Tri-Valley football wanted to make a statement. A late defensive stand delivered the message

DRESDEN — Tri-Valley football does not shy away from expectations.

Even in Week 3, the Scotties understood the stakes of state power Clinton-Massie making a two-hour trek to Jack Anderson Stadium on Friday night.

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The Falcons were driving for a potential game-winning score, but Tri-Valley leaned on its defense to make a fourth-down stand and escape with a 14-13 win.

"We're going to watch film and see we have a lot of mistakes to clean up," Tri-Valley coach Cam West said. "Region 11 is a meat grinder, and you need games like this. It wasn't pretty, but to get a win when you play like we did is pretty ideal."

Tri-Valley makes defensive stand

The Falcons (1-2) scored on each of their three first-half possessions to lead 13-7 at the break and had chances to add on, but a fumble and missed field goal ended drives in the second half.

Tri-Valley took the lead in the fourth quarter. Max Lyall hit Kade Hindel for a game-tying 21-yard touchdown and Bode McCullough's extra point put Tri-Valley up with 7:02 left.

The Scotties then delivered on defense, as Ryan Lamonica ended the Falcons' ensuing drive with an interception.

After a Tri-Valley punt, Clinton-Massie reached the Scotties' 27-yard line with less than 70 seconds remaining. What followed was the defensive stand the Scotties have been waiting for, as the line pushed the Falcons back and prevented a first down on fourth-and-2.

"We had the right mindset (in the second half)," senior lineman Gavin Spiker said. "We've had this game circled since we got beat by them last year so it means a lot to get this one."

Despite giving up nearly 280 yards on the ground and watching the Falcons convert four of six fourth downs, West applauded his defense's effort when it mattered.

"Clinton-Massie lives on fourth-and-1 and we beat them at their own game," West said. "Our defense played a great second half, and made enough plays to help us get the win."

Offense comes up clutch

The Scotties answered the Falcons' first touchdown when Lyall connected with Keaton Hahn on a 47-yard pass late in the first quarter. Untimely penalties limited any more offensive success until the fourth quarter.

The spark came after the Falcons missed a 32-yard field goal that would have made it a nine-point game.

Lyall led Tri-Valley on a nine-play, 80-yard game-winning march. The drive was aided by a pair of Clinton-Massie penalties, while Lyall connected on four of his five pass attempts. He connected with Hahn twice for 23 yards, found Lamonica for 10 on a third-and-2, then delivered his strike to the corner of the end zone to Hindel.

Lyall finished 12 of 20 for 154 yards and two scores with Hahn catching five of those for 93 yards.

"We talked about getting stops at halftime, and we knew we had to take advantage of that stop and score," Lyall said. "(Kade) wasn't my initial read. It was a play action, but the safety didn't bite. Kade had a shorter defender on him so I threw it up, and he made a play."

West wanted to emphasize the run game in the second half. It did enough to open up some space on the go-ahead scoring drive.

"We made some changes, trying to get our ground game going," West said. "Max made a good read and threw a great ball, and Kade went up and got it. They made a big play when we needed it."

bhannahs@gannett.com; X: @brandonhannahs

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Tri-Valley football wanted to make a statement. A late defensive stand delivered the message