As highly as Williams Valley head coach Frank Gaffney spoke of star running back Fletcher Thompson prior to Friday’s game at Schuylkill Haven, he had just as much praise for his team overall and especially its defense.
It was that defense that shined brightest against the Hurricanes and the Vikings emerged as 12-6 winners.
With the win, combined with a Tri-Valley loss to Marian Catholic on Friday night, the Vikings sit alone atop Schuylkill League Division II at 3-0 (5-1 overall).
Thompson did get his yardage, carrying the ball 22 times for 169 yards. However, it was quarterback Cayden Witmer’s arm that provided the scoring offense for Williams Valley.
He hit Trevon Bair with a 12-yard strike to open the scoring in the first quarter and then connected with Mason Bowser on a 31-yard pass in the final minute of the first half to give the Vikings the lead for good.
Prior to and following those scores, it was a suffocating defense that proved the difference for Williams Valley. The Vikings forced three Schuylkill Haven turnovers and held the usually high-powered Hurricane offense to 215 total yards.
Gaffney credited his defensive coaching staff with coming up with a plan to stymie the Hurricanes, including former Haven star Mike Kalyan, whom he called a “scholar of the game.”
Colton Reber tied the game at 6-6 just after the start of the second quarter when he punched in from 2 yards out. That drive was highlighted by a 38-yard pass from Reber – who operated some of the night out of the wildcat formation – to Noah Runkle to set up the score.
It was difficult for the Hurricanes to sustain any other drive the rest of the night, however, as they were only able to get back into the red zone once after that scoring drive.
“When you have Tre Bair at middle linebacker … Witmer doesn’t really play secondary, he goes in and has a big pick … We have young guys going on the D-line making plans … outside backer Mags Monger, first-year high school football player, just flying around making plays tonight,” Gaffney said.
MORE: Schuylkill League Has 2 of Top 5 PIAA Rushing Leaders
That’s when Gaffney showed the highest level of confidence in his defense – though he admitted it was a coaching mistake – when the Vikings attempted a fake punt from their own 37 yard line midway through the third quarter.
Witmer carried to the left but was stopped just shy of the first down marker, giving Schuylkill Haven its best starting field position of the night. Two penalties ultimately pushed the Canes outside the red zone and a missed field ended the scoring threat.
“You have to (show confidence),” Gaffney said. “I believe in my kids. I put my kids in bad situations tonight. My kids bailed me out tonight. What’s cool about it is after the game, they all thanked me.”
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WV | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| SH | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
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