|
Swan
Valley got the ball to start the 2nd half.
On the Panther sidelines, something had started
to appear that had been missing throughout most
of the 1st half, excitement and enthusiasm
stretching along the sidelines and into the back
row of the stands. Down only ten and with
a passing game that could score in seconds, the
Panthers knew the game was still within reach.
After a first down, the Vikings failed to manage
another and were forced to punt. On third
and 14, from the 45 yard line, Wernick looked in
his favorite target's direction and went up top.
Houthoofd had beautiful coverage but just
couldn't match up with Blake's size. Blake
made the beautiful grab over Houthoofd and raced
the rest of the way for a 55 yard score.
Chris Reznich added the extra point, closing the
gap to just three points at 17-14.
On the ensuing possession by Swan Valley, their
hopes and dreams of a conference title flashed
right before their eyes. With 7:36 to go
in the third quarter, Houthoofd dropped back on
first down and was hit hard as he released the
ball. He hit the ground but didn't come
back up. The Sr. QB was in agonizing pain
and didn't look like he would return to the
game. Swan Valley's Head Coach, Rich Bell
decided to move Brandon up just a few feet from
RB to take handle the snaps at QB. On the
very next play, in what may have caught the
Panthers off guard after just knocking the
opposition's starting QB out, Hayes took the
ball from shotgun and handed off to RB Mark
Berden. Berden took the ball around left
end, made a few defender's miss and was off to
the races for 64 yards and a 23-14 led after a
mistake on the extra point snap, kept it at a
six point possession.
Swan Valley then came up with two of the most
important defensive stops of the season before
the final one of the game. With Alma
driving, looking to close the gap even further,
Wernick went to Blake but the ball was tipped
and fell into the arms of a diving Swan Valley
defender. The drive would only start right
back up again for Alma though. On first
down after the turnover, Hayes from the QB
position ran the keeper and was punished, lost
the ball and also injured. Things were not
looking exactly up for the Vikings. With
both QBs and two of their senior leaders out of
the game, the outcome was certainly in doubt.
A positive sign graced the defensive side of the
ball when Alma took over however.
Houthoofd re-entered the game as a defensive
back, also bringing back their QB when they got
the ball back. Starting at Swan Valley's
36, Alma couldn't muster even a yard as they
turned it over on downs on a incompletion on 4th
and 11. These stops kept Swan Valley on
top and gave them the breaks they needed for one
last final push in the fourth quarter.
With time running out on the Panthers they went
to the air to get them back in it, just as they
had all game. Wernick marched his Panthers
right down the field hitting Blake and Hirschman
for chunks of yards at a time. The biggest
being a 24 yard pitch and catch to Hirschman
from Wernick that landed them first and goal at
the nine. RB Luke Kanine finished the job
with a 3 yard TD run, pushing the Panthers
within 2 after the extra point. Swan
Valley was stopped on the next possession, aided
by a huge holding infraction that negated a
first down run. With the ball at their own
26 and momentum on Alma's side the pressure was
placed squarely on the punt team for the
Vikings. The snap was perfect and the kick
could not have been better or come at a more
opportune time for Swan Valley. The Swan
Valley punter laid out a 55 yard booming kick
with no return.
With the title on the line, Alma looked poised
to win it, whether with a TD or at least a field
goal attempt. The drive got off to a shaky
start as a huge pass from Wernick to Hirschman
was nullified due to a illegal shift, Swan
Valley was flagged for Pass Interference but the
penalties were offsetting. Then Wernick
hit Blake right on the money to the left side
but just couldn't come down with it. It
would have put them close to field goal range on
that play alone. Alma pushed the ball into
Swan Valley territory after that. On third
and 16 after just one of many Swan Valley sacks,
Wernick dropped back and let the ball go deep
down the right sideline where Houthoofd made the
game breaking interception. With 40 ticks
still remaining, the Vikings yelled at each
other, saying that this is not over, even
telling the faithful that made the journey to
Alma to quiet down as they chanted TVC, for the
TVC champs. 2 snaps later, the crowd and
the players started the chant again, along with
the hugs and celebration. In one of the
most exciting games of the season, Swan Valley
captured the first ever crown in the newly
formed division of the Tri-Valley.
This came could have gone either, way and the
score showed that but it didn't show and often
never does how many game and momentum changing
plays led to the final outcome. Alma's
passing game, size and overall athleticism will
make this squad a team to be reckoned with come
week 10. When the passing game is
clicking, they are almost unstoppable. It
was Swan Valley's resilience that captured the
night however. When it looked as if
their QB and Backup QB/RB were gone, both
stepped up, shook off the bruises and came back
to put another mark on their season and
ultimately their lives.
Both teams could do a lot of damage come playoff
time. Alma still needs a victory to
qualify. They face a tough Bullock Creek
squad next week, which they have the potential
to win, the challenge will be overcoming this
emotional loss. Swan Valley moves to 7-0,
and kept their dreams alive of a perfect season.
the Vikings finish the regular season with
Hemlock at home and then at Caro. The game
at Hemlock even though not affecting the
championship, should be a classic. The two
rivals played to a 38-35 Swan Valley victory
last season and both were the conference
favorites before the season began. With
Hemlock winning three straight after a
disappointing start, the game will have serious
playoff and bragging implications. |
