Williams Valley Cruises Past Minersville To Advance In District Playoffs

WILLIAMSTOWN – There is a saying that people often use in sports, defense wins championships. The Williams Valley defense played at a championship level as the Vikings defeated Minersville 56-35 on Saturday night.

On the opening play of the game, Brady Shomper found Fletcher Thompson for a 74 yard touchdown less than 20 seconds into the game to make the score 7-0. “Definitely helped us get going on the right foot in the first half,” said Williams Valley interim head coach Ben Ancheff. When the Battlin’ Miners took possession of the ball on their opening drive, it ended with a turnover on downs. The Viking’ offense went back to work as Shomper connected with Colin Crisswell for a 28-yard touchdown to increase their lead to 14. With exactly one minute left in the opening quarter, Shomper got another touchdown by finding Evan Achenbach for a 25-yard score. At this point, Williams Valley led 21-0. On the kickoff after that touchdown, Minersville nearly gave the ball back to the Vikings twice with fumbling and bobbling the ball, but they (Minersville) recovered the ball.

The offense for Minersville had another turnover on downs, but less than a minute later, they recovered a fumble. To conclude that drive, Dante Carr ran three yards to put the Miners on the board. On the first play with the ball back, Thompson rushed 80 yards to increase the Williams Valley lead to 28-7. The Vikings took the ball back once again when Christian Davis recovered an onside kick. Trevon Bair scored with six seconds left with a two yard run to give Williams Valley a 35-7 lead at halftime. Coach Ancheff was proud of the way his defense played that half.

Derek Derenzo opened the second half with a three yard run for the Battlin’ Miners to make the score 35-14. Thompson gave Williams Valley another seven points when he rushed two yards into the end zone. On the next drive for Minersville, Carr found LaPoint for a five yard touchdown to make the score 42-21 in favor of the Vikings. Thompson’s name was said over the speakers again as he had another touchdown run, this one for 16 yards as he increased their lead to 49-21. LaPoint was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty with less than a minute left in the third quarter when the Miners offense tried to get something going.

Exactly one minute into the final quarter, the Minersville defense forced a turnover on downs to take possession back. Carr found Ty Atkinson for a one-yard score to end that drive, which made the score 49-28. Shomper threw to Blazer Lords for a five-yard score. Lords went down with an injury to his chest due to a big hit. The last score of the game was for the Battlin’ Miners as Carr had a 65-yard passing touchdown to Derenzo.

Second seeded Williams Valley will face the best AA team in the state, the Schuylkill Haven Hurricanes, for the district championship on Friday, November 14th at Blue Mountain. Ancheff said that the Canes have the best rushing attack in Pennsylvania and the guys up front are strong, so they have to play a whole game to stick with Mike Farr’s team.

Williams Valley 56, Minersville 35