Late touchdown dooms Valley in loss to Tallassee
BY EVAN BROWN
FOR THE LAFAYETTE SUN
VALLEY — Valley High School had opportunities to end its losing streak, but missed crucial chances on offense that proved costly in a 13-7 loss to Tallassee High School at Ram Stadium on Oct. 16.
The Rams (5-3, 3-3) entered October undefeated and sitting at 5-0 but have since lost three straight games in Class 4A Region 4 play. While Valley is still in a prime position for a playoff spot, the team will now likely have to travel for the first round of the 4A playoffs.
The Rams finished with 237 total yards, including 127 rushing and 110 passing. Joseph Hutchinson led Valley’s rushing attack with 123 yards on 17 carries, averaging 7.2 yards per attempt. Bryant Hopkins completed 9 of 18 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.
Valley recorded 68 total tackles, led by Nikelen Linson with 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. Mason Yarbrough added seven tackles and a sack, while Trayvion Flournoy contributed four tackles and a tackle for loss. Kason Varner intercepted a pass.
The Rams scored their only points early in the first quarter when Hopkins connected with Varner for a 14-yard TD pass up the left hash that split two Tallassee defensive backs. That gave Valley its only lead of the game with 7:52 left in the first quarter.
The Tigers (3-6, 2-4) went right to work as well, capitalizing on a Valley turnover on downs and scoring on a 6-yard pass from Trent Morris to Hudson Timmerman on third-and-goal. That tied the game at 7-7 with seven seconds left in the first quarter.
Valley nearly took back the lead in the second quarter when Hopkins connected with Malachi McCullough for a 40-yard gain, moving the Rams into scoring position at the Tallassee 7 yard line. However, Valley couldn’t capitalize after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty made it first-and-22. The drive ended with a blocked field goal attempt, keeping the game tied at 7-7.
The Rams had another opportunity late in the first half when they blocked a punt at the Tigers’ 36 yard line with just over a minute remaining. Incompletions and an intentional grounding penalty kept Valley out of scoring distance, and the game went into halftime knotted at 7.
The defensive battle continued after halftime, with both teams forced to punt on their first drives.
Aided by favorable wind on Valley’s next punt, Tallassee put together a solid drive to reach the Rams’ 3 yard line. Linson came up huge in a goal-line stand, recording two tackles for loss and forcing fourth-and-9. The Tigers went for it and found the end zone when a deflected pass fell into Hampton Love’s hands for a TD. While Tallassee took the lead, it missed the ensuing extra point to keep the scoreline at 13-7 with 10:32 left in the game.
Tallassee rolled the dice and recovered the ensuing onside kick at the Valley 45 yard line, giving the Tigers another opportunity to extend their advantage. The Rams’ defense responded with another stop, highlighted by a sack from Linson that helped force an incomplete pass on fourth-and-19.
Valley got the ball back one last time, but a sack and an illegal substitution penalty pushed the Rams back to their own 4 yard line. An incomplete pass on fourth down gave Tallassee possession with 1:24 remaining, effectively ending the game.
Valley head coach Adam Hunter was unavailable for comment before the Sun’s Tuesday press deadline.
Valley will look to get back on track before the postseason when the Rams host Beauregard High School (0-9, 0-6) in their regular-season finale Friday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. ET. The Hornets are coming off a 48-13 loss at home to Elmore County High School (5-3, 4-2) on Oct. 16.
