HEGINS — For the 13 seniors on this year’s Tri-Valley football team, this was their last chance to beat Williams Valley.
It wasn’t easy, but for the first time in six years, the Bulldogs were able to enjoy a win over their biggest rival.
Quarterback Jaden Buchanan threw for an early score and ran for another one late, while the defense pitched a shutout until late in the game in a 28-6 Tri-Valley League victory over the Vikings on Friday at Bulldog Stadium.
The last win for Tri-Valley (3-0, 2-0 TVL) over the Vikings was a 39-13 victory in the District 11 Class A semifinal in 2009. The Bulldogs now lead 26-25-3 in the series that has been dominated by Williams Valley (1-2, 1-1 TVL) recently.
“This win is awesome,” said Buchanan, one of Tri-Valley’s seniors. “This is my favorite game of my whole career. I’ve never beat them in high school. This is the best feeling ever.”
Buchanan finished the night 4-of-6 passing for 68 yards, including a perfect 31-yard strike to Dawson
Schwalm early in the first quarter for Tri-Valley’s first score. Buchanan added 81 yards rushing on 12 attempts. His last rushing attempt was a 6-yard touchdown run with 5:40 left in the game for the Bulldogs’ final score.
Buchanan might have had the best numbers, but he wasn’t the offensive star. It was a team effort as several Bulldogs turned in big plays Friday, once again showcasing the depth Tri-Valley has this season.
Four different players had a hand in Tri-Valley’s four touchdowns. In addition to Schwalm’s reception and Buchanan’s scoring run, Chase Schaeffer had the Bulldogs second touchdown from 2 yards out late in the first quarter. Danny Scheib then gave the Bulldogs a 21-0 lead on a 1-yard plunge on Tri-Valley’s first offensive possession of the second half.
Schwalm helped set up Schaeffer’s scoring run with a 54 yarder on the first play of that drive. Buchanan’s score was aided by a 68-yard run by Schaeffer.
“It is awesome having depth,” Buchanan said. “Tri-Valley having almost 50 kids on the team is nice.”
Still, Buchanan was the feature runner on what was perhaps Tri-Valley’s biggest drive of the night, when they marched 60 yards on 10 plays on its first offensive possession of the second half. Buchanan ran the ball four times on the drive for 59 yards.
“We knew we had to come down and score on that drive and get that momentum,” Buchanan said. “From there on, it was us controlling.
“I have to credit my line. That was an awesome drive they put together for me.”
Tri-Valley finished the night with 246 yards rushing on 39 attempts behind of the line of tackles David Deibert and Danny Opozda, guards Hunter Herb and Josh Kroh and center Devin Schwalm.
The game appeared to be headed for a blowout late in the first quarter, but the Vikings, who have just three seniors on their roster, didn’t go quietly.
They forced a punt on Tri-Valley’s third offensive series, while Dylan Rabuck stepped in front of a Buchanan pass on the Vikings’ 11-yard line midway through the second quarter that stopped a potential scoring drive.
Despite being under constant pressure almost the entire night, Williams Valley quarterback Nick Rodichok finished the night 10-for-24 for 180 yards. Rabuck had the Vikings’ only touchdown on a 2-yard run late in the game.
“I am super critical of my kids, but for as young as they are, they showed a step of being resilient, taking a punch in the face, going down 14 and playing hard throughout the end,” Williams Valley coach Tim Savage said. “That’s a positive coming from this loss. The young kids are getting better.”
Game Summary
WV (1-2, 1-1) 0 0 0 6 — 6
TV (3-0, 2-0) 14 0 7 7 — 28
TV — D. Schwalm 31 pass from J. Buchanan (Harner kick)
TV — C. Schaeffer 2 run (Harner kick)
TV — Scheib 1 run (Harner kick)
TV — J. Buchanan 6 run (Harner kick)
WV — Dy. Rabuck 2 run (kick failed)
WV TV
First Downs 12 10
Rushes-Yards 31-12 39-246
Passes 10-24-0 4-6-1
Passing Yards 180 68
Total Yards 192 314
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0
Penalties 3-21 8-78
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Williams Valley — Dy. Rabuck 22-37, Savage 3-11, Rodichok 6-(-36). Tri-Valley — J. Buchanan 12-81, C. Schaeffer 3-64, D. Schwalm 3-54, Scheib 15-39, Lucas 3-11, I. Lucas 1-(-1), Team 2-(-2).
PASSING: Williams Valley — Rodichok 10-24-0, 180. Tri-Valley — J. Buchanan 4-6-1, 68.
RECEIVING: Williams Valley — Hand 4-88, Wolfgang 2-40, Engle 2-34, Dy. Rabuck 1-23, De. Rabuck 1-(-5). Tri-Valley — D. Schwalm 1-31, A. Buchanan 1-17, Scheib 1-15, T. Lucas 1-5.
INTERCEPTIONS: Williams Valley — Dy. Rabuck.