Tippecanoe Valley Wins Second Straight
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
MENTONE - Although Tippecanoe Valley's shocking loss to Northfield a few weeks ago might have knocked the Vikings out of contention for a shot at the Three Rivers Conference title, it might have helped motivate the squad as well.
It looked that way Friday night, as Tippecanoe Valley won its second straight TRC game since the Northfield debacle by combining its traditionally strong defense with a great all-around team effort.
Tippecanoe Valley retained "the Bell" for the fourth straight year with a hard-fought 27-20 win over Rochester at Death Valley. It did, however, take big defensive efforts, a unique offensive play, and a little luck to accomplish the feat.
• A Darren Parker 38-yard interception return to the three-yard line in the second quarter set up Tippecanoe Valley's first touchdown. Scott Sponseller scored the touchdown four plays later.
• The Vikings went to the "Tazmania" play late in the third quarter, with TV quarterback Eric Backus dishing to Parker on a reverse. Parker then found an open Josh Brady 35 yards downfield that set up a 1st-and-goal. Sponseller scored the touchdown three plays later.
• Forced to punt, Parker booted the football to the Rochester 22, where it bounced off a Zebra's back. The Vikings recovered the fumble, and Parker broke free on the first play from scrimmage with a 22-yard touchdown jaunt.
• Tied 20-20 with two minutes to play, all Rochester needed at that point in time to go on top was a successful point-after kick. Brady spoiled Rochester's seemingly easy go-ahead try with his diving block of the attempt, preserving the (then) tie.
Tippecanoe Valley head coach Scott Bibler was a happy man following the win over arch-rival Rochester, and pointed out the effect the Northfield game had on his ballclub.
"The Northfield loss really got to the kids mentally," Bibler said. "It hurt not only them, but the coaching staff as well. We (had) lost two in a row, and these last two games (both wins) have been pivotal. The way we've reacted (after Northfield) could be the difference in this season.
The kids gained confidence tonight, and the offensive line really came around," Bibler said. "We mixed it up a little bit, and we gave Scott Sponseller the chance to run because we knew they would be keying in on (Nick) Stutzman."
Sponseller ended the night with three of Valley's four touchdowns.
Rochester drew first blood on Valley, taking a 7-0 lead with 11:25 to play in the first half on the strength on a 3-yard run by Jeremy Swank.
The Zebras forced a Valley punt and took over at their own 41, looking to score again. Parker foiled the plans, though, with his interception that led to the Sponseller touchdown. The point-after snap was high, so Valley settled for a 7-6 deficit at the halftime break.
The Vikings dominated the third quarter, rolling up 104 yards to Rochester's five. Tippecanoe Valley capped its seven-play, 54-yard drive with a Sponseller touchdown and a 12-7 lead; Rochester answered with an 83-yard kickoff return to go on top again 14-12 entering the final frame.
Parker's 22-yard run after the Rochester punt return fumble gave Valley an 18-14 advantage, and Parker then nabbed the two-point conversion pass from Backus to lead 20-14.
Rochester answered, putting together a 14-play, 71-yard march that culminated in a 3-yard Swank touchdown and 20-20 tie. Brady's block preserved the deadlock, and Valley had one last shot at avoiding overtime with a score of its own.
After two two kicks resulted in two penalties, Valley recieved the ball at its own 48. Rochester was whistled for a late hit on the kickoff, though, so TV took over with 1:59 to play and 37 yards to go.
Two great nine-yard carries by Parker, an 11-yard reception by Brady, and a five-yard pickup by Stutzman put Valley on the three-yard line with just seconds to play. Sponseller finished off the drive, and Rochester, with a three-yard plunge, giving Tippecanoe Valley the 27-20 win with 14 ticks to play.
The Vikings, now 4-2 (3-2 TRC), travel to North Miami (1-5, 1-4) Next Friday. Rochester fell to 3-3 with the loss. [[In-content Ad]]
MENTONE - Although Tippecanoe Valley's shocking loss to Northfield a few weeks ago might have knocked the Vikings out of contention for a shot at the Three Rivers Conference title, it might have helped motivate the squad as well.
It looked that way Friday night, as Tippecanoe Valley won its second straight TRC game since the Northfield debacle by combining its traditionally strong defense with a great all-around team effort.
Tippecanoe Valley retained "the Bell" for the fourth straight year with a hard-fought 27-20 win over Rochester at Death Valley. It did, however, take big defensive efforts, a unique offensive play, and a little luck to accomplish the feat.
• A Darren Parker 38-yard interception return to the three-yard line in the second quarter set up Tippecanoe Valley's first touchdown. Scott Sponseller scored the touchdown four plays later.
• The Vikings went to the "Tazmania" play late in the third quarter, with TV quarterback Eric Backus dishing to Parker on a reverse. Parker then found an open Josh Brady 35 yards downfield that set up a 1st-and-goal. Sponseller scored the touchdown three plays later.
• Forced to punt, Parker booted the football to the Rochester 22, where it bounced off a Zebra's back. The Vikings recovered the fumble, and Parker broke free on the first play from scrimmage with a 22-yard touchdown jaunt.
• Tied 20-20 with two minutes to play, all Rochester needed at that point in time to go on top was a successful point-after kick. Brady spoiled Rochester's seemingly easy go-ahead try with his diving block of the attempt, preserving the (then) tie.
Tippecanoe Valley head coach Scott Bibler was a happy man following the win over arch-rival Rochester, and pointed out the effect the Northfield game had on his ballclub.
"The Northfield loss really got to the kids mentally," Bibler said. "It hurt not only them, but the coaching staff as well. We (had) lost two in a row, and these last two games (both wins) have been pivotal. The way we've reacted (after Northfield) could be the difference in this season.
The kids gained confidence tonight, and the offensive line really came around," Bibler said. "We mixed it up a little bit, and we gave Scott Sponseller the chance to run because we knew they would be keying in on (Nick) Stutzman."
Sponseller ended the night with three of Valley's four touchdowns.
Rochester drew first blood on Valley, taking a 7-0 lead with 11:25 to play in the first half on the strength on a 3-yard run by Jeremy Swank.
The Zebras forced a Valley punt and took over at their own 41, looking to score again. Parker foiled the plans, though, with his interception that led to the Sponseller touchdown. The point-after snap was high, so Valley settled for a 7-6 deficit at the halftime break.
The Vikings dominated the third quarter, rolling up 104 yards to Rochester's five. Tippecanoe Valley capped its seven-play, 54-yard drive with a Sponseller touchdown and a 12-7 lead; Rochester answered with an 83-yard kickoff return to go on top again 14-12 entering the final frame.
Parker's 22-yard run after the Rochester punt return fumble gave Valley an 18-14 advantage, and Parker then nabbed the two-point conversion pass from Backus to lead 20-14.
Rochester answered, putting together a 14-play, 71-yard march that culminated in a 3-yard Swank touchdown and 20-20 tie. Brady's block preserved the deadlock, and Valley had one last shot at avoiding overtime with a score of its own.
After two two kicks resulted in two penalties, Valley recieved the ball at its own 48. Rochester was whistled for a late hit on the kickoff, though, so TV took over with 1:59 to play and 37 yards to go.
Two great nine-yard carries by Parker, an 11-yard reception by Brady, and a five-yard pickup by Stutzman put Valley on the three-yard line with just seconds to play. Sponseller finished off the drive, and Rochester, with a three-yard plunge, giving Tippecanoe Valley the 27-20 win with 14 ticks to play.
The Vikings, now 4-2 (3-2 TRC), travel to North Miami (1-5, 1-4) Next Friday. Rochester fell to 3-3 with the loss. [[In-content Ad]]