As a Group 3A member, the Hidden Valley Titans weren’t required to schedule fellow River Ridge 6A member Patrick Henry.
But, that hasn’t deterred Titan head coach Scott Weaver from taking on the Patriots in what Weaver has described as great preparation for a late-season playoff run.
Friday night at PH stadium, Hidden Valley gave Patrick Henry all they could handle before the Patriots survived 14-10. It was PH’s fifth straight win in the two team’s series.
The Titan game plan clearly favored the run as Hidden Valley stayed on the ground for 42 plays while only attempting ten passes all night. The passing yardage reflected that disparity with the Titans only picking up 5 total yards. PH, meanwhile, liked the airways, with 6’4 junior quarterback Quishon Calfee hitting 10-of-17 attempts for 137 yards..
None was bigger than the 40-yard touchdown strike to senior Marcus Terry midway through the fourth quarter that helped PH overcome a 10-7 deficit.
Hidden Valley had one last chance, but Patriot 150-pound senior Treyvon Wade stopped Titan running back Mason Dermott four yards short on a swing pass after a fourth-and-five call from the Patrick Henry 45-yard-line.
PH held on, overcoming a night when they coughed up two fumbles and had two passes picked off by the Titan secondary.
Hidden Valley had taken the opening kickoff and run seven straight running plays before a 61-yard punt established field position, with PH starting from its own 20.
The Patriots wasted no time, going on a methodical drive culminated by Calfee’s 1-yard run around right end to put PH up 7-0.
Dermott tied things in the second quarter on a 6-yard scamper that sent the teams to the locker room knotted at 7.
Hidden Valley got its first lead of the game in the third quarter after a drive stalled at the Patriot 9-yard line. Freshman Michael Driscoll, weighing in at 109 pounds, connected on a 26-yard field goal that put the Titans ahead 10-7, leading to Terry’s catch one quarter later that settled the final margin.
Walter Franklin led Patrick Henry’s rushing game with 105 yards on 15 carries. Dermott and Logan Brand were the workhorses for Hidden Valley, logging 57 and 54 yards, respectfully, on 32 combined carries.
Bill Turner
