Ark Valley News - HORNET FOOTBALL: Valley Center falls to Andover Central

Jeren Carter stretches out and tries to stay inbounds. Carter daughter three passes for 64 yards.

HORNET FOOTBALL: Valley Center falls to Andover Central
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: September 27, 2018

The Valley Center High School football team fell to 2-2 with a 27-17 loss to Andover Central on the road Thursday (Sept. 20).

Valley Center led 10-7 early in the second quarter but trailed 21-17 at the half.

After a scoreless third quarter, Andover Central took advantage of a muffed punt return to score the game's final touchdown.

Two of Valley Center's last three possessions ended with turnovers.

The Hornets had trouble getting its offense going in the first half. It was made worse with five false-start penalties.

After Andover Central took a 7-0 lead at 9:08 in the first, Valley Center answered with a 43-yard touchdown pass from Parker Schrater to Larry Wilson. The Hornets went up 10-7 early in the second quarter on a 27-yard field goal by Hunter Sharp.

Andover Central regained the lead later in the second quarter and took advantage of a turnover to tack on another score for a 21-10 lead.

Valley Center cornerback Dakota Kieso blocked a Andover Central punt and Blayne Hightower grabbed the ball going into the end zone for a touchdown, cutting the Jaguar lead to 21-17.

But the Hornets could get no closer.

Valley Center had 375 yards of offense while Andover Central finished with 301. Wilson ran for 113 yards on 29 carries and caught five passes for 111 yards. Besides Schrater, Wilson was the only Hornet who carried the ball. Hightower caught seven passes for 81 yards.

The Hornets will host Andover Sept. 28.