When the 2-4 Valley Center football team played 5-1 Andover for the first game of district competition Friday, expectations may have been low for the host Hornets.
However, Valley Center held its own in the first half and entered the locker room with an 8-7 lead at intermission. Andover, spurred by a touchdown on the opening kickoff in the third quarter, took control in the second half and prevailed 21-8.
“They were better than us right now,” said Valley Center coach Pat Haxton. “And the kids played hard, don’t get me wrong.”
Braden Tormey’s one-yard touchdown run put the Hornets on the board with 5:18 left in the first quarter. The 14-play, 65-yard drive culminated in an 8-0 Valley Center lead.
Andover answered with 11:31 remaining in the second quarter. The Trojans’ seven-play, 58-yard drive was capped by an extra point, which left the visitors trailing 8-7.
The Trojans intercepted a pass in the end zone at the 38-second mark, and as a result of the touchback, the 8-7 score stood at halftime.
“We’ve been playing good defense all year,” said Haxton. “We just can’t find a way to score.”
Miles Starks’ 85-yard return early in the third quarter was followed by Toshi Hayashi’s extra point, which gave Andover a 14-8 advantage.
“That was an effort thing,” Haxton said of the breakdown.
The score held until the fourth quarter, when Dallas Bruner picked up the final touchdown of the night. Hayashi again provided the extra point, this time with 3:27 left in the game. That sealed the win for Andover.
The Trojans (6-1) will continue district play with a Friday, Oct. 19, showdown at Emporia. Valley Center’s last home game will be the same night, when Newton will visit.
At 2-5, the Hornets already have claimed one more victory than they did last season. Haxton said they need to keep their heads up and keep playing hard. They have two more chances during district matchups, he added.
“Anything can happen in those chances,” said Haxton.
However, Valley Center held its own in the first half and entered the locker room with an 8-7 lead at intermission. Andover, spurred by a touchdown on the opening kickoff in the third quarter, took control in the second half and prevailed 21-8.
“They were better than us right now,” said Valley Center coach Pat Haxton. “And the kids played hard, don’t get me wrong.”
Braden Tormey’s one-yard touchdown run put the Hornets on the board with 5:18 left in the first quarter. The 14-play, 65-yard drive culminated in an 8-0 Valley Center lead.
Andover answered with 11:31 remaining in the second quarter. The Trojans’ seven-play, 58-yard drive was capped by an extra point, which left the visitors trailing 8-7.
The Trojans intercepted a pass in the end zone at the 38-second mark, and as a result of the touchback, the 8-7 score stood at halftime.
“We’ve been playing good defense all year,” said Haxton. “We just can’t find a way to score.”
Miles Starks’ 85-yard return early in the third quarter was followed by Toshi Hayashi’s extra point, which gave Andover a 14-8 advantage.
“That was an effort thing,” Haxton said of the breakdown.
The score held until the fourth quarter, when Dallas Bruner picked up the final touchdown of the night. Hayashi again provided the extra point, this time with 3:27 left in the game. That sealed the win for Andover.
The Trojans (6-1) will continue district play with a Friday, Oct. 19, showdown at Emporia. Valley Center’s last home game will be the same night, when Newton will visit.
At 2-5, the Hornets already have claimed one more victory than they did last season. Haxton said they need to keep their heads up and keep playing hard. They have two more chances during district matchups, he added.
“Anything can happen in those chances,” said Haxton.
