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| Ryker Williams scores the sole touchdown for the Braves in the third quarter. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com) |
URICHSVILLE, Ohio — In a battle for supremacy in the Inter Valley Conference, both Claymont and Indian Valley came into the game undefeated and looking for the right to capture the IVC South title.
Indian Valley's season remains perfect at 9-0, in a thrilling 7-6 game and take home the IVC South Conference title.
First quarter
Indian Valley wins the coin toss in the game of unbeatens and defers to Claymont. Claymont’s starting quarterback, Brady Henry, leads the drive. They go for it on 4th and 1 with 10:22 remaining on the clock and fail to convert as they pitch it to Dre’Vonn Searcy for a two-yard loss in their first possession.
In the next possession, quarterback Ryker Williams takes a sack on a 3rd-and-16 to give the ball back to Claymont.
Henry finds Searcy for a big catch with just over four minutes remaining that set them up at the Indian Valley 33-yard line. On a second turnover on downs, Claymont fails to convert on a 4th and 8 in Indian Valley territory.
Claymont's defense holds, forcing Indian Valley to punt with just a minute remaining in the quarter.
Brady Henry throws an interception to Colt James with 35 seconds remaining. End of first: CLAYMONT 0, INDIAN VALLEY 0.
Second quarter
Indian Valley is forced to punt as the Claymont defense comes through once again with 10:48 remaining.
Claymont is using the running game of Kam Stout and Jackson Jinks to make his way down the field but gets called for an illegal substitution with 4:05 remaining, resulting in a loss of 5 yards and a third-down turnover on downs on a 4th-and-6 at the 17-yard line.
Indian Valley uses up the clock down the stretch of this quarter as they remain with the ball with 1:04 remaining in the half.
The half ends with Ryker throwing an interception to Daniel McGarr with two seconds remaining. HALFTIME: Claymont 0, Indian Valley 0.
Ryker Williams goes down and out for one play with just over nine minutes remaining in the game, but returns the next play later. He continues to be the force at the top of this quarter. With first down on the 8-yard line, Ryker Williams scores on a quarterback keeper to put the game’s first points on the board with 6:57 remaining.
Indian Valley has controlled the clock in the third quarter. Indian Valley 7, Claymont 0.
Fourth quarter
Indian Valley fumbles with 11:13 on the clock, recovered by Camden McCall for Claymont. Claymont comes up short again, resulting in a punt with that possession.
Two back-to-back holding calls for Indian Valley back up in their own territory. With a big stop for Claymont on a 3rd-and-17 for Indian Valley, they make them go backwards, resulting in a punt.
Claymont's bid for victory fell short when their 2-point conversion attempt failed, which would have given them a one-point advantage with just over one minute left on the clock.
"We knew it the whole way down the field; if they score, they're gonna go for a two, and we were getting ready to call some timeouts to preserve some clock," said Lancaster.
Indian Valley's momentum came in the top of the third quarter when quarterback Ryker Williams got the bulk of the touches, resulting in their first and only score of the game. "We came out electric, the coaches made a good game plan for our offensive line, and they really executed it; they gave me great holes to run through, and I hit them," said Williams.
Both defenses played crucial roles in this game. "Claymont really came out and put it to us in the first half; I think the whole first half was played on our side of the field," elaborated Lancaster.
Claymont controlled the clock the first half of the game as the Braves controlled it in the second half. "I think we only had three possessions in the first half," said Lancaster.
The Braves' defense was pretty solid early on, stopping Claymont from converting any of their first three fourth-down attempts.
The Mustangs' late score came from quarterback Brady Henry finding Jackson Jinks in the corner of the end zone. Then came the call to go for two. "If it had been the playoffs, I would have kicked the field goal," Buddy White elaborated.
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| Jackson Jinks hauls in a pass over defending players Bronko Braun (2) and Carsen Hostetler (5). (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com) |
The win for Indian Valley gave them a first-round bye as we head into the OHSAA playoffs. But there is a reality that these two teams could see each other again in a few weeks.
Game Breakdown
First quarter
Indian Valley wins the coin toss in the game of unbeatens and defers to Claymont. Claymont’s starting quarterback, Brady Henry, leads the drive. They go for it on 4th and 1 with 10:22 remaining on the clock and fail to convert as they pitch it to Dre’Vonn Searcy for a two-yard loss in their first possession.
In the next possession, quarterback Ryker Williams takes a sack on a 3rd-and-16 to give the ball back to Claymont.
Henry finds Searcy for a big catch with just over four minutes remaining that set them up at the Indian Valley 33-yard line. On a second turnover on downs, Claymont fails to convert on a 4th and 8 in Indian Valley territory.
Claymont's defense holds, forcing Indian Valley to punt with just a minute remaining in the quarter.
Brady Henry throws an interception to Colt James with 35 seconds remaining. End of first: CLAYMONT 0, INDIAN VALLEY 0.
Second quarter
Indian Valley is forced to punt as the Claymont defense comes through once again with 10:48 remaining.
Claymont is using the running game of Kam Stout and Jackson Jinks to make his way down the field but gets called for an illegal substitution with 4:05 remaining, resulting in a loss of 5 yards and a third-down turnover on downs on a 4th-and-6 at the 17-yard line.
Indian Valley uses up the clock down the stretch of this quarter as they remain with the ball with 1:04 remaining in the half.
The half ends with Ryker throwing an interception to Daniel McGarr with two seconds remaining. HALFTIME: Claymont 0, Indian Valley 0.
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| This game was played in the trenches all night as Indian Valley prepares to run a play. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com) |
Third quarter
Ryker Williams goes down and out for one play with just over nine minutes remaining in the game, but returns the next play later. He continues to be the force at the top of this quarter. With first down on the 8-yard line, Ryker Williams scores on a quarterback keeper to put the game’s first points on the board with 6:57 remaining.
Indian Valley has controlled the clock in the third quarter. Indian Valley 7, Claymont 0.
Fourth quarter
Indian Valley fumbles with 11:13 on the clock, recovered by Camden McCall for Claymont. Claymont comes up short again, resulting in a punt with that possession.
Two back-to-back holding calls for Indian Valley back up in their own territory. With a big stop for Claymont on a 3rd-and-17 for Indian Valley, they make them go backwards, resulting in a punt.
After a back-and-forth battle, Claymont finally gets possession of the ball. Quarterback Brady Henry finds Jackson Jinks in the back of the end zone on an 8-yard touchdown reception, trailing 6-7. Claymont chose to go for the 2-point conversion as they stopped Dre'Vonn Searcy at the half-yard line with 1:11 remaining in the game. Indian Valley ran the clock out. FINAL: Indian Valley 7, Claymont 6.
What's next
Both teams will enter the OHSAA football playoffs. Claymont (9-1) will have home-field advantage, and Indian Valley (9-0) will have a bye to start the playoffs.
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