(Avoca) Brendan Knapp ran for over 100 yards and scored two touchdowns as SW Valley edged AHSTW 14-12 in a Class A, District 7 contest that aired on KSOM Friday night.
The Timberwolves stuck primarily to their rushing attack to improve to 2-1 on the season and drop the Vikings to 1-2. SW Valley’s defense got a big stop on AHSTW’s first drive of the game. The Vikings rolled the dice and tried a quarterback sneak off of a silent count on 4th and 2 from their own 30 yard line. The early exchange helped the visitors control the field position battle in the first half. Brenden Knapp broke a 25 yard run on SW Valley’s second series to set up a first and goal. An Isaac Currin run moved them down to the two yard line where Knapped punched it in for the game’s opening score. Owen Wilkinson’s PAT made it 7-0 SW Valley with 4:47 left in the first.
AHSTW’s offense came away with their first score with 5:34 to go in the half. Quarterback Kyle Sternberg put together a nice scramble, but fumbled after gaining 15 yards. Fortunately for the Vikings, wideout Cole Scheffler saw the ball pop right into his hands and he stepped into the end zone. The PAT try was no good and SW Valley maintained a 7-6 lead.
After AHSTW was unable to score on their first possession of the 2nd half, SW Valley drained the remainder of the 3rd quarter off the clock with a long scoring drive. Knapp capped it off with a 28 yard scoring run and Wilkinson’s PAT moved the advantage to 14-6.
In crunch time, AHSTW moved the ball down the field and scored on a Sternberg five yard run to close within 14-12. The Vikings needed the two-point conversion to tie the game, but were stuffed on a shovel pass. SW Valley was able to grind out one first down in order to run out the clock on their final possession.
In addition to Knapp topping the century mark, Cade Myers rushed for 75 yards and Isaac Currin tallied 45. AHSTW’s ground game was led by Denver Pauley with 85 yards on 21 attempts. Sternberg completed 10 passes, but they were mostly on short throws as he accumulated 54 passing yards.
SW Valley will be in action against St. Albert in Week 4. AHSTW travels to Mount Ayr next Friday night.
