by JOHN HOWLEY / sportingpumpkin.com
Teays Valley took another step up the ladder Friday night as the Vikings improved to 7-0 with a 49-21 win over host Circleville.
The Vikings piled up 544 yards of offense on a night when big plays were the norm as 365 of those yards came on nine plays.
Four of TV’s touchdowns came on plays of 40 yards or more and the other three were set up, in part, by big plays.
“It was a little bit of an awkward week but at the end of the day our offense was very, very electric,” TV coach Mark Weber said. “They could pass, they could run when they wanted. The defense gave up three scores but we’re getting some guys in there and they’re learning football. I’m happy with the result.”
TV’s longest possession of the game was its first one as the Vikings needed 10 plays to score and had to overcome a couple penalties on the way to Cam McDanel scoring from two yards out.
“The whole start of the game was just awkward, We couldn’t get anything started with the penalties and the personnel groupings – the kids were like, ‘Who, me?’ And we had prepped it all week,” Weber said. “But we’ll be fine. We’ll get back to work next week against Amanda. That’s our next goal – 1-0.”
Circleville answered the Vikings’ opening score with a 62-yard run from Scott Moats on the Tigers’ first snap.
But the next four scores belonged to the Vikings on a 55-yard pass play from Tyler Love to Landon Thompson, four and six-yard scoring runs from McDanel and a 40-yard hookup between Thompson and Love. Those scores put the Vikings up 35-7 at the half.
Each team added a pair of scores in the second half.
TV hit first with a 59-yard pass from Love to Harrison Payne.
Circleville answered with another big run from Moats — this one of 63 yards.
A 46-yard scoring run from Peyton Weiler, along with Cale Clifton’s seventh PAT kick, had TV up 49-14 at the end of the third.
Circleville’s final score came on an 11-yard run from Angelo Travis.
Thompson ended the night as TV’s leading rusher with four carries for 109 yards and had three catches for 133 yards.
Love was 6-6 passing for 206 yards and McDanel had 79 yards rushing to go with his three touchdowns.
“It was a good game. It was a little rough with the score 49-21,” McDanel said. “It was just good to get another win at 7-0 and keep going.
“I was kind of worried about our offense to start off (the season) because it’s a brand new offense and a brand new offensive coordinator,” he added, “but its really coming along and we have some different packages, we know when to throw them in and where, and what guys are best at, so I think it’s really good.”
Moats led Circleville with 132 yards rushing on 12 carries and Travis added 81.
The week took on a different tone for the Vikings with a loss suffered by junior lineman Joey Thurston, as his father, Bob, passed away unexpectedly.
McDanel said teammates reached out to Thurston to show their support.
“Joey takes care of himself and doesn’t show a lot,” McDanel said. “We all got stickers on our helmets with his dad’s initials on it. We did some small stuff, but I think it will help him a little bit and I think he knows the whole team is here for him.”
“He’s out here playing the greatest game in the world. It was something that this dad loved and he loves,” Weber said, “My top priority has been Joey. He left the game healthy and he played really well and the team played very well, other than a couple of series. It was very emotional.”
Bob was a 1999 graduate of Teays Valley who excelled in football and wrestling and is a member of the Teays Valley Athletic Hall of Fame.
Up next
Teays Valley (7-0, 4-0) will return home to face Amanda-Clearcreek (5-2, 3-1). The Aces are coming off a 24-7 win over Hamilton Township (3-2, 1-2).
Circleville (2-5, 0-4) travels to take on Hamilton next week.
Teays Valley 49, Circleville 21
By Quarters 1 2 3 4 F
Teays Valley 14 21 14 0 49
Circleville 7 0 7 7 21
First Quarter
TV — Cam McDanel 2 run (Cale Clifton kick), 8:09.
CV — Scott Moats 62 run (Nick Burns kick), 7:49.
TV — Landon Thompson 55 pass from Tyler Love (Cale Clifton kick), 6:03.
Second Quarter
TV — Cam McDanel 4 run (Cale Clifton kick), 6:18.
TV — Cam McDanel 6 run (Cale Clifton kick), 1:35.
TV — Landon Thompson 40 pass from Tyler Love (Cale Clifton kick), 0:21.
Third Quarter
TV — Harrison Payne 59 pass from Tyler Love (Cale Clifton kick), 9:22.
CV — Scott Moats 63 run (Nick Burns kick), 7:41.
TV — Peyton Weiler 46 run (Cale Clifton kick), 0:59.
Fourth Quarter
CV — Angelo Travis 11 run (Nick Burns kick), 2:39.
TEAM STATISTICS
TV CV
First downs 17 12
Rushing yards 38-338 31-215
Passing yards 206 47
Comp.-Att.-Int 6-6-0 5-16-1
Total yards 544 262
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 11-105 5-60
Punts-Ave. 2-39 5-34
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Teays Valley — Cam McDanel 14-79, Tyler Love 6-57, Peyton Weiler 1-6, Gavin Karshner 4-13, Matthew Farmer 1-(-1), Landon Thompson 4-109, Peyton Weiler 3-61, Elijah Gordon 1-(-5), Brodie Boardman 2-21. Circleville — Scott Moats 12-132, Angelo Travis 13-81, Colin Michael 5-9.
PASSING – Teays Valley — Tyler Love 6-6-0-206, Matthew Farmer 0-1-0-0. Circleville — Scott Moats 5-16-1-47.
RECEIVING – Teays Valley— Harrison Payne 1-59, Landon Thompson 3-133, Elijah Gordon 1-11, Brodi Boardman 1-3. Circleville — Wyatt Thatcher 3-12, Ayden Reedy 1-6, Omari Graham 1-29.
