NFV’s Kole Johnson stiff-arms a WSR defender during an eight-yard run Friday in West Union. The TigerHawk QB ran for 60 yards, passed for another 23, but missed most of the second half with leg cramps, as did six or seven other NFV players. (Jerry Wadian photos)
NFV leads at half; loses 18-7
By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com
After Friday’s opening football game against Waverly-Shell Rock, new head football coach Justin Heins said, “I just wanted to see the team compete! And, I think we did. Our first goal was to get to half time in good position because the last couple years we didn’t play well early on and they were able to pull away.”
The TigerHawks were indeed competitive taking a 7-0 lead at the halftime break.
However, the game got away from NFV in the second half as WSR used its mammoth front line to run to an 18-7 win.
The first twelve minutes were consumed by three drives, none of which resulted in a score.
The TigerHawks opened the game on its own 22 and took it to the bigger Go-Hawks using 15 plays to drive to the WSR 18, before stopping themselves with penalties.
Waverly used six plays to drive into NFV territory, but Zach Robrock recovered a Go-Hawk fumble on the 28.
Once again, the TigerHawks controlled the game, driving into Go-Hawk territory but turned the ball over on downs thanks to back-to-back penalties.
The visitors then went three-and-out and a high snap, coupled with pressure by Kole Johnson forced the Go-Hawk punter into shanking the ball and NFV got possession on its own 46.
This time the TigerHawks would not be denied as it ran a 13-play drive to the house for a 7-0 lead.
