Cavaliers hold on to defeat Vikings
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL - CLASS 4A REGULAR SEASON
Story and Photos by Mike Maddock

Spring Valley's Rowshand Branch nearly sneaks through a host of Cavalier defenders including Harrison Oxendine (tackling), Jamal Mtshali (51), Tim Champagne (36), and Michael Darby (40). Branch finished with 94 yards rushing and one touchdown.

Coming in to the game Friday, November 2 against the arch rival Richland Northeast Cavaliers, the Spring Valley Vikings were 0- 10, but eight of those losses were by an average of less than five points. The last two losses were one point overtime losses. The game with the visiting Cavaliers figured to be a tight contest and it was. Richland Northeast took a 28- 14 lead midway through the fourth quarter but had to hang on for a 28- 22 victory.

Spring Valley got on the board first after Charles Lang's 44- yard punt return set the Vikings up with a first- and- goal from the six yard line. Three plays later quarterback Rob Harding found Jordan Giles in the end zone for a four yard touchdown reception.

The Cavaliers responded immediately with a 68- yard, 1:37 minute drive capped off by a nine yard touchdown reverse run from wide receiver Josh Young. Due to an unsportsmanlike penalty, the PAT was pushed back 15 yards and fell short to make the 7- 6 Spring Valley.

Cavalier wide receiver Josh Young runs a reverse for a nine yard touchdown.

Richland Northeast took the lead three minutes into the second quarter after Alexander Greene's 41- yard run plus a personal foul face- mask on Spring Valley gave the Cavaliers a first and goal at the Viking three yard line. QB Derek Frost ran the final yards and put Richland Northeast up 13- 7.

After Harding was sacked on a fourth- and- nine attempt from the Cavalier 31 yard line, the Cavaliers marched 61 yards mostly off the running of Greene. Greene burst through the middle of the Spring Valley defense virtually untouched for 20 yards and a touchdown to give Richland Northeast a 20- 7 advantage going into halftime.

After trading turnovers to start the second half and a Cavalier punt, the Vikings drove 59 yards and running back Rowshand Branch punched in the final two yards to close the gap to 20- 14 with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Spring Valley cheerleaders wait for the color guard to exit the field and their team to enter it.

Two possessions later, Richland Northeast put together a 90- yard, 5:52 drive that featured a 31- yard pass from Frost to Kersean Wilson to give the Cavaliers a first- and- goal at the Spring Valley three yard line. Wilson finished the drive with a three yard run, then Frost passed to Greene for the two- point conversion and a seemingly insurmountable 28- 14 lead with 5:51 remaining in the game.

A bad snap on a punt attempt by Richland northeast gave the Vikings the ball on the Cavalier 15 yard line. Harding's fade pass to the right corner of the end zone was tipped around and finally landed in the arms of Andrew Jones.

After a successful two- point trick play, the Vikings recovered their ensuing on- side kick to give them the ball at the 50- yardline down 28- 22 with 21 seconds remaining in the game.

But four straight incompletions gave the Cavaliers the ball and the victory.

RNE QB Derek Frost rolls to avoid pressure. Frost rushed 18 times for 62 yards and a touchdown. He also completed nine of 13 passes for 133 yards.