SPRING VALLEY -- Three high school football teams took the field at the Wolves Den on Friday night, and Spring Valley fielded the two best.
Spring Valley's first team was No. 1 and the Timberwolves reserves No. 2 in a 62-7 rout of the Black Eagles. Spring Valley coach Brad Dingess subbed in the first half and the backups played all the second half, which was reduced to two eight-minute quarters. Most of the final 16 minutes were played under a continually running clock.
"It was a great Senior Night," Dingess said. "I was really proud of the defense. We had a special teams score and two defensive touchdowns. We had some kids come in and play well. Our young kids played well. It was just a good night."
The biggest ovation was for Timberwolves senior Donnie Thompson, who this season came out for football for the first time. Thompson delivered a pancake block late in the fourth quarter, helping set up Peyton Bailey's 10-yard touchdown run.
"Donnie Thompson got some varsity time and got him a pancake," Dingess said, with a broad smile. "The kid came out his senior year like that. It was good for him."
The game went south, or maybe east, for South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä (0-9) in a hurry. Spring Valley's Jalyn Abercrombie returned the opening kickoff 83 yards to the stadium's east end zone for a touchdown. Ryan Minigh kicked the first of his six extra points and it was 7-0.
By the end of the first quarter, the Timberwolves (6-3) led 35-0. Luke Van Arsdale caught an 18-yard TD pass from Liam McGuire, Tristan McGuire scooped a fumble and scored from the Black Eagles' 18, Garrett Wagoner ran an interception back 24 yards for a score and Dylan Robertson rushed 8 yards for a touchdown. All those players who scored are seniors.
"What do they have, 20 seniors," South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä coach Dustin Resler asked, rhetorically. "We played three. We're a young team. I don't mean to make an excuse, but they're still maturing. We need more time in the weight room. They're getting valuable experience on the field right now and it's going to pay dividends. We have to look at the future right now."
Liam McGuire hit Cole Ferguson with a 36-yard touchdown pass and Brae Booth ran 20 yards for a score to put Spring Valley up 48-0. The Black Eagles' Malcolm Brown caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Kayden Hackman 4:10 before halftime to break up the shutout.
Blayne Workman and Bailey found the end zone in the second half to set the score.
Spring Valley won despite playing without starting tailback and leading rusher Miguel Cain, who broke his leg last week and is out for the season.
McGuire completed 4 of 5 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns. The Timberwolves outgained the South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä 283-82.
Spring Valley returns to action at 7 p.m. Friday in the regular-season finale at St. Albans (2-6). The Black Eagles visit Capital (2-6).
SOUTH CHARLESTON 0 7 0 0 -- 7
SPRING VALLEY 35 13 7 7 -- 62
SV -- Abercrombie 83 kickoff return (Minigh kick)
SV -- Van Arsdale 18 pass from McGuire (Minigh kick)
SV -- Watts 18 fumble return (Minigh kick)
SV -- Wagoner 24 int. return (Minigh kick)
SV -- Robertson 8 run (Minigh kick)
SV -- Ferguson 36 pass from McGuire (Minigh kick)
SV -- Booth 20 run (kick failed)
SC -- Brown 18 pass from Hackman (Boston kick)
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SV -- Workman 15 run (Elkins kick)
SV -- Bailey 10 run (Elkins kick)
Team statistics
SC SV
First downs 4 8
Rushes-yards 23-6 19-154
Passes 9-16-2 4-5-0
Passing yards 76 129
Total yards 82 283
Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-0
Penalties-yards 2-25 5-40
Punts 3-25.0 0-0
Individual statistics
Rushing
South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä -- Brown 8-3, Chaney 8-2, Zuniga 1-3, Hackman 6-(minus-2).Â
Spring Valley -- Harris 1-16, Robertson 2-16, McClure 3-13, Booth 1-20, Lewis 2-12, Biggs 2-14, Workman 2-29, Davis 2-12, Bailey 3-6, Van Arsdale 1-16.Â
Passing
South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä -- Hackman 9-16-2, 78 yards.
Spring Valley -- McGuire 4-5-0, 129 yards.
Receiving
South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä -- Brown 5-36, Terry 2-31, Mayo-Cossin 1-9, Scragg 1-0.
Spring Valley -- Ferguson 3-101, Van Arsdale 1-28.
