Valley Survives Scare At Northfield
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Ryan Villanueva-
Whether you cheered for Tippecanoe Valley or Northfield, then you might discover some new gray hairs.
In a back-and-forth battle, both the Vikings and Norse used all 48 minutes to decide the game before Valley was able to stave off a Northfield comeback, escaping with a 34-32 victory on a very wet field in rural Wabash County.
Valley had a great opening drive, pounding the ball all the way down the Northfield 2-yard line before turning the ball over to the Norse on a fumble. Northfield converted a 4th-down play that drive, but were unable to score on their first drive.
Valley got on the board first when Chris Torpy scored from four yards out with 44 seconds left in the first quarter.
In the second stanza, Valley quarterback Ben Shriver got his team’s offense in gear, connecting with Nolan Sponseller for a 76-yard touchdown pass to stretch the Vikings’ lead to 12-0.
Sponseller proved effective for the Vikings, as he stepped up in place of Tanner Andrews, who saw some action but was also nursing an injured shoulder.
Northfield got the ball rolling just before the half and to open the third quarter. Touchdown runs by quarterback Carter Frieden and halfback Josh Bickel knotted things up at 12, putting Valley on its heels.
The Vikings’ ground game got them out to a more comfortable lead early in the fourth quarter after touchdown runs by Garrett Bell and Torpy. Shriver found Jonah Mikel in the end zone for two points after the Torpy run to put the Vikings back in front, this time 26-12.
Northfield did not quit despite being down two scores in the final quarter of action.
Frieden found Shane Vigar on a 5-yard touchdown pass to bring the Norse within seven. Later, Northfield was able to regain possession, and after missed assignments and some poor tackling Frieden took it upon himself and scored on a 28-yard keeper.
“We talked a lot this week about consistency and effort,” said Valley coach Jeff Shriver. “And there were times that we had great effort and times we didn’t.”
With the game appearing to be under a few minutes just a few minutes prior, the scoreboard read 26 points apiece with 2:40 left in the game.
The Vikings had toact quick. After a failed onside kick attempt from the Norse, the Vikings were able to drive the ball to the Northfield 38. With 52 seconds remaining, Shriver found Nolan Sponseller down the sideline for a touchdown play that gave the Vikings a 34-26 lead, including a two-point conversion from Bell.
Again, victory seemed a sure thing. The Norse, however, did not count themselves out. A couple big gains and a critical pass interference placed them deep in Viking territory.
“We didn’t come out and play better football,” said Jeff Shriver. “We’re going to really have to do some soul-searching and look at the physicality and effort of which we play.”
Frieden scored a touchdown with time expiring, giving the Norse an opportunity for comeback. On the two-point conversion, Frieden’s pass was batted down and the defense streaked down the sidelines to celebrate the win with each other.
“It was a great high school football game with the back-and-forth and the struggle on the field offensively and defensively,” said Jeff Shriver. “We just wish we were struggling a little less defensively.
“We did come out with a win, and that’s the main thing,” he added.
Coach Shriver praised the efforts of Sponseller who, caught three passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He also praised his son/quarterback and Bell for being key players in the rushing game.
Despite the close call, the Vikings were able to keep their winning streak against the Norse alive at 17, with their last loss to Northfield coming all the way back in 1996.
The Vikings host Wabash Friday for Homecoming.
T. VALLEY 34, NORTHFIELD 32
TV 6 6 6 16 — 34
NF 0 6 6 20 — 32
First Quarter
TV – Chris Torpy 4 run (kick failed) 6-0
Second Quarter
TV – Ben Shriver 76 pass to Nolan Sponseller (conversion failed) 12-0
NF – Carter Frieden 1 run (kick failed) 12-6
Third Quarter
NF – Josh Bickel 9 run (kick failed) 12-12
TV – Garrett Bell 3 run (conversion failed) 18-12
Fourth Quarter
TV – Torpy 1 run (Shriver conversion pass to Jonah Mikel) 26-12
NF – Frieden 5 pass to Shane Vigar (Drake Richter kick) 26-19
NF – Frieden 28 run (Richter kick) 26-26
TV – Shriver 38 pass to Sponseller (Bell conversion run) 34-26
NF – Frieden 3 run (conversion failed) 34-32
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — Valley, Torpy 22-125, Bell 4-9; Northfield, Bickel 18-120, Frieden 5-31.
Passing — Valley, Shriver 8-16-186, 2 TDs, 0 Int; Northfield, Frieden 9-18-106, 1 TD, 0 Int.
Receiving — Valley, Sponseller 3-146; Northfield, Vigar 3-25[[In-content Ad]]
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Whether you cheered for Tippecanoe Valley or Northfield, then you might discover some new gray hairs.
In a back-and-forth battle, both the Vikings and Norse used all 48 minutes to decide the game before Valley was able to stave off a Northfield comeback, escaping with a 34-32 victory on a very wet field in rural Wabash County.
Valley had a great opening drive, pounding the ball all the way down the Northfield 2-yard line before turning the ball over to the Norse on a fumble. Northfield converted a 4th-down play that drive, but were unable to score on their first drive.
Valley got on the board first when Chris Torpy scored from four yards out with 44 seconds left in the first quarter.
In the second stanza, Valley quarterback Ben Shriver got his team’s offense in gear, connecting with Nolan Sponseller for a 76-yard touchdown pass to stretch the Vikings’ lead to 12-0.
Sponseller proved effective for the Vikings, as he stepped up in place of Tanner Andrews, who saw some action but was also nursing an injured shoulder.
Northfield got the ball rolling just before the half and to open the third quarter. Touchdown runs by quarterback Carter Frieden and halfback Josh Bickel knotted things up at 12, putting Valley on its heels.
The Vikings’ ground game got them out to a more comfortable lead early in the fourth quarter after touchdown runs by Garrett Bell and Torpy. Shriver found Jonah Mikel in the end zone for two points after the Torpy run to put the Vikings back in front, this time 26-12.
Northfield did not quit despite being down two scores in the final quarter of action.
Frieden found Shane Vigar on a 5-yard touchdown pass to bring the Norse within seven. Later, Northfield was able to regain possession, and after missed assignments and some poor tackling Frieden took it upon himself and scored on a 28-yard keeper.
“We talked a lot this week about consistency and effort,” said Valley coach Jeff Shriver. “And there were times that we had great effort and times we didn’t.”
With the game appearing to be under a few minutes just a few minutes prior, the scoreboard read 26 points apiece with 2:40 left in the game.
The Vikings had toact quick. After a failed onside kick attempt from the Norse, the Vikings were able to drive the ball to the Northfield 38. With 52 seconds remaining, Shriver found Nolan Sponseller down the sideline for a touchdown play that gave the Vikings a 34-26 lead, including a two-point conversion from Bell.
Again, victory seemed a sure thing. The Norse, however, did not count themselves out. A couple big gains and a critical pass interference placed them deep in Viking territory.
“We didn’t come out and play better football,” said Jeff Shriver. “We’re going to really have to do some soul-searching and look at the physicality and effort of which we play.”
Frieden scored a touchdown with time expiring, giving the Norse an opportunity for comeback. On the two-point conversion, Frieden’s pass was batted down and the defense streaked down the sidelines to celebrate the win with each other.
“It was a great high school football game with the back-and-forth and the struggle on the field offensively and defensively,” said Jeff Shriver. “We just wish we were struggling a little less defensively.
“We did come out with a win, and that’s the main thing,” he added.
Coach Shriver praised the efforts of Sponseller who, caught three passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He also praised his son/quarterback and Bell for being key players in the rushing game.
Despite the close call, the Vikings were able to keep their winning streak against the Norse alive at 17, with their last loss to Northfield coming all the way back in 1996.
The Vikings host Wabash Friday for Homecoming.
T. VALLEY 34, NORTHFIELD 32
TV 6 6 6 16 — 34
NF 0 6 6 20 — 32
First Quarter
TV – Chris Torpy 4 run (kick failed) 6-0
Second Quarter
TV – Ben Shriver 76 pass to Nolan Sponseller (conversion failed) 12-0
NF – Carter Frieden 1 run (kick failed) 12-6
Third Quarter
NF – Josh Bickel 9 run (kick failed) 12-12
TV – Garrett Bell 3 run (conversion failed) 18-12
Fourth Quarter
TV – Torpy 1 run (Shriver conversion pass to Jonah Mikel) 26-12
NF – Frieden 5 pass to Shane Vigar (Drake Richter kick) 26-19
NF – Frieden 28 run (Richter kick) 26-26
TV – Shriver 38 pass to Sponseller (Bell conversion run) 34-26
NF – Frieden 3 run (conversion failed) 34-32
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — Valley, Torpy 22-125, Bell 4-9; Northfield, Bickel 18-120, Frieden 5-31.
Passing — Valley, Shriver 8-16-186, 2 TDs, 0 Int; Northfield, Frieden 9-18-106, 1 TD, 0 Int.
Receiving — Valley, Sponseller 3-146; Northfield, Vigar 3-25[[In-content Ad]]
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