Southern Valley took the drive to Maxwell on Friday evening for a battle with the Wildcats in what was a back and forth affair at Brittenham Field on Homecoming night. Ultimately, it was the Wildcats who came away with the win, 36-30.
On the opening drive, Maxwell received the ball and made the most of the possession as they scored on a 58-yard run on the first play of the game by Easton Messersmith. Maxwell converted the two-point conversion and led 8-0. The teams traded empty possessions, but at the 6:31 mark in the first quarter, Southern Valley was able to score on a 75-yard touchdown pass from Kamden Bose to Mitchel Wilson to tie things up.
The Wildcats though, came back right down the field and with 1:49 remaining in the first quarter, as Messersmith ran in from 14 yards out to make it 16-8. The Eagles came right back though and tied it up just before the end of the quarter at 16-16.
In the second quarter, it wasn't until about halfway through the quarter when Maxwell scored on a 13-yard touchdown run by Levi Huffman to reclaim the lead at 24-16. Just before the half, the Wildcats scored again, this time on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Messersmith to Tyler Cheek to push that lead to 30-16, and that's what it read at halftime.
In the third quarter, the teams traded possessions with no scoring to get things started but, Maxwell looked as if they were going to distance themselves and run away as Huffman scored again for the Wildcats this time from nine yards out to push the lead to 36-16 with 2:40 to go in the period. Southern Valley was able to answer as Wilson ran it in from 12 yards to make it 36-24 with 1:08 in the third quarter.
Going into the fourth quarter, it became a game of keep away for Maxwell as they only allowed the Eagles to possess the ball one time in the quarter. On that one possession, Southern Valley was able to score on a Broeker four-yard run to make it 36-30. with 5:03 remaining. From there the Wildcats just hung onto the rock and closed it out.
Maxwell was led by a trio of ball carriers as Levi Huffman had 87 yards and two scores, Easton Messersmith and his 150 yards and two touchdowns, and Taylor Cheek who had 104 yards rushing.
Southern Valley was led by Kamden Bose as he threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Mitchel Wilson was their leading receiver with 136 yards and a score and Cole Broeker led the way on the ground with 85 yards and a touchdown.
Maxwell is now 2-1 and will take on Sandhills Valley and Southern Valley is now 0-3 and will battle Cambridge.
