Six weeks ago, the Senators gathered for a post game huddle after a disappointing regular season loss to Springs Valley. The mood was sombered, yet resolved. Head coach Jeremy Lowery’s message to his team was simple, but pointed: we will play these guys again, and we will win.
Last night at Art Sanders field, those words came to fruition, as the Senators clipped the Blackhawks 29-27 in the first round of Sectional play.
“Our kids knew we were a better team than what we showed week 4,” said Lowery. “The kids didn’t blink at this rematch. Super proud of the mental and physical toughness we brought to this game.”
Adversity would hit the Senators early, as Springs Valley would received the opening kicking and score for an early 0-7 lead.
The teams would trade possessions, before the Senators would get the ball at midfield. Junior quarterback Jent Tankserley would find senior wide receiver Colten Brown on 45 yard catch and run to knot it up 7-7.
Springs Valley would score on a deep pass to briefly claim a 7-14 advantage, and then Tankersley would find Brown again, this time deep for a 63-yard scoring strike, retying the game 14-14.
Brown would turn his attention to defense on the ensuing possession, tackling the valley receiver short on 3rd down and forcing a punt. That afforded the Senators the opportunity to rip of a 70 yard drive that culminated in a 2 yard touchdown run for sophomore running back Nash Washburn and a 20-14 advantage.
After a Springs Valley punt, the Senators would turn the ball over deep in their own territory, setting up a Blackhawk touchdown and giving them a 20-21 edge.
The Senators faced the prospect going 70 yards with a 1:13 on the clock until half. Aided by a 30 yard run by Washburn, senior quarterback Holden Russell would find senior tight end Nevin Marrs for a 12 yard strike with seconds left, giving the Senators a 26-21 advantage.
After halftime, the Senators would receive and drive the ball deep into Blackhawk territory, before junior placekicker Ira Suvak would hit a 23-yard field goal to push the Senator lead to 29-21.
The ensuing Blackhawk drive would reach the 30, before sophomore defensive tackle Layne Stivers would come up with back to back sacks to end the drive.
After a Senator punt, Springs Valley would score on long pass, but the Senator defense would bow their backs on the 2 point conversion, preserving the lead at 29-27.
The Senator offense would grind out a drive to the Valley 5 yard line, killing clock but ultimately turning the ball over on downs with less than a 1:30 left in the game.
The Senator defense would close the door on the Blackhawks after Stivers secured his third sack of the evening, and the remaining Springs Valley heaves would fall to the turf. A couple kneel downs by Russell, and the Senators move on to round two of sectionals.
The Senators are in action next Friday at Art Sanders Field against North Daviess.