Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette, September 20, 2008

Unbeaten Spring Valley stops Nitro

KENOVA - If there was one thing first-year Nitro coach John Sowards thought he could count on, it was the Wildcats' traditionally high-octane offense.

Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case lately. Spring Valley's 47-12 victory over Nitro Friday night continued another week of offensive futility. The usually powerful Wildcats' offense has been held to a total of just 18 points in the past two weeks.

The Spring Valley defense provided the catalyst in the first quarter.

The Wolves turned the Wildcats away on a fourth-and-goal from the Spring Valley 6-yard line to start the game then Spring Valley's defense broke the scoreless tie on Nitro's second series as a host of defenders swarmed Tyler Kennedy in the end zone for a safety.

Kennedy attempted to pitch the ball back to quarterback Bodie Johnson, but Johnson wisely fell on the ball to prevent a Spring Valley touchdown. Nitro (1-2) penetrated Spring Valley territory three times in the first half only to come away empty-handed each time.

"The tone of the whole season has been that we don't execute in the red zone," Sowards said.

"I think we were in the red zone four times last week and went one-for-four. I don't know how many times we got there tonight, but I know we were oh-for because we scored on a long pass and a long run, so that kills you."

Spring Valley coach Brad Dingess was especially pleased with his defense's effort.

"Our defense played exceptionally well to hold that team to just 12 points," he said. "Our secondary really stepped up to the challenge that we put forth for them tonight. Our kids just played great from top to bottom."

It didn't take long for the Wolves offense to capitalize on the momentum provided by the defense. Kevin Lawrence connected with a wide-open Zach Harrison for a 38-yard score to push the lead to 9-0 with just over four minutes to play in the opening period.

Lawrence hooked up with Harrison again late in the quarter, this time from 52 yards to extend the advantage to 16-0.

Any hope of a second-half Wildcat surge was quelled midway through the third quarter when Zach Wellman stepped in front of a Johnson pass and returned it 9 yards for a score to give the Wolves a comfortable 26-0 edge.

The interception atoned for a Lawrence fumble that killed a Spring Valley drive just moments earlier.

Wellman wasn't finished, however, as he scored later in the stanza on a 69-yard jaunt off an option pitch from Lawrence. Wellman took a late pitch and broke several tackles down the right sideline en route to the score.

The Wildcats avoided a shutout with a 47-yard toss from Johnson to Larry West. Johnson experienced a rough night, as he connected on 10-of-28 passes for 131 yards and was sacked seven times. Cameron Goode turned in a 27-yard TD for Nitro.

SCORING SUMMARY

Nitro 0 0 0 12 12

Spring Valley 16 3 14 14 47

SV - Safety (Johnson tackled in end zone)

SV - Harrison 38 pass from Lawrence (Brody kick)

SV -Harrison 52 pass from Lawrence (Brody kick)

SV - Brody 29 FG

SV - Wellman 9 INT return (Brody kick)

SV - Wellman 69 run (Brody kick)

SV - Kipp 6 run (Brody kick)

NHS - West 47 pass from Johnson (kick failed)

SV - Slayton 4 run (Brody kick)

NHS - Goode 27 run (kick failed)

Team statistics

Nitro SV

First downs 14 20

Rushes-yards 22-72 38-347

Passing yards 131 112

Comp-Att 10-31 4-6

Had intercepted 1 0

Fumbles-lost 3-1 2-1

Penalties-yards 6-49 15-130

Punts-avg 3-32 2-27

Fumbles-lost 3-1 2-1