VALDOSTA – One week after falling to Trinity Christian 35-0, the Valwood Valiants bounced back and won their Homecoming game over Edmund Burke, 25-6 Friday night.
“We’ve had a crazy week with Homecoming, and the weather conditions weren’t great, but it’s a big win,” said Valwood head coach Mike Patrick after the game. “They knew they played good last week, but we talked about it and had to move on.”
The Valiants (5-1) controlled all aspects of the game, and scored with both the offense and the special teams.
The Valwood defense was superb as well, holding the Spartans to minus-16 yards total offense through three quarters, and 100 yards for the game.
Valwood put all of its points on the board in the first half, and held Edmund Burke (0-5) scoreless through the first 37-plus minutes.
The first Valiant touchdown came on their first drive of the game. Runs by Robert Hires and Zac Henry moved the ball up the field, then Todd Baker busted up the middle for a 20-yard touchdown run only 1:16 into the game. Hires missed the extra point, and Valwood held a 6-0 lead.
After the Valiant defense forced its second turnover on downs, the offense got back to work. It took Valwood only four plays to score on its second possession of the game.
After a big run from Hires and a nine-yard pass from Henry to Rob Blanton, Valwood had the ball inside the 10-yard line. Two plays later, Kyle Hall powered his way in for a 4-yard touchdown run. The two-point try failed, and Valwood held a 12-0 into the second quarter.
“It was good to have Zac back after he was out last week,” said Patrick.
The defense continued to dominate, with sacks by Blanton, Jon Rutkowski and Nathan Smith, and the offense did its part too.
With 3:49 left in the half, Henry hit Carter Karras for a 12 yard touchdown pass, making it 18-0. The Valiants were able to score in only four plays after the Valwood defense stopped the Spartans deep in their territory.
On the following kickoff, Baker recovered Hires’ onside kick, but Valwood was unable to capitalize and gave the Spartans back the ball with just over a minute in the half. The Valwood defense went to work and forced the Spartans to punt from their own end zone for the second time.
This time the Valiants, led by Hires, busted through the line and blocked the Hamp Wade punt. Karras fell on the ball in the end zone for the Valwood touchdown. J.B. Bahnsen converted the only extra point of the game, and Valwood led at halftime, 25-0.
In the second half, the Valiants and Spartans had trouble holding onto the football, and snapping the football. Each team had costly plays that keep each other out of the end zones.
The Valwood defense continued to dominate, but the Spartans were finally able to get on the board with the young players in the game.
Edmund Burke quarterback Alex Sturkie took off for a 64-yard touchdown run with 10:30 left in the game. The two-point try failed, and Valwood held on to win with a final score of 25-6.
“Now we’ll enjoy the week off as our players travel throughout the U.S.,” said Coach Patrick. “All in all, 5-1 isn’t bad going into your bye week.”
For Edmund Burke, Sturkie had 75 yards rushing on 13 carries, while Jeremy Hayes had 20 yards on six carries. Justin Lee had four tackles and an interception.
Valwood had 400 yards of total offense, but lost 53 yards on bad snaps. Henry went 5-for-11 for 91 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Baker had 60 yards on six carries. Blanton had a game-high two catches for 49 yards.
Rutkowski had a game-high six tackles and Gus Elliott had five tackles.
The Valiants have a bye this week and return to action on Oct. 19, when they face Piedmont Academy on the road.
Local Sports
Valiants win Homecoming game, 25-6
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