VIKINGS CAN NOT GET UNTRACKED IN LOSS

BAKR, OPAT LEAD SMOKY VALLEY DEFENSE

By Staff

HALSTEAD – It was a humbling season opener for the Smoky Valley High football team who is rebuilding in 2023 as they lost 47-8 on the road in Halstead on Friday evening.

With Halstead scoring twice in the first and third quarters and three times in the second, the Vikings were down 33-0 at halftime and 47-0 heading into the final quarter of play.

Finally in the fourth quarter, Smoky Valley got some offense going with sophomore quarterback Ty Heitschmidt finally putting the Vikings on the scoreboard with a 10-yard run.

Halstead ran four fewer offensive snaps but out gained Smoky Valley in offense 386 to 163 as the Vikings only mustered 50 yards passing and 113 yards on the ground. Of the yards rushing, junior Gavin Stambaugh ran for 60. Of the 50 yards passing, four catches covering 45 yards came from sophomore fullback Toren Miller.

The young Viking defense was led by junior defensive tackle Ezekiel Baker with seven tackles of which four were solo stops, and sophomore free safety Jack Opat with five tackles that included three solo stops.

Smoky Valley will look forward to getting into the win column next Friday, September 8, in their 2023 season home opener as they host Haven, a two-point, 40-38, loser to Hillsboro in their season opener Friday.

SMOKY VALLY VIKING FOOTBALL at Halstead

(Stats from Hudl.com)

SCORING:

1 2 3 4 Total

SVHS 0 0 0 8 8

HHS 14 19 14 0 47

1st Quarter:

Halstead = Scored on a 1-yard run (Kick was good) 0-7

Halstead = Scored on a 61-yard pass play (Kick was good) 0-14

2nd Quarter:

Halstead = Scored on a 17-yard run (Failed kick) 0-20

Halstead = Scored on a 2-yard run (Kick was good) 0-27

Halstead = Scored on a 9-yard pass play (Failed two-pointer) 0-33

3rd Quarter:

Halstead = Scored on a 43-yard run (Kick was good) 0-40

Halstead = Scored on a 33-yard pass play (Kick was good) 0-47

4th Quarter:

VIKINGS = Ty Heitschmidt scored on a 10-yard run (2-Point Conversion was good) 8-47

TEAM STATS:

(Plays/yards – Passing yards – Rushing yards – 1st Downs – Turnovers/Fumbles Lost/Interceptions – Penalties/Yards)

VIKINGS = 51/163 – 50 – 113 – 7 – 1/0/1 – 4/41.

Halstead = 47/386 – 171 – 215 – 15 – 0/0/0 – 5/25.

VIKINGS INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS >

Passing > Ty Heitschmidt – 5/15 for 50, 0 scores, 1 interception.

Rushing > Gavin Stambaugh – 12 for 60; Christian Erickson – 10 for 15; Ty Heitschmidt – 6 for 12, 1 td; rest of team – 13 for 29. Team Totals – 41 for 113.

Receiving > Toren Miller - 4 for 45; rest of team – 1 for 5.

Defense (Tackles/Solo/Assists/Sacks/Tackle for Loss) > Ezekiel Baker – 7/4/3/0/1; Jack Opat – 5/3/2/0/0; Ty Heitschmidt – 2/2/0/0/0; Gavin Stambaugh – 2/1/1/0/0; Gabe Baker – 1/1/0/0/0; Rebel O’Farrell – 1/0/1/0/0; Kylar Ringle – 1/0/1/0/0; Rest of team – 13/7/6/1/3. Team Totals – 24/10/14/1/4.

(Staff covering events for the MAC AREA SPORTS NEW can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)