Week 12: #4 Newark Catholic vs #1 Lucasville Valley

[A-Town Big Dog]

Was the stadium capacity an issue? I know many of you were concerned about the venue prior to the game and I was wondering if it turned out like you thought or if it was maybe better than expected.

[wobycat]

Watching these two teams, I believe they were very similar as in being two really good teams. They both were different in styles though. Valley kind of got shell shocked with the quick two scores but settled in and from that point on, owned the line of scrimmage. Big plays and key mistakes were the difference. The QB from NC was very good at the deep ball. Valley had a huge chance to stay in game but a dropped "for sure TD" was heartbreaking. Great season Valley!

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

We got there six minutes before the kickoff and had ZERO problems getting a seat, and there were plenty of seats to choose from.

#7 Might have had his best game of the season throwing the deep ball.

[Kenraken Ahta]

Congratulations to the Valley Indians, kids, coaches and fans on a great season! I know this will "sting" for a bit but life goes on. Not so many years ago, the Purple and Gold were the one of the few teams that the Northwest Mohawks could beat. Matter of fact, there were seasons that the Indians finished dead last in the "old" SOC. So yes your season ended a few games sooner than we would have liked, but what you have accomplished, not just this season, but over the years, is worth it's weight in a ton of state championship rings. There are teams that have never once won their conference, let alone get to play in weak 11. You were there gentlemen, there where many would have loved to have been! Again, congratulations to the entire Indian Nation!

[victor creed]

congrats to valley on a great season. i went up to nelsonville and watched it last night. i sat beside a couple of very nice valley fans and rooted for the indians. there are a lot of good posts on here about the game that pretty much sum it up, so there really isnt much to add. newark catholic has a really good team. they have some really fast recievers and their oline did a good job of giving the qb time to set his feet and make good throws. if you could compare much from this game to the valley/burg game, its that nc did a much better job in the trenches and the qb had time to throw the ball. i agree, there were several big plays in the game that turned the tide. first, valley dug themselves a hole in the first quarter, the nc first 2 drives were over 75 yards in 2 plays and then in 3 plays and both scores were simple flag routes where the reciever just went right past the defender and the qb laid it right in there. the interception right before half time killed them. i thought valley had enough time to keep it on the ground a little more and try to establish a little better field position before they starting throwing it, which is not their strong suit, still had over a min. and a half and 3 time outs, at least if they move it out over the 50 before they start airing it out. i give valley a lot of credit they came out the 2nd half and did what they had to do, went right down the field and scored to cut it to 7 and then had the opportunity to tie it up and had a drop in the endzone. i feel really bad for the kid that missed it , he makes that catch 99 out of 100 times, he needs to keep his head up because other than that he played a heck of a game. even after that miss valley was still in the game until the officials decided to take over the game. i thought a few of the calls in that span of 6 straight were decent but the unsportsman like that was called when valley was in the huddle was ridiculous, it looked to us like he was walking past the huddle and maybe heard a valley player cuss while trying to fire up his teammates. there wasnt any other explaination we could figure. just very poor timing to make that call there, and it basically gave nc 45 yards in field position that they took advantage of. good job by valley to keep fighting the entire game. again a great season and good luck to nc the rest of the year i will be rooting for them.

[55buckeyes98]

Can I get a link to the radio broadcast on-line

http://www.wnxtradio.com/

No Cheering for NC in here....take that to the huddle.

Was definitely rooting for Valley! Can Ready and NC both lose next week?

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

Newark Catholic getting a stop after the do over was a huge factor in this one.

[victor creed]

agreed, nc fan, that was ultimately the drop inthe endzone, and thanks to the officiating it was a 5th down drop. i guess karma raised its head there. great game overall, newark catholic imo just the better team overall last night. it may get tougher from here. definately lots of speed onthe ready team.

[Jankage11]

Ultimately I think it came down to the Indians defense they haven't gave up 400+ yards all season long. Yes the interception before half was huge but then the Indians dropped a pick that would've prevented NC from scoring. The drop in the end zone was huge and would've gave a huge momentum boost but then the Indians hurt themselves with penalties and couldn't get the NC offense off the field in a huge 3rd and long situation which led to they're score to take a two score lead. I think if they make that stop on 3rd in long it's a different ball game. These seniors have nothing to hang their heads about and have been a pleasure to watch and I still believe them to be the best class I've seen come through valley. Great season and hope we can continue the winning standard these seniors started with many more successful seasons in the future.

[jagered]

I listened to it online and I have to say as others have already, Cath was just a little bit better than Valley and I am ok with that or at least it is easier to swallow, I guess. But just by listening to it on the radio the last 2 minutes of the 1st half is where I have a problem. Valley up until then had not been able to stop Cath until late in the 2nd quarter and Valley had just scored to cut it to 20-14 and with about a minute had all the momentum going into halftime and was going to have the ball to start the 3rd quarter. Here is where I have a problem, I know you are confident in your kids abilities and I get that, BUT instead of being smart and just go to halftime with all the momentum Valley had and only down 6, someone dials up a pass play in which a couple plays later Valley is now down 14 and you could feel it thru the internet, a gut shot that Valley may not be able to overcome. That was essentially to me the biggest mistake made by the coaches, not the kids because they just run what the coach calls. I know there were other things as others have mentioned that affected the game and they are also correct, but jmo that play right before halftime was a dagger. Valley seniors keep your head high but sometimes they are just a little bit better than you and congrats on a great season.