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| Shizz
September 3, 2015
4:25:16 PM
Entry #: 4180684
| My favorite game since the Orange Bowl trophy has been given to the winning team of this yearly rivalry had to be the 2000 season the first year a trophy was given away... 2 teams just battling it out both defenses playing great the game went scoreless in regular time game goes to overtime with Paoli stopping Valley on the 1 inch line on 4th and goal and winning the game lol below is a summary of the game
FRENCH LICK - Don't be fooled by the score.
Paoli's 7-0 overtime win over Springs Valley in the 40th annual Orange Bowl Classic could easily be categorized by the casual observer as a bumbling, inept offensive outing for both teams.
However, both squads were praising their defensive units rather than berating the offenses.
"The defense was phenomenal," said Paoli coach Mike Eshbach. "You can't say enough about it. Our coaches did an outstanding job of scouting them, and our defense kept stepping up. They just played incredible."
Valley coach Kevin Mills had much the same sentiments about his own defense, which yielded just 60 yards of offense to the Rams.
"Our defense played well enough to win. We just couldn't stick the ball in the end zone. You've got to be able to knock it in."
After 48 minutes of scoreless football, the teams took turns on offense from the ten-yard line, with Paoli taking its stabs first. After quarterback Josh Stevens started the drive with a five-yard run, a holding penalty bumped the Rams back to the 15. On the next play, Stevens, who had completed just one pass for a loss of four yards, found junior tight end Joe Fullen in the back of the end zone for the game's lone score.
Eshbach categorized it as a truly clutch performance by all who were on the field.
"When it was on the line, and we asked our offensive line to give it to us, they certainly did. (Stevens) made a great throw, and I just told Joe to get open and he made a great catch.
"We tried that same play two or three other times, we just didn't get time. I told them if we got into overtime, we'd make it happen, and we did."
Valley nearly was able to answer the Rams' touchdown in its own overtime series. Blackhawk QB Josh Wolfington picked up five yards on first down, followed by a pair of two-yard carries by tailback Damian Walker which set up a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line. Valley again called Walker's number, and he fell just short of the goal line.
"When it got down to where it counted, they were able to hold us out," Mills said. "There's no excuses. Down here on our home field, we've got to come away with a win."
The Hawks did have a chance to score just before halftime, as a short Paoli punt left Valley sitting just 32 yards from the end zone with 1:15 to play. The drive stalled, however, and the half ended with Paoli' Caleb Singleton picking off a last-ditch passing attempt by Wolfington.
In the middle of the third quarter, Valley began a drive from its own 40-yard line. On the initial play, Walker broke away down the left sideline for an 18-yard gain and appeared to be headed for a score before falling down at the Rams' 42. The Hawks advanced all the way to the 11, before Paoli's defense once again closed the door, sacking Wolfington on third down. A fourth-down pass attempt fell short, giving Paoli the ball back on downs.
Following a punt by the Rams, the home team got started again in good field position on the Paoli 44-yard line. An 11-yard carry by Walker garnered a first down, as did a three-yard run by Tom Dalton three plays later. Facing fourth-and-inches from the 12, Wolfington picked up three yards on a QB sneak, setting up first-and-goal from the nine. Once again, the Ram defenders proved inpregnable, stuffing Walker at the 5-yard line on fourth down.
Yet another Paoli punt was fielded by Dalton at the Rams' 35, and he returned it 25 yards to the 10. However, a clipping call negated the great runback and moved Valley to the 45-yard line, ending Valley's scoring opportunities in regulation.
"At times, it looked like we were wearing them down running the ball, but their defense just stepped up and got the job done," said Mills. "They just hung in there with us. I don't think they were ever close to scoring, but that's not a factor right now. Paoli deserves to win the game."
Walker was Valley's leading ground gainer, picking up 85 yards on 25 carries despite a nagging ankle injury. Ronald Hill chipped in 32 yards on 12 runs.
"We're not real solid on the offensive end right now," Mills continued. "I think we're going to get better. If the kids stick together, I think we'll be okay."
Stevens led Paoli's running game with 25 yards on 15 carries, with Singleton netting 15 on four rushes.
"We struggled with everything," said Eshbach. "But you can throw records and everything out the window. These two teams are going to fight, and they're going to fight down to the wire.
"The offense didn't get in real good situations, but our defense just kept bailing us out. They've stepped it up two weeks in a row. I think that's definitely a strong point of our team."
Paoli will take its 2-1 record into next week's game at North Harrison,
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