Hidden Valley Turns Tide On Viking Armada In 16-6 Win

Hidden Valley senior running back Mason Dermott picks up yardage Friday night as the Titans knocked off previously undefeated Northside 16-6. Dermott paced the Hidden Valley running game with 74 yards and picked off three Viking passes from the defensive side.
Hidden Valley senior running back Mason Dermott picks up yardage Friday night as the Titans knocked off previously undefeated Northside 16-6. Dermott paced the Hidden Valley running game with 74 yards and picked off three Viking passes from the defensive side.

Hidden Valley was looking to end a trend that dated back to 2008.

This time for the Titans, it was mission accomplished.

Having lost to Northside each year from 2008-2013 by margins of 7, 2, 3, 4, 15, and 10 points, respectfully, Hidden Valley jumped out to a 16-0 lead, then let the Titan defense take over to secure the 16-6 win over the defending Group 3A state champions Friday night at Jim Hickam Field.

Hidden Valley took advantage of early defensive plays to gain control

in the first 8 minutes.

Both teams stalled on their first possession, but things turned in a hurry on the Viking’s second play of their subsequent series.

A running play into the line by Viking Tra’ Jackson resulted in a scramble for a loose ball and, after a moving scrum for the ball ensued, Hidden Valley senior linebacker Nate Atkins emerged from the pile and promptly rumbled 18 yards for a touchdown, and 7-0 Titan lead following Michael Driscoll’s point-after.

Moments later, Titan senior Mason Dermott picked off his second of three interceptions of Viking quarterback Josh Hardister, ending in a Driscoll 34-yard field goal that increased the margin to 10-0.

That ended the scoring for the remainder of the first half.

Expected rain became steady by the third quarter and the Hidden Valley defense used the conditions to their advantage. When Titan junior QB Jake Smiley hit soph Ryan Mitchell on a 18-yard touchdown pass on the last play of the third, Hidden Valley clearly had the Vikings on the ropes for their first loss since an overtime setback to Lord Botetourt last October.

Northside attempted a valiant comeback when Hardister connected with Jackson on a 14-yard touchdown strike with just over 10 minutes left in the game, but the 2-point conversion to make it a one possession game came up short.

The Vikings had two more opportunities, but one ended with the third Dermott pick and the other on a fourth down sack.

Northside had the advantage in the rushing game, 126-95 yards, while Hardister outgunned Smiley through the air by a margin of 204-63 yards.

But, when the chips were down, the Hidden Valley defense rose to the occasion, moving both teams’ records to 2-1 for the season.

Bill Turner

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