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Keyon Saunders catches the ball and runs for a touchdown in the third quarter. Saunders scored five touchdowns for the Hornets in a 57-33 victory.

HORNET FOOTBALL: Valley comes from behind to beat Andover
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: October 27, 2016

The Valley Center High School football team erased a six-point halftime deficit and scored 36 second-half points to defeat Andover, 57-33, on the road Friday (Oct. 21).

The 7-1 Hornets earned a three seed in the western half of the state playoffs (behind Heights and Great Bend) and will play a home game Oct. 28 against No. 14 Newton.

"These kids, they respond well to adversity," Valley Center coach Caleb Smith said. "Obviously, that was a little bit of déjà vu to two week ago (comeback win against Eisenhower), but both coaches — defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator — made great adjustments at halftime and watched what they were giving us and took advantage of it, fixing things in the secondary on defense. I think our coaches did a great job making adjustments and our kids did a great job buying into them and then going out and making plays."

Valley Center trailed 27-21 at the half and had trouble figuring out Andover's spread offense, which picked up more than 300 yards in the first two quarters.

Valley Center flipped a switch — made adjustments on both sides of the ball — and took it to Andover in the second half.

Keyon Saunders, Valley Center's leading receiver, had a career night. He returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the first quarter and caught four touchdown passes for the Hornets. He finished with 240 receiving yards.

In a losing effort, Andover senior quarterback Chase Oberg passed for 452 yards and five scores.

Andover started the game with a quick, four-play drive that ended with an Oberg touchdown pass.

Saunders returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Valley missed the PAT and trailed 7-6.

Valley forced an Andover punt and then went on a five-play drive that ended with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Wyatt Lange to Saunders. A two-point conversion gave Valley a 14-7 lead. Lange finished the game with 52 yards rushing and 316 yards passing.

Andover answered with a touchdown and Valley Center gave up the ball on a turnover to end the first quarter down 14-13.

Andover extended its lead early in the second quarter on another Oberg touchdown pass. Andover failed to take advantage of a Valley Center turnover as the teams traded three-and-outs in a long second quarter. Andover pulled ahead 27-14 on another touchdown pass by Oberg.

Valley Center answered with a nine-play drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Lange to cut Andover's lead to 27-21 at the half.

Valley Center scored the first two touchdowns of the second half. The first was a 16-yard pass from Lange to Saunders and the second was a 45-yard pass between the same two players, giving the Hornets a 36-27 lead.

Andover wasn't done, however. Oberg completed a pass to Ben Smith, who took a slant route and then ran for a 70-yard touchdown, edging to within three points of Valley, 36-33, with 5:54 left in the third quarter.

Valley couldn't answer on its next possession, but Isaac Neal and Josh Roeser forced an Oberg fumble that Patrick Gillen recovered to preserve the small lead.

Andover threatened again early in the fourth quarter, but Neal hit Oberg as he scrambled, forcing an incomplete pass on fourth down at the Andover 35. From there, Valley used eight plays to tack on another score. The drive included a 15-yard catch-and-run from Lange to Kadin Pearson, who spun for a 15-yard gain, and ended with the Hornets' jumbo package — Roeser at quarterback, Sam Weldon and Don Boone in the backfield and Jay Shank at tight end. Roeser scored a three-yard touchdown run for a more comfortable 43-33 lead.

The clock couldn't wind down fast enough for the Hornets, however.

Andover drove to near midfield, but Boone intercepted an Oberg pass with six minutes left in the game and the Hornets put up another touchdown — a 23-yard pass from Lange to Saunders — to all but put the game on ice with a 50-33 lead.

Jesse Navarrete was rewarded for running hard all night with a three-yard touchdown run with 2:28 left in the game. He finished with a game-high 74 yards rushing.






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