Vikings struggle to get offense going in loss to Gales

By Jacob Merideth

SportingPumpkin.com

LANCASTER — Despite Lancaster amassing 168 more yards than visiting Teays Valley on Friday in the season-opener for both schools, the Vikings found a way to take a lead into the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, the Gales scored the final two touchdowns of the night, capped by a five-yard touchdown run by Cole Dickerson with just 80 seconds left to send Lancaster to a 24-17 win.

Before you could even sit down and enjoy a fall-like evening with some popcorn, senior Harrison Payne ran back the opening kickoff 91 yards to give the Vikings an early lead, followed by the first of two extra points by Maxwell Spencer.

“Anytime you can get a big play like what Harrison provided us there, it was a huge lift to start the game with,” first-year Teays Valley coach Brian Cross said.

The Gales tried to answer with a long drive but had to settle for a 37-yard field goal from JD Thomas to cut their deficit to 7-3.

Lancaster went ahead on its next possession, capped by a 19-yard run by Gunner Richards to take a 10-7 lead in the second quarter.

Teays Valley tried to counter Lancaster’s momentum and turned to its defense when Tyler Mathews intercepted a pass from Brody Burke.

A few totes by Jeremiah Fabbro and Lane Schooley then helped set up a 36-yard field goal by Spencer to tie the score at 10-10, where it remained going into halftime.

Sophomore quarterback Kole Nungester provided the only long play of the night for the Teays Valley offense when he ran a bootleg to paydirt from 61 yards out with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter.

“Our message at halftime was we needed our offensive line to get better pushes and take pressure off of Kole,” Cross said. “Ultimately, Kole took way too many hits tonight but he will be a good quarterback.”

Lancaster tied the game at 17-17 with 7:07 remaining on a two-yard tote by Xavier Goss.

Nungester completed 8 of 24 passes, all to Payne, for 79 yards and added 49 yards rushing on four carries.

Cole Dickerson consumed 162 yards on 31 carries for the Gales and Richards added 60 yards on 12 totes.

The Vikings (0-1) return home next week to take on Logan (0-1), which fell 22-0 to Jackson last night.

Lancaster 24,
Teays Valley 17
Score By Quarters 1 2 3 4 F

Teays Valley 7 3 7 0 17

Lancaster 3 7 0 14 24

First Quarter
TV — Harrison Payne 91 kickoff return (Maxwell Spencer kick).
LA — JD Thomas 37 field goal
Second Quarter
LA — Gunner Richards 19 run (JD Thomas kick)
TV — Maxwell Spencer 36 field goal.
Third Quarter
TV — Kole Nungester 63 run (Maxwell Spencer kick).
Fourth Quarter
LA — Xavier Goss 2 run (JD Thomas kick).
LA — Cole Dickerson 5 rush (JD Thomas kick).
TEAM STATISTICS
TV LA
First downs 7 20
Rushing yards 17-52 51-241
Passing yard 79 58
Comp.-Att.-Int 8-24-0 5-10-2
Total yards 131 299
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 4-31 5-25
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Teays Valley — Kole Nungester 4-49, Lane Schooley 5-16, Jeremiah Fabbro 2-0, Griffin Gray 1-0, Spike Woods 5-(-13). Lancaster — Cole Dickerson 31-162, Gunner Richards 12-60, Xavier Goss 6-20, Brendon Simcox 2-(-1).
PASSING – Teays Valley—Kole Nungester 8-24-0-79 . Lancaster — Brody Burke 5-10-2-58.
RECEIVING – Teays Valley — Harrison Payne 8-79. Lancaster — Cole Dickerson 2-30, Jackson Burke 1-23, Dylan Bird 1-3, Brendon Simcox 1-2.

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