PECKVILLE — The storyline heading into Friday’s non-conference matchup centered mainly on Crestwood’s defense.
It was Valley View’s defense – the same one that gave up five touchdowns last weekend in a shutout loss to Scranton Prep – that stole the show in the teams’ fifth meeting in the past three years.
Valley View jumped out to an early lead with four unanswered touchdowns in a 28-13 victory over Crestwood in front of its home crowd.
Three defensive plays turned the tables for a Cougars team that trailed mightily on time of possession.
On the third play of the game, Valley View’s Tyler Scoblick intercepted a pass at the Crestwood 35-yard line. Just 2:20 into the game, Preston Reed punched it in for a 6-yard touchdown.
As Crestwood’s offense was getting its legs under its feet for the first time, Valley View’s Nick Kucharski intercepted a long pass at the 1-yard line.
To hold onto a two-touchdown lead at halftime, the Cougars’ Jeffrey Wasilchak stopped quarterback Jack Rodgers on a goal-line stand. Crestwood was unable to get a snap off before the first half horn rang.
Valley View opened the third quarter with two touchdowns in the opening seven minutes to flirt with a mercy rule. Crestwood responded with a 68-yard drive bookended by a Colin Lazo 6-yard touchdown run.
Crestwood benefited from a series of unsportsmanlike penalties called against Valley View. Five Cougar whistles enabled Rodgers to score a 1-yard touchdown with 8:49 remaining.
Valley View committed 10 penalties for 75 yards, nine of which came during the second half.
Crestwood running back Giovanni Barna led the Comets offense with 71 yards on 12 carries. Jacob Jeckell had 66 yards on 15 carries.
Valley View 28, Crestwood 13
Crestwood`0`0`6`7 — 13
Valley View`7`7`14`0 — 28
First quarter
V — Preston Reed 6 run (Braden Loff kick), 9:40
Second quarter
V — Beyon McLean 5 pass from Casey Malsberger (Loff kick), 10:24
Third quarter
V — Malsberger 27 run (Loff kick), 9:28
V — Malsberger 1 run (Loff kick), 5:44
C— Colin Lazo 6 run (kick fail), 1:42
Fourth quarter
C — Jack Rodgers 1 run (Ethan Zabroski kick), 8:49
Team statistics`CRE`VV
First downs`16`8
Rushes-yards`42-188`29-148
Passing yards`31`103
Total yards`219`251
Passing`2-7-2`4-7-0
Sacked-yards lost`0-0`1-12
Punts-avg.`2-42.5`2-37.5
Fumbles-lost`0-0`3-0
Penalties-yards`9-50`10-75
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — CRE, Jacob Jeckell 15-66, Nate Walsh 6-9, Giovanni Barna 12-71, Carter Kennedy 2-16, Lazo 3-20, Rodgers 2-0, Matthew Bealla 2-6. VV, Nick Kurcharski 10-88, Reed 10-54, Malsberger 4-31, Gianni Marino 1-4, TEAM 4-(minus-29).
PASSING — CRE, Rodgers 1-6-2-5, Barna 1-1-0-26; VV, Malsberger 4-7-0-98
RECEIVING — CRE, Eli Meadows 1-5, Rodgers 1-26; VV, McLean 2-56, Marino 1-42, Ben Evans 1-5.
INTERCEPTIONS — VV, Kucharski 1-0, Scoblick 1-0.
MISSED FGs — None.
