By Tom Williams

williams@vindy.com

EAST CANTON

Despite being stung for an early touchdown, the Valley Christian football team stood toe-to-toe with East Canton midway through the second quarter.

Then the ball didn’t bounce the Eagles’ way.

The Hornets forced a fumble that ended up in the end zone. After that, just about everything went for the Hornets in Friday’s 37-7 victory in the Division VII regional quarterfinal, the Eagles’ first playoff game in five seasons.

“We were 7-7 and then we fumbled the ball and that’s when they took over,” Valley Christian co-head coach Jeff Hether said. “I thought we would do better. In the second half, they pretty much just came out and pounded us.”

The Eagles turned the ball over five times.

The game started as a close one. East Canton immediately drove down the field, marching 63 yards on six plays and two Valley Christian penalties. Robert Harbert capped the drive with a 7-yard run. Ben Cochran’s extra-point kick made it 7-0 less than three minutes into the game.

But the Eagles’ defense tightened, forcing two punts. Jamynk Jackson returned the second one 21 yards to the Hornets’ 40.

Two plays later, Eagles quarterback Marcus Roman hit Jordan Dukes about 10 yards downfield. Dukes turned on his speed and eluded several Hornets defenders for a 42-yard touchdown. Logan Schnabl’s conversion kick tied the game eearly in the second quarter.

The Eagles (5-6) forced another punt, this one to the Valley Christian 17.

The next play was a nightmare for the Eagles. Jackson took the ball and backpedaled. Linebacker Anthony Baad caught him and stripped the ball from Jackson. The bounced several times, pinballing into the end zone where linebacker Joel Berger fell on it for a touchdown and 14-7 lead.

Jackson said the Hornets (9-2) were physical.

“Every time they would grab me, cover me, there would be some extra stuff,” Jackson said. “I just released it. I was going to kick it out of bounds, but I just dove on it and then it just [rolled].

“That’s just football, though.”

Little went right for the Eagles in the second half as they turned the ball over three times to set up Hornets’ scores.

“We just couldn’t get it going on offense,” Hether said. “Dropped balls, wide-open dropped balls. Those things you can’t have, especially now. That’s what’s tough.”

Hornets penalties kept the Eagles in the game. Eleven were assessed for 59 yards. The Eagles struggled to run the ball, being limited to minus-8 yards in the first half.

Although the finish was rough, Hether, who shared coaching duties with Jomont Ware, is proud of the giant steps their program took.

”We pushed for this to get better,” Hether said. “Five-five is an awesome year for us. We were always doubted that we weren’t going to do well. People kept telling us we were going to go 2-8. so there’s nothing really to feel bad about.”

Senior Jordan Trowers said he heard “that we were only going to win one game. We went out there and worked all summer to prove those doubters wrong.

“I love these guys,” Trowers said. “Even though this isn’t how we wanted it to end, I would trade these guys for anybody in the world.”

Roman passed for 164 yards for the Eagles.

Nathaniel Suntheimer led the Hornets with 123 yards rushing and two scores.