(Corning) SW Valley erased 8-0 and 15-14 deficits in the 2nd half to come away with a season opening victory against Nodaway Valley Friday night. The Timberwolves heavily rode their quarterback in the running game and then turned to the air for the winning touchdown.
With just 1:22 left to play Brenden Knapp found Isaac Currin on a 45-yard pass play for the go-ahead score. It was one of only a handful of pass attempts on the night for Knapp who was effective with his legs. The junior rushed for one TD, a couple of two-point conversions, and set up another score with a 70 yard run to the one yard line. He finished with over 120 yards rushing on more than 20 carries.
Currin hauled in the winning touchdown when the home squad had their backs against the wall. A holding call pushed coach Anthoy Donahoo’s team back to a 3rd and 16, but they were able to overcome the penalty and then some. It was the final score of a 2nd half that featured one tie and three lead changes.
Neither team scored in the 1st half, but both teams were able to get on the board during their first possession of the 2nd half. Nodaway Valley took advantage of a fortunate bounce and recovered the opening kickoff of the 3rd quarter. After a 20 yard completion to Adam Ayase on a 4th and short, Tony Ayase ran in from four yards out for a touchdown to put the visitors up 6-0. Tony Ayase ran in a two-point conversion to move the lead to 8-0 with 7:37 left in the 3rd.
The Timberwolves, who were without their top two returning receivers, relied primarily on a rushing attack in the 2nd half. After an injury to starting running back Hunter Crill, they turned to quarterback Brenden Knapp to carry the load. A Knapp five yard run with :06 left in the third made it 8-6. Knapp’s two-point conversion run tied the score at 8-8.
A Cade Myers one yard TD run early in the 4th kept the momentum swinging in SW Valley’s favor. Myers capped off a drive that was highlighted by the Timberwolves biggest play of the game–a 70 yard sprint by Knapp right up the middle. The PAT was blocked and SW Valley led 14-8 with 9:23 remaining.
Despite allowing 14 unanswered points, Nodaway Valley came back firing. The Wolverines, with sharp accuracy from junior quarterback Nathan Russell and the fantastic athleticism and sharp ball skills of Caelen DeVault, marched down the field and scored on a Tony Ayase one yard run to knot the game at 14-14. DeVault kicked the go ahead PAT to put the visitors up 15-14 with 4:35 left.
But the Timberwolves weren’t done as Knapp found Currin for the go ahead score on a wheel route down the right sideline. It was Currin’s second catch of the night with Knapp hitting him in stride for the game winning play.
SW Valley’s Marshall Knapp intercepted an overthrown ball in the closing minute to seal the victory. The Timberwolves had impressive defensive play from several contributors including Tallen Myers, Kaden Jacobs, and Tucker Tepoel. SW Valley is off to a 1-0 start and will oppose Cardinal next Friday night.
Nodaway Valley takes the loss despite winning the turnover battle 3-1 with two picks from Jon Gebbie and one from Caelen DeVault. DeVault tallied over 100 yards receiving on ten catches. Russell completed a high percentage of his throws and finished with nearly 200 yards through the air. The Wolverines will look to bounce back with a trip to West Central Valley next week.
