HAHIRA — Valwood (6-1) welcomed the Knights of Deerfield-Windsor (1-7) for their 2023 Senior Night and looked to avenge their 34-7 loss in 2022 in Albany. They had no problems doing just that, winning 52-6 and setting up a showdown with Brookwood this Friday for the 3-AAA championship.
Valwood got the ball to start the game and marched down the field with ease, including a 14-yard rush by Triston White to the Deerfield 1 yard line.
After White was stopped at the 1 on the following play, Tayt Snellgrove punched it into the end zone on a QB keeper to put the Valiants up 6-0. The Valiant offense stayed on the field were successful on the two-point attempt, with Snellgrove keeping the ball again, putting Valwood up 8-0 with 9:26 to go in the first quarter.
On the first Knights drive, #8 Dallas Hatfield pressured the Deerfield-Windsor QB on third-and-8, forcing the Knights to punt and giving the Valiants the ball back at their own 42.
On the next Valwood drive, Snellgrove started the drive with an 18-yard rush, setting up De’Mar Riley for a 34-yard touchdown run on the following play, extending the Valwood lead to 15-0 with 4:59 left to go in the first quarter.
The Valiant defense forced another punt, and after marching down the field, White was able to add to his touchdown total by scoring the Valiants’ third rushing touchdown of the night, putting Valwood up 22-0 with 36.2 seconds left to go in the opening frame.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Knights fumbled the ball, and it was recovered by Hudson Paylo, setting up the Valiants at their own 45 yard line. Riley ended the 1st quarter on a 15-yard rush.
Valwood continued to drive down the field to start the second quarter, including a big third down catch by Marquis Fennell, but were forced to kick their first field goal of the night, making the score 25-0 with 10:36 to go in the half.
Deerfield-Windsor got an assist on its next drive on a Valwood penalty on a field goal try, but it ended with a Dywan Powell interception and return to midfield.
With the ball back again, Snellgrove connected with Fennell on fourth-and-6 to pick up a first down. A few plays later, he hit another pass to Fennell for 21 yards in the back of the end zone, extending the lead to 32-0 with 2:17 to go in the second quarter.
Later in the half, Deerfield recorded an interception. They attempted a field goal, but it was blocked by Hatfield. Riley picked up 58 yards over the next two plays, but the Valiants were unable to make a 40-yard field goal, leaving the score 32-0 at halftime.
With a running clock in place, the Knights received the ball to start the second half. On fourth down, they snapped the ball over the punter’s head. He fell on it at his own 30 and Valwood took over there.
The Valiants continued running the ball down the field. Riley got 19, putting the ball on the 8. Snellgrove had a short gain, then Cort Kurrie polished off the drive on a six-yard touchdown run for a 39-0 lead at 4:10.
Deerfield scored its lone touchdown on the next drive, a 23-yard pass with 10.4 seconds left. The Knights attempted an onside kick, which went out of bounds. On the last play of the quarter, Fennell exploded for a 55-yard score and a 45-6 lead going into the fourth.
After a fourth down stop by the Valiant defense on the next Deerfield-Windsor drive, Valwood would get the ball back with 7:15 remaining. Subbing out the starters and with Fennell under center, Dustin Gibbs and Brayden Thomas rotated carries. With 4:14 to go, Thomas added a rushing touchdown from four yards out.
The extra point try was no good, leaving the score 52-6.
Statistically, the Valiants outgained the Knights 447 yards (133 passing / 314 rushing) to 161 (141 passing / 20 rushing). Valwood converted 71% (5/7) of their third down attempts, while the Knights would only convert 25% (3/12) of theirs. Both offenses played a pretty clean game with only turning the ball over one time, both throwing interceptions.
Valwood moves to 7-1 (4-0) and will travel to Thomasville next Friday, Nov. 3rd to take on Brookwood 6-3 (4-0) for the GIAA-AAA District 3 championship. The Valiants look to avenge their 19-18 loss from last year.