Week 7 West @ Valley

[Jesco White]

The game definitely would have been more intense in OT...which is almost scary given the already playoff-like atmosphere throughout the game. As mentioned in the PDT, the game definitely lived up to the hype!!!

I'm looking forward to see where both these teams go from here.

[seasick80]

Waa, West played on atleast three turf fields going into this game. no excuses.

[Jesco White]

Waa, West played on atleast three turf fields going into this game. no excuses.

I've always respected your insights. What's your take on this Valley team?

[seasick80]

LOL, SCARY!!!!!

[Jesco White]

Lord knows I'm bias, but I don't recall a team with a triple threat of a RB, QB and WR with as much athleticism and leadership (all 3 are seniors), along with a solid line in a long time in this area.

[seasick80]

How far back u wanna go? LOL! The receiver is ur key! Dwyer is the best Ive seen in a long time! Good size, great leaping ability. That makes ur case that with that oline, the QB and Keller, with Dwyer, yep, one of the best Ive seen here in along time.

[Buckeye24]

Waa, West played on atleast three turf fields going into this game. no excuses.

It's not an excuse. Read my post.

[28Buck]

Lord knows I'm bias, but I don't recall a team with a triple threat of a RB, QB and WR with as much athleticism and leadership (all 3 are seniors), along with a solid line in a long time in this area.

Burg 2007, Cook at WR, Spradlin QB and J. Shankweiler at RB. Plus a senior laden line. Probably the best next to Waverly, whom Burg beat that year.

[Westfan]

Waa, West played on atleast three turf fields going into this game. no excuses.

It's not an excuse. Read my post.

That was West's third game on turf. Portsmouth and Rock Hill. For whatever reason when we play on turf, we seem to fumble alot when we rarely ever fumble during the season. That fumble on our first series was a big emotional swing.

Going forward, there will be an adjustment for Valley. Friday was played under perfect conditions. In the next month it's going to get much colder. There is a reason why running teams win almost all the state titles in Ohio.

Also what's up with the smoke from Valley's pregame during the kickoff? It didn't look like Frey could find the ball and it almost cost us a turnover to start the game when he bobbled it.

[sportsfan_1959]

I was surprised the officials did not let the smoke clear before the kickoff took place. Really did not make sense, in my opinion.

[Black@Orange]

I read some comments earlier where some believed West needed to throw the ball more last night, because they believe the Siders had success in the passing game. I've got to be honest, I disagree. In the final drive, Ratliff was just 2-5 against a prevent defense that was conceding the pass in order to keep the ball in bounds and the clock running. I'm sorry, but while I credit Ratliff for making the most of what he was given, I just don't view that as the type of passing attack that was capable of changing that particular ballgame. He was 2-4 prior to that drive, but also faced a lot of pressure when he dropped back prior to the late drive. At no point did it appear that the West passing game was a legit threat last night. I'll concede that maybe I'm looking through rose colored glasses, but as big a fan as I've openly become of Ratliff, I don't think bias is playing a factor here.
All I was saying is that West needs to change up there play calling. Ratliff delivered the ball to Bricker right on the money. In what could have tied the ballgame, with a two pt. conversion. But Valley knocked the ball away. A screen pass was also dropped. It's a lot easier to throw the ball, when there not expecting it. A couple of the balls Yates threw to Dwyer, were just jump balls. I know that Yates has faith in his big wideout. But those balls could have went either way. I don't know if you watched West last year, but Ratliff was 60some for 90something, completion %. Thats not to bad. Our running attack wasn't working. You need to adjust as the game plays out. I don't think that it is fair to judge a kid when everybody in the stadium knows what you are going to do. And remember was was out of timeouts.

Also, as for the comment about wanting to see how this game would've played out at the Rock...what do you think would have been different? These are two very good football teams who are pretty evenly matched. However, I don't think it would have mattered where this game would have been played last night. Valley just flat out out-played West in all facets of the game, except turnover margin. It was just one of those nights!! I'm quite certain West is going to bounce back stronger than ever and hopefully we'll all get to see these two teams square off again a couple of rounds deep into the playoffs!!!

My hat goes off to both teams on a hard fought and classy game!!! Good luck to West the rest of the way and keep it rolling Valley!!!!!

[Black@Orange]

I read some comments earlier where some believed West needed to throw the ball more last night, because they believe the Siders had success in the passing game. I've got to be honest, I disagree. In the final drive, Ratliff was just 2-5 against a prevent defense that was conceding the pass in order to keep the ball in bounds and the clock running. I'm sorry, but while I credit Ratliff for making the most of what he was given, I just don't view that as the type of passing attack that was capable of changing that particular ballgame. He was 2-4 prior to that drive, but also faced a lot of pressure when he dropped back prior to the late drive. At no point did it appear that the West passing game was a legit threat last night. I'll concede that maybe I'm looking through rose colored glasses, but as big a fan as I've openly become of Ratliff, I don't think bias is playing a factor here.

Also, as for the comment about wanting to see how this game would've played out at the Rock...what do you think would have been different? These are two very good football teams who are pretty evenly matched. However, I don't think it would have mattered where this game would have been played last night. Valley just flat out out-played West in all facets of the game, except turnover margin. It was just one of those nights!! I'm quite certain West is going to bounce back stronger than ever and hopefully we'll all get to see these two teams square off again a couple of rounds deep into the playoffs!!!

My hat goes off to both teams on a
hard fought and classy game!!! Good luck to West the rest of the way and keep it rolling Valley!!!!!

Ratliff delivered the ball right on the money to Bricker. On what could have tied the game with a 2 pt. conversion. But Valley made a good play on the ball. All I was saying is you need to mix up your play calling. It's really not fair to judge a kid, when everybody in the stadium knows that your going to throw the ball. There was also a dropped screen pass. Our running attack wasn't working. We needed to adjust. And remember on that last drive we had no timeouts.

[here4fun]

I have got to say I am very impressed with the west siders post thanks for all of the good comments about the game the post about the best wr I think blake yates is the best even that he is playing QB. Under Zach Utley he made some insane catches not taking anything away from Dwyer he is awsome too

[BigBlueNation]

The comment I made on a earlier post about throwing the ball earlier is meaning to keep the d honest. Valley has a great defense they loaded the box all night and even Yates at the safety position was playing up closer than normal. What I'm saying is you can't continually run between the tackles on a very good well coached defense, we were able to do that against most the OVC teams because everyone knows the better SOC teams are superior to them at this point. It is my opinion that with the talent we have and Levi's ability to run the football that if he is in the shotgun with a single back set that this team is far more dangerous, we have seen bit's and pieces of it this season and i'm just saying we need to see more of it.

[BigBlueNation]

Something that has really bothered me since this game is not the fact that we lost or got outplayed I think that will make us better. When Valley went up 28-14 with over 7 minutes left alot of our so called fans got up and left, those young men played their hearts and souls out in this game and those so called fans just quit on those boys it just made me sick, it was the first time in all my years that I was ashamed to be a Westsider. This is not like me to say something like this but I'm really bothered by it.

[Jesco White]

The comment I made on a earlier post about throwing the ball earlier is meaning to keep the d honest. Valley has a great defense they loaded the box all night and even Yates at the safety position was playing up closer than normal. What I'm saying is you can't continually run between the tackles on a very good well coached defense, we were able to do that against most the OVC teams because everyone knows the better SOC teams are superior to them at this point. It is my opinion that with the talent we have and Levi's ability to run the football that if he is in the shotgun with a single back set that this team is far more dangerous, we have seen bit's and pieces of it this season and i'm just saying we need to see more of it.

I understand totally. Ratliff is a solid dual threat QB and he hurt the Indians with his feet every bit as much as he hurt them with his arm. Putting him in the gun and giving him an opportunity to make decisions behind that big veteran line would certainly be deadly for West's opposition moving forward.

[Jesco White]

Lord knows I'm bias, but I don't recall a team with a triple threat of a RB, QB and WR with as much athleticism and leadership (all 3 are seniors), along with a solid line in a long time in this area.

Burg 2007, Cook at WR, Spradlin QB and J. Shankweiler at RB. Plus a senior laden line. Probably the best next to Waverly, whom Burg beat that year.

Sorry, but not even comparible in my mind. While Spradlin is a tremendous athlete and outstanding basketball player, he was nowhere near the QB that Yates is and Cook (while also a solid athlete) didn't possess the 6'6" frame and leaping/speed/hands combo that Dwyer has. I'll definitely agree about J. Shank, but he's the only one of the three. I think you'd have to go further back than that.

[Jesco White]

How far back u wanna go? LOL! The receiver is ur key! Dwyer is the best Ive seen in a long time! Good size, great leaping ability. That makes ur case that with that oline, the QB and Keller, with Dwyer, yep, one of the best Ive seen here in along time.

LOL....I'll take any trio we can come up with. I've researched from '59 to '84 for another project and don't remember coming across a more deadly trio with a line to allow them to make such plays from those years. So, that leaves from '84 to present. Any ideas? 28buck mentioned the combo of Spradlin, big Shank and Cook in '07 for Burg. I know Waverly had an explosive duo with Swinning and Adkins at QB and WR in '92 and '93, but I don't recall them having an equally explosive back to go with them. Obviously, Portsmouth has had many explosive backs, and they had the combo of Michael Estep and Michael Parker in '91, with I believe Apel or Duncan at WR.

[coop]

I can assure ANYONE that Valley is not just "looking past" Wheelersburg...Valley is going to go up there and play thier tails off and HOPE to come out with a victory, the locker room material isnt gonna work. This team is FOCUSED and ready to go.

[Crab's Brother]

As far as trios.....I could compare them to Montavon, Gullion, and Miller from the Waverly 01 team. Best I could come up with.