WILLIAMSTOWN — It is not how you start a football game, but how you finish.
Williams Valley’s spotless Tri-Valley League record was spoiled in the final minute of a 31-28 loss to Newport at Gerry Stauffenberg Field at Viking Stadium on Friday night.
After its offense went up by four points, the Vikings’ defense could not stop the Buffaloes’ passing attack, giving up a touchdown with just 30 seconds to play.
“Newport earned it,” Williams Valley coach Tim Savage said. “Usually our offense struggles to execute and our defense plays great, but the roles were reversed on that last drive.”
The back-and-forth affair saw Vikings quarterback Nick Rodichok throw for 228 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Matt Miller rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown.
Williams Valley’s defense forced four turnovers, including two fumbles and two interceptions, making Newport’s final touchdown drive an anomaly in an otherwise great effort.
“I have to give credit to Williams Valley,” Buffaloes coach Todd Rothermel said. “They made us earn every inch.”
Newport got off to a hot start on its opening drive, courtesy of a 49-yard run by Dalton Klinger.
The Vikings’ defense stood firm, forcing the Buffaloes to settle for a 29-yard field goal from kicker Hunter Wirth, to go up 3-0.
On Newport’s next possession, quarterback Noah Heimbaugh hit Trevan Dorman with a 25-yard touchdown pass that gave the Buffaloes a 10-0 lead after Wirth’s PAT.
Williams Valley got its offense going in the second quarter with Miller’s 3-yard rushing touchdown, and then the Vikings’ defense forced a fumble on the first play of the Buffaloes’ next possession.
Zach Ulsh recorded the fumble recovery that set up a 42-yard touchdown pass from Rodichok to Garrett Zimmerman. In a matter of 60 seconds, the Vikings went from being held scoreless to leading 14-10.
Williams Valley’s cherry-on-top of its second-quarter, big-play outburst came when Travis Graff intercepted Heimbaugh to end the half.
“Our offense and our defense came up big there,” Savage said. “Miller is a player who makes things happen, and we’re blessed to have a running back like him.”
The Vikings kept rolling in the third quarter, with wide receiver Allen Hand grabbing a 36-yard pass, and Cody Miller nabbing a 34-yard touchdown pass from Rodichok.
With the score now 21-10 Williams Valley, Newport’s offense reached the 1-yard line before a bad snap and a fumble, recovered by the Vikings’ Dylan Rabuck, halted the Buffaloes’ comeback.
In the fourth quarter, Newport came out swinging on a quick 44-yard touchdown from Heimbaugh to Noah Reich, and then scored again when defensive lineman Maverick Robinson recovered a Buffaloes fumble and ran it in for a score.
“I was very happy with our effort there,” Rothermel said. “At halftime I told my kids that we couldn’t open strong and then let Williams Valley walk all over us.”
Down 24-21, the Vikings responded with a 16-yard touchdown score from Rodichok to Zimmerman, the second time the two connected in the game.
“Nick looked like the quarterback I’d seen during our offseason practices,” Savage said. “He played great.”
With just over a minute to play, Heimbaugh completed 5-of-6 passes, including a 19-yard touchdown to Elias Goodling, to cap a 31-28, comeback win for Newport.
“We had to scratch, bite and claw, but we executed very well down the stretch,” Rothermel said. “This was a great game and you can thank two great coaching staffs and two great football programs for that.”
“With games like these, it’s a shame somebody has to lose.”
Game Summary
Newport (3-2, 2-1) 10 0 0 21 — 31 Wms. Val. (3-2, 3-1) 0 14 7 7 — 28
N —FG Wirth 29
N —Dorman 25 pass from Heimbaugh (Wirth kick)
WV —M. Miller 3 run (Hill kick)
WV — Zimmerman 42 pass from Rodichok (Hill kick)
WV —C. Miller 34 pass from Rodichok (Hill kick)
N —Reich 44 pass from Heimbaugh (Wirth kick)
N —Robinson 1 fumble return (Wirth kick)
WV —Zimmerman 16 pass from Rodichok (Hill kick)
N —Goodling 19 pass from Heimbaugh (Wirth kick)
New WV
First Downs 12 13
Rushes-Yards 16-174 36-152
Passes 16-24-2 14-25-0
Passing Yards 221 228
Total Yards 395 380
Fumbles-Lost 3-2 1-0
Penalties 5-35 8-55
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Newport — Klinger 15-160, Goodling 5-15, Heimbaugh 1-(-1). Williams Valley — M. Miller 28-101, Zimmerman 4-46, Rodichok 2-3, Harris 2-2.
PASSING: Newport — Heimbaugh 16-24-2, 221. Williams Valley — Rodichok 14-23-0, 228; C. Miller 0-1-0, 0; M. Miller 0-1-0, 0.
RECEIVING: Newport — Reich 4-90, Dorman 4-65, Goodling 3-34, Klinger 5-32. Williams Valley — C. Miller 6-69, Zimmerman 2-58, Hand 1-36, Rabuck 1-28, Harris 2-26, M. Miller 2-11.
INTERCEPTIONS: Williams Valley — Graff, M. Miller.