Shorthanded Blackhawks unable to keep pace with Miners

When the two teams headed in opposite directions met on Friday, Roy Williams, the outcome was predictable.

And a wave of injuries made the daunting task even more difficult to visit the Springs Valley Blackhawks.

Eight linemen - including four starters - plus the leading receiver Josh Weddle - were on the side for the Blackhawks Jersey.

"It's pretty incredible. I do not think I've ever seen anything like it," said coach Springs Valley Justin Scheller in a conversation before the game.

"This is a big problem. We're going against a team number 2 in the country already. We've just got to go out and play football."

But even with a full complement of players at his disposal doubtful Springs Valley could slow to express Miner.

Undefeated and Class A runner Linton-Stockton exploded for 56 first half points and cruised to a 59-6 victory over the winless Blackhawks.

Five different miners found the end zone in the first 16 minutes.

And the miners were the first team down for the night. Five of the eight points on the first game came after a new set of drops.


Tyler Meurer Miner was the first to cross the goal line.

The third and one of the Linton-Stockton 42, Kendall Williams rambling 33 yards to the 25. On second down, Meurer rushed 19 yards to Paydirt one minute and 55 seconds into the game.

On the night of the first series Springs Valley, Chance Howard pounced on a fumble in the Valley SV 30.

Two plays later, Meurer struck for the second time. Miner quarterback again called his own number, taking it to the house of 27.

After the next possession Blackhawks "went nowhere, Meurer returned the ensuing punt 44 yards in the valley 14. In the first game Cody Corbin burst through the hole for more than six points on the 5:14 mark the opening stanza.

And so it went.

After a short punt, Garrett Mason burst in the middle 11 yards. Meurer swung the ball from Keaton Cox for 23 yards down to 22 Gainer.

From there - again on the first down - Mason took it in the first of his three touchdowns.

Trey PASSENGER filmed Valley QB Braden Whitaker in the territory of Valley Springs 37.

In the first game Meurer struck Kendall Williams in the apartment. Williams did the rest, sprint 63 yards down the left sideline for a 35-0 Miner lead in the final game of the first quarter.

The signal caller Miner caller attempted just three passes, completing two for 85 yards.

Cox took a double handoff and went out for a 15-yard TD run with 7:55 remaining before intermission.

Avery Gentry caught miners' second interception on the second play Valley Springs Linton-Stockton giving possession to the SV 48.

Once again on first down, Mason was ahead of all defenders of the Blackhawks in the 49th point of the miners.

Four minutes later, Shakhtar defender again left all his pursuers in its wake, this time from 55 yards on the 2:15 mark.

Mason racked up 148 yards on six carries.

"We wanted to make sure we come out and get out on the field, as we have," said coach Brian Linton-Stockton Oliver execution of the first half of his team.

"We want to play with a lot of intensity and a lot of speed. It's just about the performance. We worry about yourself right now."

Luke Wilson nailed field goal 38 yards with 43 seconds left in the third quarter for the endpoint Linton-Stockton.

Earlier, a senior kicker ran a school record 42-yarder - on first down - but just came up short.

Blackhawks started the fourth quarter with a 65-yard scoring drive against reserves Miner.

Wyatt Purkhiser got loose for 39 yards to run to the Miner 26. Three plays later Ryan Whitaker found a tow to open in the right corner of the end zone for the lone score of the valley.

Whitaker connected on 9-of-15 to 94 yards. But Linton-Stockton intercepted him twice, turning two picks in the rapid assessment.

Protection Miner did the job, limiting Valley meager 60 yards on 29 attempts.

And they kept O'Brien Selby. Selby took the contest on Friday in the middle 98 yards on the ground for a walk. Friday he managed just 10 yards on 11 totes.

After landing the catch, Miner freshman Luke Lannan returned the ensuing KickOff 56 yards.

Both teams then turned the ball over on downs as the clock ran out graciously.