by JOHN HOWLEY / sportingpumpkin.com
ASHVILLE — Watkins Memorial turned in several big plays on special teams to help propel the Warriors to a 28-14 win over host Teays Valley.
Already holding a 14-0 lead in the second quarter, the Warriors had the Vikings backed up after a penalty and a sack had TV facing a fourth down at their own four yard line. WM’s Jace Henry was able to block Cale Clifton’s punt and Sam Johnson wound up securing the loose ball for a touchdown and a 21-0 Warriors’ lead.
Teays Valley got on the board on the next possession as the Vikings mounted a seven-play drive.
A 34-yard pass play from Mathew Farmer to Harrison Payne set up a two-yard scoring run by Gavin Karshner.
Teays Valley gave itself a chance to close the gap before the half when Cavin McDowell intercepted a pass.
The Vikings picked up one first down but were forced again to punt. This attempt was partially blocked setting up the Warriors at the TV 32 with 21 seconds left. A play that went for a loss and a penalty pushed WM back to the 47 with only three seconds left. Quarterback Patrick Carney connected with Jaeden Ricketts but he went out of bounds at the five with no time on the clock.
In the second half, Teays Valley’s second possession covered 52 yards on six plays. A 39-yard pass from Kaden Hines to Trent Wolpert set up Karshner for his second touchdown of the night. He took a direct snap and ran four yards to get his team within seven points.
The Teays Valley defense was doing its job in the second half as it initially stopped the Warriors on downs and then forced punts on WM’s next four possessions.
It was on that fourth punt that the game turned.
A fair catch was called for but TV failed to control the ball and Watkins Memorial recovered the misplayed kick.
Four plays later, Carney ran in from 26 yards out to make it a 28-14 Warriors’ lead with 2:52 left.
Any hopes the Vikings had of getting back in the game were dashed when the Vikings fumbled the kick return and Watkins Memorial recovered.
A hard run on second down from Daavion Long gave the Warriors a first down and they were able to run out the clock for the win.
Watkins started the game’s scoring on its second possession of the evening. A three-play drive that covered 46 yards, Carney went 40 yards for the score. An errant snap on the PAT left the Warriors up 6-0.
Their next three possessions ended with punts before they came up with an interception at their own 38-yard line. The Warriors put together an eight-play drive that culminated with Carney scoring from four yards out.
Wolpert led the Vikings with 119 yards on nine catches and Karshner had 88 yards on 19 carries.
Carney had 86 yards rushing with three TDs for Watkins Memorial while Long had 86 rushing yards.
With a first-half interception and three lost fumbles in the second half, TV had four turnovers while the Warriors had only the one interception in the first half.
Up next
Teays Valley (1-2) will work to get the ship straightened out before Fairfield Union (2-1) comes to Ashville next Friday to begin Mid-State League Buckeye Division action. The Falcons were 34-19 winners over Lakewood (0-3) Friday. Watkins Memorial (2-1) is on the road again taking on Northridge (0-3) next week.
Watkins Memorial 28, Teays Valley 14
By Quarters 1 2 3 4 F
Watkins Memorial 6 15 0 7 28
Teays Valley 0 7 7 0 14
First Quarter
WM — Patrick Carney 40 run (run failed), 8:18.
Second Quarter
WM — Patrick Carney 4 run (Brody Lee from Patrick Carney), 4:51.
WM — Sam Johnson recovered blocked punt in end zone (Jude Wise kick), 3:13.
TV — Gavin Karshner 2 run (Cale Clifton kick), 2:10.
Third Quarter
TV — Gavin Karshner 4 run (Cale Clifton kick), 0:09.
Fourth Quarter
WM — Patrick Carney 26 run (Jody Katz kick), 2:52.
TEAM STATISTICS
WM TV
First downs 10 12
Rushing yards 36-185 35-86
Passing yards 123 197
Comp.-Att.-Int 11-21-1 16-29-1
Total yards 308 283
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 4-3
Penalties-Yards 10-85 8-61
Punts-Ave. 7-42 6-29
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Watkins Memorial — Patrick Carney 11-86, Daavion Long 19-84, Brody Lee 3-3, Jaeden Ricketts 2-15. Teays Valley — Gavin Karshner 19-88, Trent Wolpert 1-2, Mathew Farmer 2-(-17), Kaden Hines 7-13, Richard Odum 3-8, Harrison Payne 1-0.
PASSING – Watkins Memorial — Patrick Carney 11-21-1-123. Teays Valley — Matthew Farmer 11-20-1-121, Kaden Hines 5-9-0-76.
RECEIVING – Watkins Memorial — Daavion Long 5-23, Brody Lee 2-30, Jace Henry 1-11, Andrew Kirk 1-15, Jaeden Ricketts 2-44. Teays Valley — Trent Wolpert 9-119, Harrison Payne 5-62, Gavin Sparks 2-23.
