“This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing because you only get so many times to play these games,” Coffey said. “Those are the ones you live for. That’s what you sit in the weight room for. You’ve got to grind it out through all the practices and everything else to get to this.”
A standing-room-only homecoming crowd watched the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division showdown live up to its hype.
Luke Kennard completed 26 of 32 passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns for the Wildcats, who moved to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the SWBL. Clay Smith was a monster for the Spartans (6-1, 3-1), converting 13 of 23 throws for 167 yards and a touchdown while running 12 times for 172 yards and a score.
“After 18 years, (I’ve) seen a lot of things go down that way,” said Franklin coach Rodney Roberts, with Valley View nearly wiping out a 16-point deficit in the second half. “We just kept telling our kids whoever makes the last big play is going to win the game. That’s just the way it was going to be.”
Cole Johnson ran for his second touchdown of the game on the last play of the third stanza to pull the Spartans within 42-32. The hosts added a stunning TD with 7:38 left when Kennard fumbled into the end zone and Matt Valenti recovered.
Valley View’s final drive began at its own 27 with 3:54 left. The Spartans got as far as the FHS 23 before a penalty took them back to the 44. Smith then launched the bomb that Coffey came down with.
“Honestly, I about cried on that,” Kennard said. “Just a sigh of relief went all throughout my body on that. I celebrated with him, told him I loved him.”
Kennard’s TD passes went to Brian Little (two), Ryan Roberts and Jake Riddell. Zach Baker (20 carries, 105 yards) and Devin Richards added scoring runs for the Wildcats.
Sam Pheiffer had a touchdown reception for the Spartans. Isaac Stamper also ran for a score.
“As a coach and as a player, it’s hard to take a positive away from a loss,” Valley View coach Kris Ketron said. “But the one positive for us is the fact that our guys showed true grit.
“It really boils down to just ordinary, fundamental things. Taking care of the ball, making tackles. When you’ve got two good teams playing each other, the team that does those ordinary things the best is going to win.”
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