“We were talking about it during weights in the offseason,” said Spartans quarterback Collin Wood, who is featured dead center just off the left shoulder of Stone Day. “That’s our mantra for sure. We have been dreaming about getting to the top and we are on that road right now.”
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It is a road opponents may have a hard time forcing the Spartans to exit.
Valley View (11-0) opened the Division IV, Region 16 playoffs with a running clock the entire second half in a 42-0 win over Waverly (7-4) Friday night at Barker Field that allowed the starters to watch the entire second half.
“It was a great team effort,” Wood said. “When we get a chance to watch everyone else play in the second half, that’s when you get to have fun.”
Wood and the Spartans had a lot of fun in the first half once all the engines started firing.
The Spartans went nowhere on their first drive, but got a break on their second possession following a 15-yard Waverly punt.
Colin Genslinger plowed in from the 3-yard line on third down to cap short drive for a 7-0 lead for the hosts.
Valley View scored the next three times it touched the ball for 28-0 lead.
“We were kind of choppy at first,” Valley View coach Bob Skidmore said. “Even though we have been to the playoffs before, I think there were still some nerves to start out the game.”
Wood gave the Spartans a 14-0 lead on a 71-yard run before PJ Varnadoe returned an interception 82 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first quarter.
“They called my number and I knew I had to make a play for us,” Wood said. “PJ’s play, that was a big play for us and it was good for our defense.
“We are a team and we were all hitting like we needed to be on special teams, offense and defense.”
Genslinger added his second scoring run before Varnadoe caught a quick hitter from Wood for a 4-yard score and a 35-0 lead at the break.
Austin Clark added a 65-yard punt return for a score to start the second half.
The Spartans finished with 328 yards in total offense while Waverly had 216 – mostly in the second half.
The Spartans had four interceptions, but Skidmore was not pleased with nine penalties for 70 yards,
“I thought tonight wasn’t our best,” Skidmore said. “We had some silly penalties, but I guess those happen sometimes when the score gets out of hand like that.”
Valley View will face Clinton-Massie (10-1) in the second round Friday at a site to be announced.
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