Jordan Morell threw the game-winning strike for the Wildcats.

By GREG GULAS

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

STRUTHERS — Sam Valiquette rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns as the Struthers High football team posted a 28-23 come-from-behind victory over Springfield in Friday’s season opener.

Jordan Morell threw the game-winning scoring strike to James Anderson with 2:15 remaining.

Held to nine total yards rushing while touching the ball four times in the first half, Valiquette kick-started the Wildcats offense by carrying the ball 17 times for 161 yards as he scored on runs of 2, 29 and 33 yards.

“This was a very big win for us,” Valiquette said.

“We needed this win in order to gain our confidence.

“Winning the first game of the season is a great feeling,” Valiquette said.

“Scoring three touchdowns is a good feeling as well, but I could not have done it without the help of my offensive line. They are the ones who should get all of the credit.”

Tigers come up short

It looked as if the Tigers needed only to rely on the foot of Bryan Visingardi as his 33-yard field goal in the opening period staked Springfield to a 3-0 lead at intermission.

Visingardi later added two more field goals and two extra points, scoring 11 of his teams’ 23 points.

It was a disappointing end to what was almost a victorious debut for Tigers coach Sean Guerriero.

“We preach to our players never give up, feeling that we will always outwork our opponent,” Guerriero said.

“We just came up a little short tonight.

“[Bryan] Visingardi is a hard worker who always does the little things right. As a team, however, we must play mistake-free football if we expect to put ourselves in a position to win games.”

Visingardi’s 29 yard field goal at the outset of the third quarter gave the Tigers a 6-0 lead, but Valiquette’s first score, a 2-yard run at 4:46 gave the Wildcats their first lead, 7-6.

His 29-yard scamper with :53 left in the quarter and the conversion run by Rob Edwards allowed the Wildcats to build a 15-6 advantage.

Visingardi’s third field goal of the night cut the Struthers margin to 15-9 with 9:04 remaining, but Valiquette’s 33-yard run at 5:40 increased the Wildcats lead to 22-9.

Game-winning strike

Tigers quarterback Nate Schuler cut the Struthers lead to 22-16 when he found Brandon Goist from 5 yards out.

On the ensuing series, Schuler picked off Morell and raced into the end zone from 33 yards out to tie the game at 22.

When Visingardi added the placement, the Tigers took a brief 23-22 lead.

“[Jordan] Morell did not throw an interception during our pre-season scrimmages, so for him to bounce back and calmly throw the game-winning touchdown speaks volumes about his play and leadership,” Wildcats coach Dallas Saunders said.

After Schuler’s interception return, Morell coolly threaded the needle to Anderson for the game-winning touchdown from 35 yards out with 2:15 on the clock.

“James [Anderson] ran a wheel route, the corner bit on his curl and he caught the ball without breaking stride. He ran an excellent pattern,” Morell said.

As for Anderson, all he said to himself was don’t drop the ball if it was thrown his way.

“The play is called Miami and all I was just hoping was to get my hands on it. It was well thrown and right to me,” he said.