
Fumbles-lost 5-2 3-2
Punts-avg. 3-35 2-34
Penalties-yds. 4-35 6-45
Second Quarter
SW - Clint Marshall 27 field goal, 8:14, 3-0 SW
SW -ÊLonnie Heck 5 run (Marshall kick), 4:17, 10-0 SW
Third Quarter
TV -ÊNathan Moore 27 field goal, 4:22, 10-3 SW
Fourth Quarter
SW - Dallas Dillon 1 run, 6:03, 17-3 SW
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing - Tippecanoe Valley: Eric Prater 8-65, Charles Hall 12-27, Brandon Eaton 11-17, David Reese, 3-11, Nathan Patterson 4-(-2). Southwood: D.J. Marshall 15-179, Dillon 13-20, Heck 3-10, Paul Wright 8-(-16).
Receiving - Tippecanoe Valley: Prater 5-52, Josh Wagoner 3-35, Patterson 2-24, Adam Smith 2-19, Luke Gibson 1-14. Southwood Heck 2-36, Marshall 1-36.
Passing - Tippecanoe Valley: Eaton 13-26-0-144. Southwood: Wright 3-6-0-72. [[In-content Ad]]