Valley fought with grit, but lost 54-48 last night.

Dan Ross is a friend from Portsmouth, Ohio.  He allowed me an interview which is in my recent book: "Acquaintances with Integrity II".  Dan Ross is also a Phd, which is, of course a Doctorate in Philosophy.  Dan Ross is also the Commissioner of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA).  Dan Ross has always performed exceptionally in wherever and in whatever and that is why he stands out to me as an integrous person, perhaps not a perfect one. I am not interested in any imperfections Dan may have.  In my attempts to write profoundly about things in life, I have found that I gain more from the good of life than I ever do from the bad of life. 

This story I want to write is about a football game last night at Westerville Central High School.  Dan gave me a couple of unsolicited tickets at our breakfast Thursday morning.  I accessed the Portsmouth Daily Times yesterday and learned Lucasville Valley had a 12-0 record and they were going to play Wynford (12-0) in a  regional final game.  Lucasville's leaders were Luke Keller, Blake Yates and Rob Dwyer among many other fine athletes.  Wynford was lead mainly by Zach Chatlain, QB, among many fine athletes as well.

Well, the game commenced and Valley kicked off and forced Wynford to punt the ball.  Valley ran Keller a few times, right down the field and scored, but missed their extra point.  Wynford tried a pass which Valley intercepted and soon ran the ball in for the second touchdown.  14-0 after a two point conversion.  Wynford got the ball and threw another pass, which Dwyer intercepted and the score soon became 21-0.  Blake and Keller continued running the ball and scored again to makle it 27-0 and there was still 2:25 left in the first quarter.   Most teams would get a little confident at that point.  After all, Wynford had allowed only 82 points all season and never more than 20 in a single game. 

The second quarter began and unbeknownst to us, the worm was slowly about to turn.    Wynford began scoring and always made their two point conversions.  27-8, 27-16, 27-24.  Something had to re-establish Valley as a decent Regional competitor.  It appeared that Keller, a strong kid, and Blake managed to score again for Valley,  set up by a wobbly pass that Keller doggedly fought to snare .  This time Valley converted two and led 35-24 with 1:36 left in the half.  Wynford managed the clock well not unlike a good pro team.  They appeared unsuccessful, though until quarterback Chaplain made a long running gain until he was ran out of bounds and the clock was stopped again with only scant seconds left.  Wynford scored from the 1 and again conveted two to make the score 35-32 at halftime.  Wynford had come back 32-8 in that second quarter. 

I left after the third quarter ended with Wynford leading 40-35.  In walking to my car and starting out I was curious enough to squeeze in a look at the scoreboard and Wynford scored eight again and made the score 48-35 in their favor, early in the fourth quarter.  Their was still some fight left in each team in the game; however, Wynford won out 54-48.

Momentum is an important part of sports.  Valley took mo and lost mo and Wynford was stunned but came back and won.  102 points were scored and there were many dramatic turns.  Valley should be proud of their great 12-1 season.  Wynford won their 13th game and will be in the state final game next weekend.

I am grateful to Dan ross for providing me an adventure in football on a cold but clear night in Westerville.

SamKat