Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
INDIANAPOLIS - Other than a small attendance, Tippecanoe Valley's 28-27 overtime loss to Three Rivers Conference rival Oak Hill Saturday in the RCA Dome had the makings of a state championship caliber football game.
After Oak Hill senior triggerman Ty Henderson connected on fourth quarter scoring strikes to Lance Strange and Marcus Hall, knotting the score at 21 at the end of regulation, Henderson scampered 10 yards to paydirt on the Eagles' first play of the extra session. Andy Arrendale's extra-point kick split the uprights and Oak Hill led 28-21.
Using a power running game that led the Vikings to a 5-0 record coming in, senior Josh Carter barreled to the 6-yard line on Valley's first overtime play. Senior B.J. Cunningham moved the ball forward another yard on the following play. On third-and-five, freshman quarterback David Beyers took the ball inches from the end zone. Carter then scored his third rushing touchdown of the day, leaving junior Chris Hurd with a task that he had already completed three times on the day - convert the extra-point kick.
Hurd's kick was blocked by center of Oak Hill's line, dropping Valley to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Oak Hill is also 5-1 and 3-1.
"It was a great atmosphere," Valley coach Scott Bibler. "(Oak Hill coach) Bud (Ozmun) did a great job with his guys. Our defense played a good game. Containing their option to what we did is great. We gave up some big plays in the secondary and weren't able to make the big plays when we needed to."
Valley's defense held Oak Hill to 69 yards rushing but allowed Henderson to throw for three touchdowns and 239 yards on 15-of-20 passing.
While the Vikings' smash-mouth style of running netted 145 yards, its air attack was held to 34 yards on 3-of-10 passing with an interception.
As it has all year, Valley's stingy defense led to the first score of the game. After the Vikings recovered an Oak Hill fumble on the Eagles' 8-yard line, Carter pounded out six yards and then two more for the score. Hurd's extra-point kick was good, and Valley led 7-0.
Carter finished the day with 22 yards on eight carries. Cunningham led the Vikings' rushing game with 50 yards on six carries. A total of eight Vikings rushed the ball in Saturday's game.
Oak Hill started its next possession on the 29. Henderson rushed the ball twice for 11 yards before junior fullback Chris Key pounded out two. Henderson rushed for two more, then, on his first passing attempt of the game, found senior halfback Ben Mann for a 56-yard touchdown toss.
Henderson, who also led Oak Hill on the ground with 19 carries for 53 yards, had but three passes on the day that were less than 10 yards.
"Henderson did a great job at quarterback," Bibler said. "He made the most of it. Even when we were up 21-7 we never put them away."
After the teams went to halftime in a 7-7 stalemate, Carter broke the tie with his second 2-yard touchdown plunge, this one coming with 4:40 remaining in the third. Hurd's kick was good, and the Viking's led 14-7.
Just over two minutes later it was senior Wes Backus pounding three yards for a touchdown, that, with Hurd's kick, gave Valley what looked like a comfortable lead.
If Saturday's fourth quarter were a broadway musical, Henderson was the star of the center stage.
On Oak Hill's first play of the final frame, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound quarterback tucked the ball and scampered 21 yards to Valley's 30. After fumbling the ball at the line of scrimmage - one of six on the day for the Eagles - Henderson found Strange for a 30-yard scoring strike at the 8:34 mark.
After forcing the Vikings to punt, Henderson led the Eagles on a 10-play drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Hall with 1:45 remaining in regulation.
Hall finished the day with three catches and 38 yards. Strange tallied three catches for 57 yards, while Mann reeled in seven passes for 131 yards.
Each team was dealt one more possession in regulation play, with Valley being forced to punt and Oak Hill missing a 49-yard field goal attempt.
The Vikings, who host Rochester Friday, are now involved in a four-way race for the TRC title.
"We're not in the driver's seat anymore," Bibler said. "We have to win the rest of our games to have a shot. A lot depends on Rochester/Manchester (Saturday's second game). Even if Manchester beats Rochester, we still have to beat Rochester."
OAK HILL 28, T. VALLEY 27 (OT)
T. Valley (5-1, 3-1) 7 0 14 0 6 - 27
Oak Hill (5-1, 3-1) 7 0 0 14 7 - 28
TV OH
First Downs 8 11
Rushes-yards 45-145 26-69
Yards Passing 34 239
Comp.-Att.-Int. 3-10-1 15-20-0
Total offense 179 308
Fumbles-lost 1-1 6-4
Punts-Ave. 6-22.2 1-19
First Quarter
TV - Josh Carter 2 run (Chirs Hurd kick) 7-0, 8:18
OH - Ben Mann 56 catch (Andy Arrendale kick) 7-7, 5:54
Third Quarter
TV - Carter 2 run (Hurd kick) 14-7, 4:40
TV - Wes Backus 3 run (Hurd kick) 21-7, 2:33
Fourth Quarter
OH - Lance Strange 30 pass from Ty Henderson (Arrendale kick) 21-14, 8:34
OH - Marcus Hall 20 pass from Henderson (Arrendale kick) 21-21, 1:45
Overtime
OH - Henderson 10 run (Arrendale kick) 28-21
TV - Carter 1 run (kick blocked) 28-27
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing - Valley, B.J. Cunningham 6-50, Backus 8-30, David Beyers 9-27, Carter 8-22. Oak Hill, Henderson 19-53, Mann 2-8.
Passing - Valley, Beyers 2-6-45-0, Casey Wise 1-4-9-1. Oak Hill, Henderson 15-20-239-0, 3 TDs.
Receiving - Valley, Trey Eaton 1-16, Aaron Zolman 1-9, Greg Prater 1-9. Oak Hill, Mann 7-131, Strange 3-57, Hall 3-38.
