By Chris Yow
For The Tribune
JASPER — A lackluster first half offensively turned around for the Pinson Valley Indians in the third quarter as they sprang to a 25-14 win over Walker Friday night on the road.
Just a week removed from topping their biggest rival and Class 6A No. 1 Clay-Chalkville, the Indians didn’t suffer from a letdown or hangover performance.
“I was really pleased with the way we practiced this week,” Pinson Valley head coach Matt Glover said. “We just have to keep it going.”
This week, the Indians did just that. On defense, the Pinson Valley team was stifling. Sans two big plays from Walker’s Isiah Cox, the Indians were impenetrable throughout the night, holding the Vikings offense to just 79 yards rushing — 52 of those coming on one play — and just 111 yards through the air.
The Indians forced the Vikings offense into six 3-and-outs in the game.
Both defenses were strong in the first quarter, holding each offense scoreless. It was after the heat timeout in the second quarter before anyone got on the board. Walker’s Cox hauled in a 50-yard touchdown pass with 5:25 left in the first half to give Walker a 7-0 advantage.
Pinson Valley answered, however, with a 7-play, 71-yard drive. The Indians scored when Orion Morris took a reverse handoff and hit quarterback Jackie Matthews on a throwback pass from 19 yards out.
The Indians’ offense picked up where they left off when the second half started. Matthews hit Torrey Hendrix on a pair of wide receiver screen passes, the second one saw Hendrix scamper all of 52 yards for a touchdown. The extra point snap was bobbled and the Indians converted the 2-point play to make it 15-7.
“We’re going to try to do what the defense gives us,” Glover said. “We’re doing a good job calling the offense.”
Cox wasn’t going away for the Vikings, though. He answered just four plays later. Lining up in the wildcat formation, he went untouched around left end for a 52-yard score of his own with 8:37 to go in the 3rd quarter.
That would be the last time Walker’s offense converted a first down the rest of the game.
Saul Rios knocked home a field goal on the ensuing drive to give Pinson Valley an 18-14 lead. The Indians defense then got a score of its own from Cox, as they chased the wide out into his own end zone on a speed sweep and forced a fumble. The Indians fell on it in the end zone for a score to put the game away.
Pinson Valley travels to Shades Valley next week in a non-region game.