Independence junior varsity football squad finished the season with a 30-22 victory over the Rocky River Ravens and took second place in the Southwestern 4A Conference.
The Patriots’ first possession started on their own two yard line after a Rocky River punt. The offense drove the ball 98 yards for the first score when Indy’s quarterback Davyne Simpson scored from the ten yard line. The two point conversion was good and Indy took a 8-0 lead with 3:28 remaining in the first quarter.
The Patriots defense held and after the Ravens’ punt, Indy took over on its own nine yard line. The Patriots drove down inside the Ravens’ ten yard line. Simpson dropped back to pass, but Rocky River picked off the pass on the one yard line.
Unable to move the ball the Ravens punted out of their own end zone. While the ball rolled on the ground an Indy player tried to field the ball but was unable to do so. Rocky River recovered the ball on the Indy 45 yard line.
On the Ravens’ first play from scrimmage Rocky River ran for a 45 yard touchdown to make the score 8-8 with 4:48 left in the first half.
Indy took the second half kick off and drove 90 yards for the touchdown to make the score 16-8 with 6:30 remaining in the third quarter.
The Ravens fought back to score with 4:40 left in the third to make the score 16-14.
On the ensuing kick off Indy fumbled the ball. Rocky River picked up the loose ball and returned it for the touchdown to put the Ravens in the lead 22-16 with 4:24 left in the quarter.
With 9:52 remaining in the game, Indy’s Davion Nelson ran for a nine yard touchdown to tie the score 22-22. Indy lined up for the two point conversion. Nelson took the hand off and ran off tackle for the two points giving Indy the lead 24-22 with 9:52 remaining in the game.
The Patriots got back on the board with 4:12 left in the game. Simpson ran for the touchdown to make the score 30-22.
The Ravens took the kick off and drove to Indy’s ten yard line. After a quarterback sack, the Ravens had the ball on Indy’s 13 yard line facing a fourth and ten with 27 seconds to go. The Rocky River receiver got open in the end zone but dropped the pass turning the ball over to the Patriots.
Indy took a knee to end the game with a 30-22 win.
After the game I reminded junior varsity coach Brad Van Horn that his squad had taken second place in the conference with an 8-1 record and played only one home game. Coach Van Horn stated, “I think it speaks volumes about the coaching staff and the players. We’ve talked about three things you have to do to be successful. You got to play defense, run the ball, and you got to be able to win on the road. And I think we have done all of that. Like we told our kids tonight our goal is not about winning a junior varsity championship. It is about winning a state championship. We played the best teams in Charlotte, and the game we lost should have been a home game. But it is what it is and our kids handled the adversity. You know I couldn’t be more proud of our kids.”
