AKRON – Turnovers turned the tide for Tippecanoe Valley on Friday.
The Vikings’ football team gave away the ball four times and struggled to stop Bremen’s passing attack in a 34-7 loss in a non-conference game at Tippecanoe Valley High School.
“The turnover bug got us,” said Valley coach Steve Moriarty.
Valley (0-1) held a 7-0 lead heading into the second quarter, with Bremen (1-0) driving in Vikings territory.
On 4th and 10 at the 32, birthday boy Ryan Caldwell threw the ball right into Justin Zumbrun’s bread-basket to put the Lions on the board.
Moriarty credited Bremen’s passing game with keeping Valley on the field in the first half; Bremen ran 36 first-half plays to Valley’s 15.
“It seemed like we stopped them first down, second down, then they’d throw it on third and get it and here we go again,” he said.
The Lions took a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter when Caldwell hit Sam Huffman for the 6-yard touchdown.
They scored one more time before the half on Caldwell’s 20-yard strike to Collin Kerr.
“The conditions were more for a running game tonight, and their big defensive lineman just clogged everything up,” said Bremen coach Jordan Leeper. “So we felt that we could open it up, and Ryan Caldwell, on his birthday, had a great night.”
Valley entered the second half with a renewed sense of purpose. After stopping Bremen’s first drive, the Vikings took over and marched deep into Lions territory.
Despite Cameron Parker converting a first down on 4th and 1, Valley’s drive was stalled when another 4th-and-1 attempt was stopped short.
The Vikings still had a chance to gain momentum with another long drive. However, a fumble at the start of the fourth quarter ended Valley’s last real shot at a touchdown.
“We made some adjustments at halftime and started running to the weak side, and then we started gaining more,” Moriarty said. “And once again, we’d shoot ourselves in the foot.”
Bremen tacked on two late scores – a 3-yard pass from Caldwell to Zumbrun and Evan Manges’ 68-yard interception return – to make the score 34-7.
“Our defense was fantastic tonight,” Leeper said. “Our coaches put in a great game plan for it and our kids executed it, and that’s exactly what we need them to do.”
Valley’s lone score came on Noah Miller’s screen pass that Cameron Parker turned into a 59-yard touchdown early in the first quarter.
Despite the loss, Moriarty has high hopes for the Vikings this season.
“We’re gonna be tough to beat in the (Three Rivers Conference), I’m just gonna tell you,” he said.
Valley will hit the road in Week 2 to play a 7:30 p.m. game at Culver Academy.
BREMEN 34 TIPPECANOE VALLEY 7
B 0 21 0 13 — 34
TV 7 0 0 00 — 7
B W
1st downs 13 74
Rushing yds 186 251
Passing yds 184 61
Comp-Att-Int 13-19-0 8-15-1
Total yds 370 135
Fumbles/lost 3/0 3/2
Penalties/yds 12/105 5/35
First Quarter
V – Cameron Parker 59 pass from Noah Miller (Jose Rivera kick), 8:09
Second Quarter
B – Justin Zumbrun 32 pass from Ryan Caldwell (kick failed), 11:53
B – Sam Huffman 6 pass from Caldwell (Nathan Mullen run), 6:36
B – Collin Kerr 20 pass from Caldwell (Zumbrun kick), :33.2
Fourth Quarter
B – Zumbrun 3 pass from Caldwell (kick failed), 2:36
B – Evan Manges 68 interception return (Zumbrun kick), 2:11
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — Bremen, Mullen 18-110, Alex Stouder 8-40, Bryce Wogomon 8-31, Caldwell 7-5; Valley, Parker 14-45, Wes Melanson 6-21, Johnny Gonsalez 3-10, Jaydin Conley 1-6, Miller 7-(-8)
Passing — Bremen, Caldwell 13-19-184, 4 TD; Valley, Miller 2-4-61, 1 TD, 1 INT, Parker 0-1-0, 1 INT
