Vikings Fall Short In TRC Title Game
October 13, 2018 at 6:57 a.m.
By Ryan Villanueva-
The Southwood Knights did the same with a victory over Maconaquah.
The Knights, who were crowned champions of the TRC South Division, allowed only 29 points through their first eight games of the season.
As for the Vikings, they ripped off four straight victories going into Friday’s TRC title game at Southwood. Valley was the presumed underdog, but didn’t play like it in a heartbreaking 21-20 overtime loss.
Though Valley got a two-touchdown performance from Alex Morrison and held a 14-7 lead late in the fourth quarter, the Class 1A No. 3 Knights forced overtime and eventually capped a perfect regular season and conference championship at Sherman Waggoner Field.
“You know, I’m so proud of them, they’re such great kids and they fight so hard, but it’s so disappointing that they couldn’t get this,” said Tippecanoe Valley coach Steve Moriarty. “It frustrates me … they played their hearts out.”
Up until the end of regulation, the Vikings’ defense held Southwood junior halfback Gabe Lloyd to 65 yards on 26 carries, resulting in a mere 2.5 yards per carry. However, he did account for two of their three touchdowns. As a team, the Knights’ ground game accumulated 136 yards on 41 carries.
The Knights opened up the scoring when Lloyd got his first touchdown at the five-minute mark in the first quarter. Valley answered in the next quarter, with Alex Morrison punching it in from three yards out.
Coming out of halftime with the game tied at 7, Valley continued to put the clamps down on a Southwood team that averaged 32 points per game. After forcing a turnover on downs and a blocked punt to start the quarter, the Vikings took the lead on a one-yard run from Morrison.
The Vikings held on to their lead until late in the fourth quarter when Lloyd got his second score of the night from a yard out with 17 seconds left in regulation.
In overtime, the Valley offense marched onto the field first, and senior halfback Wes Melanson helped Valley retake the lead after the opening series. A missed extra point attempt, however, left the Valley lead at six points.
When it was Southwood’s turn on offense, sophomore quarterback Alex Farr found junior wideout Carson Heath for a four-yard touchdown connection. Junior Jackson Simons secured the win with a successful extra point attempt.
Valley, now 5-4 on the season, will head into the opening round of sectional play next week with a road trip to Peru.
Southwood will host Eastside next week in postseason action.
SOUTHWOOD 21,
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 20 (OT)
TV 0 7 7 0 6 – 20
SW 7 0 0 7 7 – 21
TV SW
Rushing yds 138 142
Passing yds 73 33
Comp-Att-Int 2-10-2 3-7-0
Total yds 211 175
Penalties/yds 4-56 5-33
Punts/avg. 2-39 4-31
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Valley – Cameron Parker 16-58, Alex Morrison 10-32, Wes Melanson 11-29, Noah Miller 3-19; Southwood – Gabe Lloyd 17-66, Alex Farr 11-60, Carson?Heath 1-1, Logan Barley 2-6, Carson Rich 2-9.
Passing: Valley – Miller 2-10-73 yards, 2 Int.; Southwood – Farr 3-7-45 yards, 0 Int.
Receiving: Valley – Morrison 2-73; Southwood – Barley 1-7, Rich 1-2, Heath 1-27.
Records: Valley 5-4, Southwood 9-0
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The Southwood Knights did the same with a victory over Maconaquah.
The Knights, who were crowned champions of the TRC South Division, allowed only 29 points through their first eight games of the season.
As for the Vikings, they ripped off four straight victories going into Friday’s TRC title game at Southwood. Valley was the presumed underdog, but didn’t play like it in a heartbreaking 21-20 overtime loss.
Though Valley got a two-touchdown performance from Alex Morrison and held a 14-7 lead late in the fourth quarter, the Class 1A No. 3 Knights forced overtime and eventually capped a perfect regular season and conference championship at Sherman Waggoner Field.
“You know, I’m so proud of them, they’re such great kids and they fight so hard, but it’s so disappointing that they couldn’t get this,” said Tippecanoe Valley coach Steve Moriarty. “It frustrates me … they played their hearts out.”
Up until the end of regulation, the Vikings’ defense held Southwood junior halfback Gabe Lloyd to 65 yards on 26 carries, resulting in a mere 2.5 yards per carry. However, he did account for two of their three touchdowns. As a team, the Knights’ ground game accumulated 136 yards on 41 carries.
The Knights opened up the scoring when Lloyd got his first touchdown at the five-minute mark in the first quarter. Valley answered in the next quarter, with Alex Morrison punching it in from three yards out.
Coming out of halftime with the game tied at 7, Valley continued to put the clamps down on a Southwood team that averaged 32 points per game. After forcing a turnover on downs and a blocked punt to start the quarter, the Vikings took the lead on a one-yard run from Morrison.
The Vikings held on to their lead until late in the fourth quarter when Lloyd got his second score of the night from a yard out with 17 seconds left in regulation.
In overtime, the Valley offense marched onto the field first, and senior halfback Wes Melanson helped Valley retake the lead after the opening series. A missed extra point attempt, however, left the Valley lead at six points.
When it was Southwood’s turn on offense, sophomore quarterback Alex Farr found junior wideout Carson Heath for a four-yard touchdown connection. Junior Jackson Simons secured the win with a successful extra point attempt.
Valley, now 5-4 on the season, will head into the opening round of sectional play next week with a road trip to Peru.
Southwood will host Eastside next week in postseason action.
SOUTHWOOD 21,
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 20 (OT)
TV 0 7 7 0 6 – 20
SW 7 0 0 7 7 – 21
TV SW
Rushing yds 138 142
Passing yds 73 33
Comp-Att-Int 2-10-2 3-7-0
Total yds 211 175
Penalties/yds 4-56 5-33
Punts/avg. 2-39 4-31
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Valley – Cameron Parker 16-58, Alex Morrison 10-32, Wes Melanson 11-29, Noah Miller 3-19; Southwood – Gabe Lloyd 17-66, Alex Farr 11-60, Carson?Heath 1-1, Logan Barley 2-6, Carson Rich 2-9.
Passing: Valley – Miller 2-10-73 yards, 2 Int.; Southwood – Farr 3-7-45 yards, 0 Int.
Receiving: Valley – Morrison 2-73; Southwood – Barley 1-7, Rich 1-2, Heath 1-27.
Records: Valley 5-4, Southwood 9-0
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