Happy Valley secures home playoff game after a 38-28 win over West Greene
Published 8:42 am Monday, October 30, 2023
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Gabe McDougald knifes the legs out from under the West Greene tailback.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Nicholas Reece pulls double duty playing for the HV band during half-time.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Ron Paul Parker finds a running lane near the sideline.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Aiden Paul surveys the field looking for an open teammate.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Landon Keller breaks down and prepares for the tackle.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Joseph Sowards celebrates with his teammate after a 1st quarter score.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel The Warriors got a quick start with an opening kick-off near midfield courtesy of Ace Young.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Tyler Berry secures the interception to end the first half.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
Happy Valley secured a home playoff game for the first time since 2016 with a 10-point win over West Greene. The game would start with Happy Valley methodically marching down the field, showing off a powerful rushing attack that would end with a 2-yard touchdown plunge by Joe Sowards, followed by a Tyler Berry 2-point conversion to give the Warriors and 8-0 advantage. After a defensive stop on 4th down, Happy Valley would once again march down the field converting a couple of 3rd downs along the way. This time around, Aiden Paul would scoot up the right sideline for a 7-yard TD once again the Warriors would convert the 2-point conversion as Sowards would bounce off tackle to make the score 16-0.
West Greene would get on the scoreboard when Wyatt Moody would recover his own fumble in the endzone to cut the Warrior lead to 16-6. The Warriors would go right back to work and grab another score fueled by Austin Nichols’s 34-yard reception; the drive would end with a 22-yard TD run to make it 22-6. The half would end with the Warriors getting an interception courtesy of Tyler Berry.
A 28-yard run by Aiden Paul would get the Warrior moving in the 3rd quarter after an unsportsmanlike penalty. Paul would plunge in the end zone from two yards out and Sowards would push the ball in for the 2-point conversion and a 30-6 Warriors lead with 6:25 remaining in the 3rd quarter. West Greene would score on a 14-yard hook and ladder to cut the lead to 30-14 with the 2-point conversion. Aiden Pual would get the Warriors moving again with runs of 18 and 13 yards as the third quarter ended.
The final quarter would kick off with a 3-yard TD run by Sowards and Aiden Paul would run off the tight end’s backside for the 2-point conversion and a 38-14 lead. West Greene would answer with a 61-yard touchdown run to cut the Warrior lead to 38-20. The Warriors looked to drain the clock off the legs of Joe Sowards as he would gain chunks of yards against a worn-out Buffalo defense, but a Warrior fumble would give West Greene the ball back at the 5-yard line. The Buffaloes would tack on a score with 20 seconds left to give the game its final score of 38-28.
Post-game Warriors Head Coach Jason Jarrett spoke first about the fact he was not happy with how his team concluded the game but quickly reflected on just how special this season has been: “I don’t like how we finished tonight I don’t know if it was a lack of focus or what but heck fire if you had asked if I would take 7-3 at the first of the year I’m going to take it every time” Jarrett shared. Coach Jarrett also reflected on the home playoff berth. “It’s been a long time since we have been at home for the playoffs; we are going to take a breath, but this is big for our school and community I hope it kickstarts us and it goes through all sports here, just the way the community has rallied around up with meals, texts and phone calls it means a lot!” Jarrett added.
The Warriors will host the Oneida Indians next Friday night in the first round of the playoffs; kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm.
