Vikings’ comeback attempt stifled as Bulldogs clinch part of MSL title

by JOHN HOWLEY / sportingpumpkin.com

ASHVILLE — Teays Valley tried to pull off a second-half comeback but Bloom-Carroll held off the host Vikings to notch a 35-27 win and lock up at least a share of its fifth consecutive Mid-State League Buckeye Division championship. 

With Teays Valley trailing 21-13 as the second half was just under way, Bloom-Carroll was driving inside Vikings territory when QB Ethan Thanthanavong was stripped, and Joey Thurston recovered the B-C fumble near midfield.

Eight plays later, Kaden Hines connected with Kole Nungester on a four-yard touchdown pass. 

Having had a PAT kick blocked in the first half, Teays Valley went for the two-point conversion looking to tie game only to have the running play stopped short of the goal. That left Bloom-Carroll up 21-19 with 5:08 left in the game.

The teams then traded punts. 

A short field after Teays Valley’s punt and the Bloom-Carroll return set up a seven-play scoring drive for the Bulldogs that covered 33 yards and wrapped up with a 16-yard scoring pass from Thanthanavong to Jayse Rockwood. The kick had the Bulldogs up 28-19. 

Most of the hope the Teays Valley faithful had of seeing their team tie the game up were dashed two plays later when Hines threw a pass to Gavin Sparks only to have Bloom-Carroll’s Jett Jones pull the ball away. 

The Bulldogs then ran eight plays, eating up four-and-a-half minutes,  to take a 35-19 lead on a run by Chase Plantz with 3:59 left. 

The Vikings didn’t give in though as Hines had two carries and completed five passes on the ensuing drive, the last one being an 11-yard score to Harrison Payne. 

This time the two-point conversion was successful as Hines hit Trent Wolpert to make it an eight-point game — setting up a make-or-break onside kick attempt. 

In the scramble to control the kickoff, Bloom-Carroll’s Cole Sherman was able to secure the football. The Bulldogs then picked up a first down and were able to then run out the clock for their 21st straight league win. 

Bloom-Carroll struck first in the game on a 34-yard scoring pass from Thanthanavong to Brodyn Bishop on its first possession. 

Teays Valley answered with a nine-play drive that featured a 59-yard pass from Hines to Gavin Sparks and saw Hines go the final yard for the score. The PAT kick tied the game. 

Bloom-Carroll took the lead back three minutes into the second quarter on an 11-play drive where Dylan Armentrout went the last two yards and a 14-7 lead. 

Teays Valley came back with a drive that was kept alive when a roughing the passer call negated an interception. Hines scored from seven yards out to pull within one, but the PAT kick was blocked leaving the Vikings down 14-13 with 5:05 left in the half. 

It was another 11-play drive that BC answered with and it ended as Thanthanavong connected with Armentrout for a 13-yard score with 33 seconds on the clock. The kick had BC up 21-13 at the half. 

Bloom-Carroll had 283 of its 352 yards of offense on the ground. On the other side of the ledger, Teays Valley had 241 of its 288 yards come through the air. 

Up next

Teays Valley (5-4, 4-2) wraps up the regular season at Logan Elm (7-2, 5-1) next week. A win by the Vikings should yield enough playoff points to put the Vikings in the post season. 

Bloom-Carroll (8-1, 6-0) will try to finish up a third straight unbeaten run through the Mid-State League when the Bulldogs host Hamilton Township (6-2, 5-1). The Bulldogs are in line to host an opening round playoff game and the Rangers have clinched a spot in the postseason, as well. 

Bloom-Carroll 35, Teays Valley 27

By Quarters 1 2 3 4 F

Bloom-Carroll 7 14 0 14 35

Teays Valley 7 6 6 8 27

First Quarter

BC — Brodyn Bishop 34 pass from Ethan Thanthanavong (Treyton McKee kick), 8:31.

TV — Kaden Hines 1 run (Cole Clifton kick), 4:55.

Second Quarter

BC — Dylan Armentrout2 run (Treyton McKee kick), 9:05.

TV — Kaden Hines 7 run (kick failed), 5:05.

BC — Dylan Armentrout 13 pass from Ethan Thanthanavong (Treyton McKee kick), 0:33.

Third Quarter

TV — Kole Nungester 4 pass from Kaden Hines (run failed), 5:08.

Fourth Quarter

BC — Jayse Rockwood 2 pass from Ethan Thanthanavong (Treyton McKee kick), 9:04.

BC — Chase Plantz 5 run (Treyton McKee kick), 3:59.

TV — Harrison Payne 11 pass from Kaden Hines (Trent Wolpert from Kaden Hines), 1:50.

TEAM STATISTICS

     BC TV

First downs 22 16

Rushing yards 59-283 16-47

Passing yards 69 241

Comp.-Att.-Int 4-6-0 17-31-1

Total yards 352 288

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0

Penalties-Yards 5-42 1-5

Punts-Ave. 2-33 3-31

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Bloom-Carroll — Dylan Armentrout 23-138, Ethan Thanthanavong 4-(-10), Brodyn Bishop 1-(-4), Andrew Marshall 17-88, Chase Plantz 14-71. Teays Valley — Kaden Hines 4-16, Gavin Karshner 12-31.

PASSING – Bloom-Carroll — Ethan Thanthanavong 4-6-0-69. Teays Valley — Kaden Hines 17-31-1-241.

RECEIVING – Bloom-Carroll— Dylan Armentrout 1-13, Brodyn Bishop 1-34, Jayse Rockwood 1-16, Carter Comelius 1-6. Teays Valley — Kole Nungester 7-39, Trent Wolpert 4-57, Gavin Sparks 3-94, Harrison Payne 3-51.