by JACOB MEREDITH / sportingpumpkin.com
ASHVILLE — On a beautiful evening in Ashville an early outburst from Teays Valley sophomore running back Spike Woods for a 72-yard score seemed to signal a repeat of his big performance last week as Teays Valley hosted Hamilton Township for this Friday Night Football MSL matchup.
But it wasn’t to be as the undefeated Rangers had a big second half to post a 51-17 win.
Focusing on the run has been an emphasis for this Teays Valley team this season, Vikings coach Brian Cross said, and Woods ran for 217 on the night, after running for 267 last week. “Spike’s run was big to start off the game, but we needed about two more of them,” Cross said.
The Rangers kept pace with a rushing touchdown from quarterback Josh Woods to keep the game 7-7.
Woods came up with a pick six to take the game to 14-7 for the Vikings.
But four turnovers and some special teams miscues ended up plaguing the Vikings Friday.
“They had 28 points off turnovers, and it really hurt us tonight and we can’t do that.” Cross said.
A mishandled punt gave the Rangers a short field and Nadir Langston had an 11-yard touchdown run for a 14-7 HT lead. The tide continued to go Hamilton Township’s way when TV lost a fumble. Hamilton responded with a crisp 53-yard burn from Woods to Jovon McBride to make it a 20-14 lead.
The Vikings and Rangers would both settle for end of half drives that ended in field goals — Maxwell Spencer (34 yards) for TV and Andrew Duska (42 yards) for HT — to make the score at the half 23-17.
The night got a little colder for the Vikings when the second half kickoff was returned for a Hamilton Township school record 95-yard touchdown by Jovon McBride to make the game 29-17. McBride had three touchdowns and 115 rushing yards on the night.
The Vikings struggled to get it going in the second half while the Rangers followed the kick return TD with three touchdown passes by Josh Woods. Woods threw for 249 yards and four scores. Jovon McBride had four catches for 115 yards and three scores while Nadir Langston had four catches four 82 yards and a score. Langston also ran for 124 yards and another TD.
“They had a lot of nice skilled players tonight and it really showed,” Cross said.
Despite Woods’ 217 rushing yards, the Vikings ended the night with 200 rushing yards and added only 39 through the air.
The Vikings (2-3, 1-1) travel to Circleville (1-4, 1-1) next week.
