Jones, Maxwell Magnificent in Win!
Southworth scores late to lift Redstreaks
PV's scores came on a quarterback iso from Dove as well as two scores from Wes Parker. Parker rushed for 139 yards and a TD plus a KO return for a score.
Special teams played a big role for ZT. Nick Ganus kicked two field goals and an extra point providing the difference.
Westfall had two drives to tie the game, but one resulted in a fumble and the final one ended in a turnover on downs as the ZT defense held on a 4th and 1 with 39-seconds remaining to clinch the 29-22 win..
Scoring in the game included three touchdown runs for Zane Trace's Ben Jones. Maxwell threw for two, two-point covnersions hitting Evan Dodd for one and Gabe Haynes for another.
Westfall got a touchdown run from Seth Sias while Williamson ran for a touchdown, hit Jake Cantrell for a touchdown, and threw two-point conversions to Matt Near and Cantrell.
The win snaps WF's SVC, best ever streak at 29 as ZT nows sits all alone in first-place at 4-0 in league play.
DEFENSE: 26.0 (4th in SVC)
DIFFERENTIAL: +7.3 (1st in SVC)
DEFENSE: 20.3 (2nd in SVC)
DIFFERENTIAL: +6.4 (2nd in SVC)
-ZT head coach Gary Peters on Westfall's offensive unit
-ZT head coach Gary Peters on his offense, his quarterback, and why his team has been successful in 2009
-WF head coach Scott Keller on Kirk Maxwell
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It is hard to start talking about this game without talking about the quarterbacks. Westfall's Vinnie Williamson and Zane Trace's Kirk Maxwell are two guys that can beat you with their feet and with their arm. In Week 6, both guys were extremely sharp in preparation of this week's showdown. Williamson threw for 242 yards and three scores in a win over Southeastern while Maxwell threw two touchdowns and ran for two more in a win over Huntington.
Perhaps the best news for Westfall is the improved health of Matt Near. Westfall has lost some pass catchers for the year, but Near returned from injury a few weeks back and in Week 6-the first week Coach Keller really felt that he was healthy-Near caught eight balls for 161 yards and two scores. In Near's absence, Westfall has developed some play-making depth with threats like Jake Cantrell and Nick Hammond.
Maxwell's supporting cast is very talented as well. Gabe Haynes, who has caught three TDs in the last two games including two scores in a big 14-13 Week 5 win over Piketon, is the go to receiver. Maxwell will also look for Evan Dodd and Dallas Cochenour in the passing game. Ben Jones and Chris Finley add some solid between-the-tackle running to compliment Maxwell's ability in the quarterback read option plays.
It is also hard to think about Friday night without realizing the recent tradition in this rivalry. Westfall has the well documented streak of 29- a streak that started in Week 5 of 2005-just one week after Zane Trace defeated the Mustangs. When it comes to winning golden footballs, ZT knows a little something about that as well. That 2005 team, as well as the 2004 Zane Trace team, enjoyed perfect league seasons while making the playoffs. The Pioneers won the league in 2001 and went to Week 11, but did not win the gold ball due to a loss to guess who...Westfall.
When I think about this match-up, I feel the difference will be the team that wins the broken plays. What separates these two quarterbacks from the others that I have seen this year is what they do when the "called" play is no longer in tact. For example, in Zane Trace's key win over Piketon, the defense of the Redstreaks-which continues to be the league's best in terms of points allowed-had ZT under control. They had stopped the run, they had contained the athletes on the outside, and the difference in the game was simply Maxwell. Zane Trace's big plays came in times of improvisation by Maxwell. Either running the two-minute drill before the half or keeping plays alive to throw the ball down field late, Maxwell found a way to get all of ZT's athletes involved.
This type of versatility is the same thing you get with Williamson. Each Friday night while listening to the opposing coaches, who coach against this kid for the first time, you can tell he is too much to handle. If you need to keep the ball on the ground, he can run it 25 times like he did in Week 4 against Unioto. If you need to air it out, he can do that as well like he did this past week.
Lastly, both teams have more than prepared themselves for this stage. Both teams have played Logan Elm. Zane Trace has also played Amanda Clearcreek. I don't want to get into predictions. I think Westfall and their streak prove that they are the top team until someone proves different, and I think everyone agrees that Zane Trace enters Friday with as good of shot as any SVC team has had in recent history.
Should be a dandy and SVCsportszone.com will have it covered.
-WF head coach Scott Keller on Vinnie Williamson
7:30 p.m.
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