BEAVERS STUMBLE IN THE VALLEY

GNADENHUTTEN OH-

The Beavers fell in their season opener on the road against the Indian Valley Braves by a final score of 41-20, in a game which was a true tale of two halves

The Beavers got the ball first and started off strong, showcasing their array of offensive talent on a methodical 68 yard TD drive capped by a 12 yard Austin Cline rushing TD. The drive included carries for Blake Lucas, Caleb White, and Caden Foster, Kaydon Bobby, and Dylan Ferguson. Indian Valley responded with a Field Goal drive of their own to make it 7-3, and the both offenses stagnated until the end of the first when Gradu Kinsey broke off a 37 yard TD run which gave the Braves a 10-7 lead. Both offenses then went quiet again until the Beavers put together a TD drive capped off by a QB sneak TD run from Cline again, and the score would be 13-10 at the break.

The second half couldn’t have started any better for the Beavers, as they recovered a fumble on the first play of the third quarter, and followed that up with a trick play, where Cline threw a backward pass to Taylor Johnston, who then connected with Caleb White on a 43 yard bomb to put the Beavers up 20-10. The ensuing drive was a quick answer from the Braves, as QB Sam Carter threw a 44 yard TD of his own to Kolton Thomas, and just like that it was a 3 point game again. The Braves took the momentum from that point and ran with it to the finish line, as the began to wear down the Beavers defense on the ground, getting big performances from Gavin Henry and Grady Kinsey. Henry ran it in from 17 out in the third to put the Braves up 24-10, and they didn’t look back afterwards. When it was all said and done, the Braves put up 31 unanswered points in the second half following a less than ideal start, as they handed the Beavers a 3 score loss.

Beaver Local will look to bounce back next week as they come home for the home opener against the Salem Quakers. 

*Contributed By YSN’s Michael McKenzie