SOUTH WHITLEY - A Tippecanoe Valley win, and fate, were needed for the Vikings to share the Three River Conference title Friday as they took on an upset-minded Whitko Wildcats.
Valley's Kyle Brady rushed for 156 yards on 22 carries to escape with a win over the Wildcats as Valley outscored Whitko 28-12.Even with the win, Rochester's 14-6 win over North Miami closed their regular season with a 9-0 record and the conference title. But even without winning the conference, Valley was still pleased to close their season with a 8-1 mark, 6-1 in the TRC.
"Whitko played a tough game. They made us bend a little but we wouldn't break. We came out a little flat at times during the game," Valley coach Jeff Shriver said.
Valley started the game well with a six minute drive, methodically driving down the field. The scoring drive was capped with a 6-yard run by Kyle Ritchey. Chad Hoffer hit Ryan Roberts in the end zone for the two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead.
Close plays and Whitko penalties made the difference in the game. Late in the second quarter Whitko recovered a Hoffer fumble a the Valley 42-yard.
With 1:21 left to go in the quarter, Cort Walker had a Gabe Starkey pass slip off his finger tips to give Valley the ball back with 1:21 in the quarter.
Brady took a screen pass from Hofer and scampered 31 yards for a touchdown with 28 seconds left in the half. Matt Smith's extra point kick made it 15-0 going into the locker room.
"I am proud of the kids tonight, they played Tippecanoe Valley tough. They came out ready to play. We had a couple of plays in the red zone that were inches from touchdowns. We need to work on scoring when we are in the red zone as we go into the sectional play," Whitko coach Bryan Sprunger said.
Whitko came out in the third period and drove down to the 8-yard line, but from there, the Wildcats could not get the ball over the line.
"Our defense came through when they needed to. We held Whitko a couple of times that they came close to scoring," Shriver said.
Brady scored his second touchdown with 2:55 left in the third quarter to give the Vikings a 21-0 lead going into the fourth. Brady scored from four yards out and the extra point kick was blocked.
Starkey caught fire in the fourth quarter, passing for 84 yards on 5 of 9 passing. Starkey finished with 186 passing yards for the game.
"Starkey did a great job tonight. He is a young kid who stood in there tonight. He completed a couple of passes even though we had him pressured," Shriver said.
Whitko put together a drive from their own 9-yard line, despite two penalties. Matt Strandlund carried several Viking defenders into the end zone from the 2-yard line. The two-point conversion failed.
"We played hard and we played well together. If we continue improve to play the way they did tonight we can make some noise in the sectionals," Sprunger said.
Whitko will host fellow TRC opponent Wabash Friday to start its sectional run.
Valley finished the game with four fumbles, with Whitko recovering three of them. The last miscue proved to be the most costly.
Cole Misher picked up a fumble at the Valley 45-yard line. From there, Mishler ran down the left sideline for a 55-yard fumble recovery touchdown and put Whitko back in the game 21-12.
Valley then brought out its starting lineup. Blake Moore came into the game and ran 27 yards on his only carry and scored to put the game out of reach.
"A coach never wants to second guess himself, but I did. I was giving some playing time to the other kids. I needed to bring the first string back in. Whitko got close and we needed to do something," Shriver said.
Valley finishes the season with an 8-1 record and second place in the TRC. The Vikings will travel to Mishawaka to take on South Bend St. Joe's at Mishawaka Marian High School.
"We had a great year. The camaraderie of this team has been nothing short of wonderful. We have come together as a unit. We play flat sometimes and we just need to improve that if we plan on going far in the playoffs," Shriver said.
Shriver continued, "Valley hasn't won eight games in a season in a while. I am glad we play as well as we do together."
