Unioto Hands Paint Valley First SVC Grid Loss

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Unioto bounced back from suffering their first loss of the season to hand Paint Valley their first SVC loss Friday with a 42-17 home victory.

The first half was a tight battle, with the Bearcats leading 17-14 at halftime, only to see the Shermans outscore PV 28-0.

Unioto turned the ball over to Paint Valley on their opening drive, only to see PV give it back two plays later. The Shermans took advantage of that as they drove for their opening score as Unioto’s Matt Griffin scored on a two yard run with 7:38 of the first quarter. The PAT kick by Lucas Hanes gave the Shermans a 7-0 lead.

The Bearcats answered with a drive of their own, completed by Braylon Robertson’s two yard TD run at 2:24 of the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7.

Paint Valley’s ensuing kickoff sailed out of bounds, but Unioto was called for a personal foul and two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, which allowed PV to kickoff again from the Unioto 30 yard line. The Bearcats recovered an onside kick attempt and drove the short field for the go-ahead score when Cavan Cooper plunged in from one yard at 11:55 of the second quarter for the 14-7 lead after the PAT.

Unioto’s Casey Dray tied the game 14-14 on a 12 yard TD run at 9:14 of the second quarter.

Paint Valley got the ball back and drove deep into Unioto territory, but made a big defensive stand to prevent a Bearcats scoring threat at the 20 yard line. But, following a Unioto turnover, Paint Valley drove deep in the closing seconds and took the halftime lead when Dax Estep connected on a 30 yard field goal to end first half for a Paint Valley 17-14 lead at intermission.

But, the second half was all Unioto. Cody Tuttle’s interception return to the PV 16 yard line set up their go-ahead score. Matt Griffin took the next play from 16 yards out at 6:48 of the third quarter. The PAT from Hanes gave Unioto the 21-17 lead, for which they would never trail again.

Casey Dray sprinted 73 yards for a TD at 4:18 of third quarter. PAT good. Unioto 28, Paint Valley 17, which was the score at the end of the third quarter.

Matt Griffin’s 15 yard TD run at 11:26 of fourth quarter, along with the PAT made it Unioto 35, Paint Valley 17.

Corbin Demint put the finishing touch on the Shermans scoring with a 24 yard TD run at 6:34 of fourth quarter for the final margin of 42-17 over Paint Valley.

Matt Griffin and Casey Dray were the McDonald’s Players of the Game, as Griffin had 7 carries for 59 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Casey Dray had 5 carries for 86 yards and 2 TD’s. Corbin DeMint had 8 carries for 75 yards and a TD. Newton Hoops was 7/12 passing for 67 yards and one interception. Defensively, Cody Tuttle, Matt Griffin and Isaiah Cunningham each had an interception.

Unioto improves to (4-1/7-1) while Paint Valley falls to (4-1/5-3). Paint Valley hosts unbeaten Zane Trace next Friday.