For the second time in three weeks, those who fondly recall the backyard scraps that occurred in multiples from one weekend to the next in Twin Valley Conference play, can break out their 8-track cassettes and blast some Three Dog Night or Guess Who and not a soul will mind.
Heck, those planning to visit the Hegins-Valley View Metroplex come Friday night can step back several decades when Tri-Valley (2-0) entertains neighboring Line Mountain (0-2).
Sporting a perfect mark two weeks in, Jeff Sampson’s Tri-Valley program flashed plenty of balance last weekend as the Bulldogs rolled up 462 offensive yards in a 48-0 pasting of Panther Valley. First-year starting quarterback Kole Miller completed 7 of his 8 pass attempts for 187 yards and a pair of scores, while Jake Scheib piled up 147 yards on just eight totes.
Scheib’s productive outing also featured a pair of touchdowns, including a 79-yarder.
Jolten Flory and Layne Yoder hauled in Miller’s heaves, scoring plays that covered 55 and 30 yards, respectively. Scheib also made 12 tackles — three fewer than inside linebacker Reece Huntzinger — for a Tri-Valley side listed eighth in Pennsylvania’s Class 1A rankings.
Line Mountain is just looking to get something going after dropping a 52-0 decision to a powerful Danville bunch that climbed to third in the Class 3A rankings. Carson Persing had a huge game for the Ironmen, catching seven passes for 152 yards and three scores.
Although Persing had a pair of punt returns covering 50-plus yards negated by holding penalties, Mike Brennan’s Ironmen turned a blocked punt into a 9-yard score and freed Cole Duffy for a 47-yard punt return that capped Danville’s second straight success.
Brandon Carson’s Eagles had all sorts of issues, totaling just 110 yards of offense while losing the field position battle as Danville began its first four possessions in Line Mountain territory. Carson’s club was able to move the ball late in the first half with Nolan Baumert orchestrating things from the quarterback position, picking up four first downs while gaining 43 yards.
Line Mountain was at the Danville 28, but QB Kaiden Maurer was sacked for a 7-yard loss that brought the opening half to a close and triggered the mercy rule.
Results aside, Friday night’s scrap will allow longtime fans of both programs to reminisce a bit and revisit the past for a few hours. Just like those on hand for Upper Dauphin’s season opener were able to do once Williams Valley pulled into Elizabethville and stepped off the bus.
Williams Valley puts perfect mark on line
Speaking of Williams Valley, Tim Savage’s Vikings (2-0) will try to keep their perfect mark intact when Schuylkill Haven (1-1) steps between the tall pines in Williamstown.
Savage’s Vikes also flashed lots of balance in their 38-13 conquest of Pine Grove — Williams Valley led 32-0 at halftime — as Isaac Whiteash was 7 of 9 passing for 179 yards and three scores against the host Cardinals. Whiteash’s touchdown passes, which covered 41, 6 and 21 yards, went to Brady Evans, Kian Krzyzanowski and Chase Deibert.
Whiteash, who targeted Evans four times for 125 yards, also swiped a Pine Grove pass.
Dependable feature back Alex Achenbach also pitched in, rushing 13 times for 179 yards and two touchdowns as the Vikes piled up 438 total yards while moving into the Class 2A rankings at No. 10. Youngsters Brady Shomper and Skylor Green totaled 10 tackles apiece.
Active d-lineman Ezi Hite was productive yet again, as two of his six stops went for losses.
Hite & Co. will need to be wary against the Hurricanes, especially since Aiden Myers rushed for 315 yards and four touchdowns on 27 carries in a 34-7 victory over Nativity. Haven totaled 400 yards on the ground on 47 attempts, but also completed its lone pass for 45 yards.
Pine Grove opens Red Division play on the road
Unable to best Williams Valley last weekend at home, Dave Shiffer’s Cardinals (1-1) will open Colonial-Schuylkill Red Division play at perennial hammer North Schuylkill (1-1). The Spartans dusted Blue Mountain one week ago, posting a 21-0 triumph.
Pine Grove, which trailed 32-0 at halftime against Williams Valley, picked up a pair of rushing touchdowns from Nick Wolff (9-49). Feature back Lane Lehman carried 20 times for 75 yards to lead the Cards, who completed just one of their 10 pass attempts. They were picked off once.
