Stifling defense, big plays on offense, special teams leads Valley past Grandview Heights, 41-3
· Yahoo Sports
LUCASVILLE — Braxten Conaway rushed for 106 yards with a pair of touchdowns and threw for 142 yards and a TD to lead Valley over visiting Grandview Heights 41-3 on Friday in a non-conference high school football contest at Valley High School.
Conaway, a 6-2 senior signal caller, completed seven of 11 passes, including a 39-yard TD strike to Isaiah Clark at the 5:51 mark in the first quarter.
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“Braxten made of a lot of plays as did Isaiah (Clark) and Gavin (Hannah)” Valley head coach Nolan Crabtree said. “It was a nice night offensively. Braxten is our leading rusher on the season and what he does with his legs and arm is really special.”
Hannah put Valley (6-3) on the board at the 9:53 mark in the first quarter when he blasted around the right side on a 56-yard TD romp.
The 6-0 junior finished the game with 110 yards rushing on 11 carries with a TD.
“My offensive line is the best line around,” Hannah said. “I know that if we need yards to just go up the middle and they will make a way for me to get through.”
After Conaway hit Clark for the touchdown, he darted 52 yards into the end zone with 3:00 to go in the first period to give Valley a 21-0 lead.
“I honestly did not expect to blow them out like that,” Crabtree added. “Give our kids credit — we are playing really confident right now.”
The Bobcats only score came with 13 seconds left in the opening period when Jackson Young booted a 35-yard field goal.
But Valley answered when Aiden Spang took the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for the touchdown to give the Indians the 27-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Conaway kept the foot on the gas pedal when he blasted around the right side for a 10-yard TD run to cap off a 10-play, 61-yard drive with 1:43 left before intermission.
On Grandview Heights’ next possession, Valley defensive back Gable Craft picked off a pass by Dragon’s quarterback and returned it 53 yards for the pick-six.
“I was scared that the dude chasing me was going to tackle me,” Craft said. “So, I just ran my hardest trying to get the touchdown. It felt amazing — my first touchdown of the year.”
Craft, a 5-11 freshman, also had 18 yards rushing on four carries.
Clark finished the game with 126 yards receiving on six catches and a touchdown.
“I knew me and Braxten were going to connect and make big plays,” Clark said. “And I knew our line was going to block well. You just have to trust them to do their job. I trust Braxten to put the ball in the right spot and I trust the line to make good plays too.”
Valley kicker Caysen Zieber made good on five of six extra-point attempts.