For the second time in three years, the Southeastern Panthers have laid claim to an SVC football title. The only unanswered question is, will the win it outright or share?
.
Southeastern remained unbeaten as they grabbed a 46-34 victory at Paint Valley, to claim no worse than a share of the SVC title. Adena was a 29-21 winner against Zane Trace, which sets up another conference title game for the Panthers next Friday at Frankfort. The Warriors and Bearcats trail Southeastern by one game in the SVC standings. An Adena win next win, would create a co-title and open the door for a tri-championship if Paint Valley also beats Westfall.
.
Southeastern and Paint Valley traded scores through the first half, with the Panthers scoring first at 6:57 of the opening period on a 6 yard run by Mikey Nusser. The two-point conversion try failed, making it 6-0. The drive was set up after Lane Ruby picked off a Cavin Cooper pass. The scoring drive went 58 yards in 6 plays.
.
Paint Valley tied the game at 3:18 of the first quarter, getting a long kick-off return by Cordell Grubb, which led to a 34 yard-7 play scoring drive. Lane Mettler scored from one yard, but the PAT kick was missed, making it 6-6.
.
The Panthers took a 14-6 lead at 10:06 of the second quarter, driving 81 yards in 7 plays, capped off by a Mikey Nusser 5 yard run and followed with a two point conversion run.
.
Paint Valley tied the score at 14-14 with 3:09 of the second quarter when Cruz McFadden scored on a 4 yard sweep, followed by an Ian Cockerell two point run. That capped a 62 yard/12 play drive.
.
The next two Southeastern possessions very well could be looked at as the turning point in the game. The Panthers drove 60 yards in 9 plays, scoring on a Lane Ruby 6 yard run with :17 remaining in the half. Nusser's two-point conversion made it 22-14 Panthers at halftime. That coupled with Southeastern's 3 play/64 yard scoring drive to open the second half, which saw Lane Ruby's 62 yard TD dash and subsequent two-point conversion at 10:02 to make it 30-14 lead. That two score lead would not be dented the rest of the game.
.
The Bearcats cut the deficit to 30-20 with 7:35 of the third quarter when Cavin Cooper fired a 60 yard TD pass to Dane Miller. The PAT try failed.
.
Southeastern increased their lead to 38-20 at 11:55 of the fourth quarter after a Jarrett McWhorter interception gave SE a short field 34 yard/4 play drive, capped by Ruby's 13 yard run. Ruby followed with the two point PAT.
.
PV came right back with a 52 yard/7 play scoring drive at 9:47 left when Cooper ran 14 yards for the TD, then connected with Cruz McFadden on the PAT to make it 38-28.
.
But, Southeastern sealed the game with a 64 yard/9 play drive, completed on a Ruby 10 yard TD run and two point conversion for a 46-28 lead with 3:11 to play. Paint Valley added a score on a Cockerell 10 run with only :54 to play, completing a 57 yard/7 play drive.
.
Southeastern compiled 406 total yards with 351 rushing and Lane Ruby throwing 3/4 for 55 yards. Paint Valley had 297 total yards with 162 on the ground and 9/17 throwing for 135 yards. All but one pass was thrown by Cavin Cooper, who threw one interception and Ian Cockerell the other.
.
The Panthers' Lane Ruby finished with 201 yards rushing on 19 carries, scoring four TD's. Mikey Nusser added 104 yards on 23 carries, scoring two TD's and 3 PAT runs.
.
Paint Valley was led by Ian Cockerell with 89 yards rushing on 14 carries, scoring once and Cavan Cooper throwing for 135 yards and a TD.
.
Southeastern improves to (6-0/9-0) and travels to (5-1/8-1) Adena next Friday in our Herrnstein Hyundai SVC Game of the Week on WKKJ. Paint Valley falls to (5-1/7-2).
.