Valley Survives Against West Noble
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
LIGONIER - It wasn't all that pretty and took some big plays from special teams, but Tippecanoe Valley is alive for another week of sectional football.
The Vikings' first three scores were all set up on West Noble punts, and Tippecanoe Valley used that ammunition in downing a pesky Charger squad 33-22 on the road.
Tippecanoe Valley improved its record to 5-5 on the season and will host Northridge (1-8) Friday at Death Valley. Northridge had a first round bye. West Noble finished its season at 1-9 and is 1-19 in its past 20 games.
The Vikings trailed early, 6-0, after the Chargers came out firing in the first quarter, but forced fourth-down-and-six early the second quarter. West Noble dropped back to punt, but the snap was high and Valley recovered on the Charger 11-yard line.
Three plays later, sophomore Viking quarterback Brandon Eaton found an open Josh Wagoner from eight yards out for a 7-6 Valley advantage with 11 minutes left in the third.
Once again, the Valley defense held West Noble to a fourth and long, and once again, the Chargers dropped back to punt.
Once again, it turned into a Valley score.
Jeremy Fox barreled his way in front of the punter, blocked the kick and set up a Tippecanoe Valley first and goal situation. Two plays later, Jason Parker punched it in from a yard out for a 14-6 lead with 9:31 showing on the second quarter clock.
Fast forward five minutes.
Facing fourth and eight again with time dwindling in the first half, the Chargers chose to punt, trailing by eight.
They got the punt off this time, but the result was the same - a Tippecanoe Valley score.
Senior Matt Baker, one of the quickest players in the area, showed off his running ability with a 72-yard punt return, literally jumping out of two tackles and hugging the sideline the rest of the way. His score allowed the Vikes a two-touchdown halftime advantage that Tippecanoe Valley was able to hold on to the rest of the way.
"Big, big, plays tonight," Bibler said. "We got behind, and I thought 'Oh, boy, here it is.' I thought our special teams really did a nice job of getting us into the ball game.
"That's what counts right now, moving on to next week. It got ugly towards the end there."
The Vikings were actually outgained in total yards against the lowly Charger squad, and while Tippecanoe Valley led by two scores the entire second half, the lead was never all that comfortable.
West Noble came out throwing, having a 75-yard touchdown reception called back on the third play from scrimmage via a penalty. Six plays later, the same play burned the Valley secondary again for 58 yards when Jason Worrell snagged a Charley Gabet pass and rolled into the end zone. This time the yellow flag didn't save the Vikings, and the heavy favorites were down 6-0 midway through the first period.
The defense kicked in for the Vikings in the second period, forcing the fourth and longs which in turn set up the botched were held to -1 yard in the second period after rolling up 99 markers in the first quarter.
Valley wasn't all that impressive with yardage in the first half, but with the Vikings only having to go 10 or 15 yards for a score like they did early in the period, the total yards were deceiving. Valley led 21-6 at halftime.
It looked as if Tippecanoe Valley was going to roll to the easy win early in the second half, going up 27-6 when Parker scored his second touchdown of the night with 5:45 to play in the quarter. Baker then intercepted an errant Charger pass on the next West Noble possession, and a Valley-Northridge date was all but set in round two.
Although 1-8 heading into the game, the Chargers refused to fold.
West Noble forced a Viking punt and marched 61 yards to pay dirt, cutting the TV advantage to 27-14 when senior Neal Parks ran in a touchdown and then a two-point conversion.
An onside kick attempt was recovered by the Chargers but failed to go the required 10 yards, instead traveling about a half yard short.
Tippecanoe Valley fumbled four plays later, giving West Noble an opportunity to cut its deficit in half, but the Chargers failed on a fourth down pass play. Valley padded the lead to 33-14 when sophomore backup quarterback Craig Kuhn found Wagoner sprinting down the right side of the field for a 25-yard strike, and West Noble got one more score in with a minute left to account for the 33-22 final.
Tippecanoe Valley found better conditions for its ground game against West Noble than it had last week when Whitko made the Vikings pass, gaining a respectable 154 yards on 38 carries. Parker led all rushers with 95 yards on 15 attempts.
Valley hosts Northridge Friday, with the winner advancing to a sectional championship match with either NorthWood or Angola. [[In-content Ad]]
LIGONIER - It wasn't all that pretty and took some big plays from special teams, but Tippecanoe Valley is alive for another week of sectional football.
The Vikings' first three scores were all set up on West Noble punts, and Tippecanoe Valley used that ammunition in downing a pesky Charger squad 33-22 on the road.
Tippecanoe Valley improved its record to 5-5 on the season and will host Northridge (1-8) Friday at Death Valley. Northridge had a first round bye. West Noble finished its season at 1-9 and is 1-19 in its past 20 games.
The Vikings trailed early, 6-0, after the Chargers came out firing in the first quarter, but forced fourth-down-and-six early the second quarter. West Noble dropped back to punt, but the snap was high and Valley recovered on the Charger 11-yard line.
Three plays later, sophomore Viking quarterback Brandon Eaton found an open Josh Wagoner from eight yards out for a 7-6 Valley advantage with 11 minutes left in the third.
Once again, the Valley defense held West Noble to a fourth and long, and once again, the Chargers dropped back to punt.
Once again, it turned into a Valley score.
Jeremy Fox barreled his way in front of the punter, blocked the kick and set up a Tippecanoe Valley first and goal situation. Two plays later, Jason Parker punched it in from a yard out for a 14-6 lead with 9:31 showing on the second quarter clock.
Fast forward five minutes.
Facing fourth and eight again with time dwindling in the first half, the Chargers chose to punt, trailing by eight.
They got the punt off this time, but the result was the same - a Tippecanoe Valley score.
Senior Matt Baker, one of the quickest players in the area, showed off his running ability with a 72-yard punt return, literally jumping out of two tackles and hugging the sideline the rest of the way. His score allowed the Vikes a two-touchdown halftime advantage that Tippecanoe Valley was able to hold on to the rest of the way.
"Big, big, plays tonight," Bibler said. "We got behind, and I thought 'Oh, boy, here it is.' I thought our special teams really did a nice job of getting us into the ball game.
"That's what counts right now, moving on to next week. It got ugly towards the end there."
The Vikings were actually outgained in total yards against the lowly Charger squad, and while Tippecanoe Valley led by two scores the entire second half, the lead was never all that comfortable.
West Noble came out throwing, having a 75-yard touchdown reception called back on the third play from scrimmage via a penalty. Six plays later, the same play burned the Valley secondary again for 58 yards when Jason Worrell snagged a Charley Gabet pass and rolled into the end zone. This time the yellow flag didn't save the Vikings, and the heavy favorites were down 6-0 midway through the first period.
The defense kicked in for the Vikings in the second period, forcing the fourth and longs which in turn set up the botched were held to -1 yard in the second period after rolling up 99 markers in the first quarter.
Valley wasn't all that impressive with yardage in the first half, but with the Vikings only having to go 10 or 15 yards for a score like they did early in the period, the total yards were deceiving. Valley led 21-6 at halftime.
It looked as if Tippecanoe Valley was going to roll to the easy win early in the second half, going up 27-6 when Parker scored his second touchdown of the night with 5:45 to play in the quarter. Baker then intercepted an errant Charger pass on the next West Noble possession, and a Valley-Northridge date was all but set in round two.
Although 1-8 heading into the game, the Chargers refused to fold.
West Noble forced a Viking punt and marched 61 yards to pay dirt, cutting the TV advantage to 27-14 when senior Neal Parks ran in a touchdown and then a two-point conversion.
An onside kick attempt was recovered by the Chargers but failed to go the required 10 yards, instead traveling about a half yard short.
Tippecanoe Valley fumbled four plays later, giving West Noble an opportunity to cut its deficit in half, but the Chargers failed on a fourth down pass play. Valley padded the lead to 33-14 when sophomore backup quarterback Craig Kuhn found Wagoner sprinting down the right side of the field for a 25-yard strike, and West Noble got one more score in with a minute left to account for the 33-22 final.
Tippecanoe Valley found better conditions for its ground game against West Noble than it had last week when Whitko made the Vikings pass, gaining a respectable 154 yards on 38 carries. Parker led all rushers with 95 yards on 15 attempts.
Valley hosts Northridge Friday, with the winner advancing to a sectional championship match with either NorthWood or Angola. [[In-content Ad]]