Ark Valley News - Hornets bring home first win

Valley Center cornerback Dakota Kieso deflects a pass intended for Garden City's Lane Durst Sept. 7. Valley Center won 41-20.

Hornets bring home first win
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: September 13, 2018

Hornet fans will forgive Scott L'Ecuyer for muffing the postgame "who dat" celebration chant Sept. 7. Won't they?

The first-year Valley Center High School head coach was too excited to put the cheer all together after the Hornets got their first win of the season, beating Garden City 41-20 after a four-hour bus ride to western Kansas.

"I'm happy for our kids," L'Ecuyer said. "They worked hard. They put a lot of hard work in this summer. They deserve this. I'm happy for my coaching staff. They worked a ton, especially this last week through the adversity with the Maize game. … I'm happy for the fans back home."

It was a welcome bounce-back victory after a 49-0 loss to Maize the week before.

"It's great," said senior quarterback Parker Schrater. "We had a lot of guys step up."

Valley Center wasn't going to let this one slip away.

"Last week was an embarrassment, quite honestly," Schrater said. "It was bad. … We just struggled. To get back on the right foot this week with all the adversity we had … and we come out here and bring a lot of energy and play with a lot of heart and fight."

The Hornets (1-1) scored first and never trailed. Each time the Buffaloes (0-2) cut into the Valley Center lead, the Hornets had an answer.

However, the key swing came in the third quarter.

After the Hornets failed to convert a fourth-down try inside the Garden City 10-yard line, the Buffaloes, trailing 27-14, threatened to cut the lead to one score. Garden City started a drive that lasted nine plays and more than three minutes, marching to the Valley Center 12-yard line.

After a five-yard penalty, Garden City faced a fourth down of its own. Pressuring Buffalo quarterback Carlos Acosta, the Hornets forced an incomplete pass, taking over inside their own 20.

"It was huge," L'Ecuyer said. "… They drive all the way down and we get the stop. That was probably the biggest momentum swing in the game."

Valley Center tacked on another touchdown to put the game out of reach.

"I think that kind of let the air out of the stadium a little bit," L'Ecuyer said.

Hornet senior Larry Wilson scored three touchdowns, including a 99-yard punt return, which is a school record. He finished with 151 yards rushing on 17 carries and 271 all-purpose yards. Wilson had two touchdowns called back because of penalties. Zach Williams caught four passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. Schrater completed 11 of 19 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers.

Garden City's Reece Morss gained 142 yards and scored two touchdowns on 21 carries.

Valley Center had 449 yards of offense and held Garden City to 280.

"We knew they were going to fight," Schrater said. "You've got to give a lot of props to them. They fought."

After trading possessions to start the game, Schrater connected with Williams on an 89-yard pass play to put the Hornets on the board in the first quarter.

"Zach's a matchup issue," L'Ecuyer said. "… You take that matchup. … If you put up a 50-50 ball with Zach, he's going to come down with it 80 percent of the time, just because he's athletic. We have a lot of faith in those (receivers). We had some key drops in the first game, but we knew that with their athleticism, we could get them open and get them passes, and Parker put them on the spot today."

Valley forced Garden City to punt with the wind on its next series. The ball rolled down to the end zone and appeared to be going in for a touchback, but it bounced up into Wilson's arms. Despite heavy traffic, Wilson ran with it and used his speed to find space on the right sideline, sprinting 99 yards for the touchdown and a 13-0 lead.

"I didn't want to be down that far in the end zone," Wilson said. "… Honestly, I didn't think I was going to score. I just started running and I was like, hey, they can't catch me, so I just like took off."

Garden City cut Valley Center's lead to 13-8 after Morss ran through the middle of the Hornet defense to score a touchdown late in the first quarter.

Valley Center stalled on its next possession, but the Hornet defense rose to the challenge as Garden City got into Valley Center territory. Acosta completed a screen pass to Lane Durst on fourth-and-three, but cornerback Dakota Kieso hit Durst and held him to no gain.

Valley Center used three plays, including a 30-yard catch and run by Williams, to get inside the Garden City 20, where Wilson scored on an 18-yard run for a 20-8 lead.

On Garden City's following series, Wilson returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, but it was called back because of a Hornet penalty.

Morss tacked on another score for Garden City on a drive that was helped by a Valley Center personal foul with 3:30 left in the first half.

Leading 20-14, the Hornets answered again as Schrater capped a seven-play drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Hornet newcomer Amado Carillo, who tipped the ball before securing it on his way into the end zone.

The Hornets led 27-14 at the half.

After stopping the key Garden City fourth-down try with 4:57 left in the third, the Hornets needed just three plays to stretch their lead to 34-14.

Wilson took a pitch from Schrater and ran 93 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.

"The O-line was blocking great all night," Wilson said. "They really stepped up that play."

Garden City blocked a punt late in the third quarter and returned it for a touchdown to cut Valley's lead to 34-20, but the Buffaloes could get no closer.

Hornet lineman Brennan Ricks blocked a punt early in the fourth quarter, setting up Valley Center's final touchdown drive.

From the Garden City 29, Blayne Hightower stepped through two defenders and caught a Schrater pass on the left seam, scoring a touchdown.

The two teams traded unproductive possessions to end the game.

"The win was great, honestly," Wilson said. "I think our practices were a lot better. We came together as a team and met Thursday and talked about coming out and being a family. I think we came out and did that today, so that helped us a lot."

Valley Center will host Maize South Sept. 14.

"The win's no different than the loss," L'Ecuyer said. "You've got to put it away and look at the next one. We'll enjoy it on the ride home, but I tell these guys all the time, champions finish. If we're going to be there, we can't live off this one. It's not going to be enough. So, we've got to go finish."

The Hornets have never beaten the Mavericks, losing four straight from 2012 through 2015.

The Mavericks are 0-2 after losses to Heights (35-21) and Andover (20-3).

At 6:30 p.m. before the Sept. 14 game, the 2018 Class 5A state champion Hornet tennis team as well as the 5A state javelin champion Libby Schurle will be recognized.

The Valley Center High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place during halftime.

Junior varsity — The Valley Center junior varsity team beat Garden City 35-0 at home Sept. 10.

Kaleb Harden threw two touchdown passes to Hunter Stacy. Marion Ponds ran for a touchdown and caught at 62-yard touchdown pass from Miles Thompson. Thompson also had an eight-yard touchdown run.

Defensively, the Hornets were led by big plays from Hunter Sharp, who had two interceptions, Austin Cordova, who had three sacks and several tackles, and linebacker Jarrett Bergman, who helped hold Garden City's rushing game in check all night.

Coach Blake Pearson said he was proud of how the team stepped up and played solid football.

The JV Hornets will play at Maize South Sept. 17.

Freshmen — The Valley Center freshman team lost to Garden City 48-6 at home Sept. 10.

Garden City controlled the contest from the start and led 28-6 at halftime.

Valley Center's lone touchdown was on a 75-yard kickoff return by Dallas Gould.

The freshman team will play at Maize South Sept. 17.

Valley Center 41,

Garden City 20

VC 13 14 7 7 — 41

GC 8 6 7 0 — 20

Scoring

VC — Zach Williams 89-yard pass from Parker Schrater (Hunter Sharp kick) 5:53 1st.

VC — Larry Wilson 99-yard punt return (kick blocked) 3:46 1st.

GC — Reece Morss 19-yard run (Acosta pass to Davis) 1:00 1st.

VC — Wilson 18-yard run (Sharp kick) 7:09 2nd.

GC — Morss 20-yard run (kick failed) 3:39 2nd.

VC — Amado Carillo 27-yard pass from Schrater (Sharp kick) :25 2nd.

VC — Wilson 93-yard run (Sharp kick) 4:06 3rd.

GC — Morss recovered blocked punt (kick blocked) 1:14 3rd.

VC — Blayne Hightower 29-yard pass from Schrater (Sharp kick) 7:13 4th.

Team stats

First downs — VC: 10; GC: 12. Rushing — VC: 30-140; GC: 38-165. Passing — VC: 11-21-309; GC: 13-26-115. Total yards — VC: 449; GC: 280. Fumbles lost — VC: 1; GC: 1. Interceptions — VC: 0; GC: 0. Punts-average — VC: 4-33.8; GC: 4-50.8.

Individual stats

Rushing — VC: Larry Wilson 17-151-2, Marion Ponds 6-5-0, Parker Schrater 5-(-)14-0, Kaleb Harden 2-(-)2-0. GC: Reece Morss 21-142-2, Avery Arana 8-31-0, Carlos Acosta 8-(-)5-0, Christian Reyes 1-(-)3-0.

Receiving — VC: Zach Williams 4-126-1, Jeren Carter 2-92-0, Amado Carrillo 3-53-1, Blayne Hightower 1-29-1, Larry Wilson 1-9-0. GC: Tye Davis 6-65-0, Christian Reyes 3-38-0, Lane Durst 3-13-0, Ethan Marin 1-(-)1-0.

Passing — VC: Parker Schrater 11-19-309-3-0, Kaleb Harden 0-2-0-0-0. GC: Carlos Acosta 13-25-115-0-0, Tye Davis 0-1-0-0-0.

VC defensive stats

Tackles (solo-assisted) — Blayne Hightower 5-3, Jeren Carter 1-0, Chad Banning 0-1, Jaythan Lutz 2-1 (1 pass defensed), Darren Nguyen 0-3 (1 QB hurry), Dylan Simmons 0-1, Dakota Kieso 2-4 (3 passes defensed), Layton Lewis 1-9, Cooper Holdaway 5-8 (4 tackles for a loss, 3 quarterback sacks for 17 yards), Amado Carrillo 1-2, Ethan Mullen 3-13, Hunter Sharp 0-1 (1 fumble recovery), Blake Holt 1-9 (2 tackles for a loss), Tony Caldwell 0-7 (1 tackle for a loss), Garrett Craft 0-3, Zach Williams 4-0 (1 pass defensed), Brennan Ricks 1-3 (2 QB hurries).

VC special teams

Blayne Hightower 3 kickoff returns for 14 yards (long 13); Larry Wilson 2 punt returns for 111 yards (long 99); Dakota Kieso 1 kick blocked; Hunter Sharp 7 kickoffs for 324 yards (long 60, 1 touchback); Zach Williams 4 punts for 135 yards (long 51); Brennan Ricks 1 punt blocked.

VC scoring drives

•Tied 0-0 and starting at the Valley Center 7 with 6:54 left in the first quarter. RB Marion Ponds runs for four yards on first down. QB Parker Schrater throws an incomplete pass to WR Jeren Carter. On third-and-six from the 11, Schrater completes a pass to WR Zach Williams on the left side, and Williams runs for the 89-yard touchdown. After a sideline warning on Valley Center, K Hunter Sharp kicks the extra point. Score: Valley Center 7, Garden City 0.

•With 3:46 left in the first quarter, Larry Wilson picks up a Garden City punt near the Valley Center goal line and returns it 99 yards for the touchdown. Sharp's kick is blocked. Score: Valley Center 13, Garden City 0.

•Leading 13-8 and starting at the Valley Center 44 with 8:04 left in the second quarter. Schrater throws an incomplete pass to Wilson. Schrater completes a 30-yard pass to Williams. Wilson runs left for eight yards. On second-and-two at the Garden City 18, Wilson runs into the middle and cuts to the right for a touchdown. Sharp kicks the extra point. Score: Valley Center 20, Garden City 8.

•Leading 20-14 and starting at the Valley Center 24 with 3:37 left in the second quarter. Wilson gains one yard on first down and seven on second. Schrater scrambles and picks up 11 yards. Schrater is sacked for a nine-yard loss. Schrater throws a screen pass to WR Amado Carillo, who gains 16 yards. Schrater completes a pass to Wilson on the right for eight yards. Schrater throws an incomplete pass to Wilson, but a Garden City linebacker is called for pass interference, giving Valley Center a first down at the Garden City 27. Schrater passes down the middle to Carillo, who tips the ball with his left hand and secures it while running into the end zone for a touchdown. Sharp kicks the extra point. Score: Valley Center 27, Garden City 14.

•Leading 27-14 and starting at the Valley Center 17 with 4:52 left in the third quarter. Schrater throws an incomplete pass to Williams. Wilson gains yards to the right, but Valley Center is called for holding. On second-and-20 from the Valley Center 7, Schrater pitches left to Wilson, who outruns the defense for the 93-yard touchdown. Sharp kicks the extra point. Score: Valley Center 34, Garden City 14.

•Leading 34-20 and starting at the Garden City 46 with 8:51 left in the fourth quarter. Wilson gains 19 yards on first down. Wilson loses five, setting up second-and-15 at the Garden City 32. Wilson runs left and scores a touchdown, but the play is erased on a holding call downfield. On second-and-12 at the Garden City 29, Schrater connects with WR Blayne Hightower running a route along the left seam, and Hightower spins to catch the ball and runs in for the touchdown. Sharp kicks the extra point. Score: Valley Center 41, Garden City 20.

VC defensive stats at Maize Aug. 31

Tackles (solo-assisted) — Blayne Hightower 0-2, Jaythan Lutz 2-4 (3 passes defensed), Larry Wilson 2-1, Dakota Kieso 2-1, Alec Flores 0-1, Layton Lewis 4-13, Cooper Holdaway 1-3 (1 tackle for a loss), Wyatt Redburn 0-1, Ethan Mullen 2-9, Huter Sharp 0-1, Blake Holt 0-2, Tony Caldwell 0-2, Garrett Craft (1 QB hurry), Dale Hatfield 0-1, Quentin Kirk 0-1, Dylan Bastian 0-1, Brennan Ricks 3-3.

VC special teams at Maize

Parker Schrater 3 punts for 106 yards (long 51, 1 inside 20; Larry Wilson 1 kickoff return for 22 yards; Hunter Sharp 1 kickoff for 60 yards (1 touchback); Zach Williams 3 punts for 53 yards (long 21).