HAMILTON TWP. — At first glance, the Hopewell Valley football team’s 35-6 victory over Nottingham on Saturday afternoon might look like another productive day for an offense that came in averaging over 40 points per game.
What actually transpired on the field was a much different story as Hopewell never really got its offense untracked and was unable to put the Northstars away until it scored 21 points in the final 14 minutes of play.
A big part of this was a gritty effort by a Nottingham defense that kept on fighting even after it became apparent it was going to lose its fourth straight game. As a result, Hopewell (3-1) was able to accumulate just 20 yards through the air and leading rusher Ethan Valenza was limited to a tough 84 yards on 23 carries.
In the end, however, it didn’t matter because Hopewell’s defensive front was in command throughout and the Bulllodogs were able to score three touchdowns after turnovers while also taking advantage of a Nottingham team that had major problems in the punting department.
Hopewell made its share of mistakes as well, and this allowed Nottingham to open the scoring in the first quarter when quarterback Dante Vasquez scored on a 1-yard sneak. This came after Malcolm Loussant sacked Hopewell quarterback Grayson Vlasac at the 1-yard line.
It was here where Nottingham started self-destructing as a fumble on the Hopewell Valley 31-yard line led to a 69-yard, 16-play drive that ended on a 1-yard sneak by Vlasac with 1:13 remaining in the first half.
It was also here where Nottingham made a tactical mistake as it remained in a hurry-up offense when it could have killed nearly all the clock by taking a delay penalty in its own territory on third down.
This led to a disaster as the ensuing punt snap was fumbled. Carter Horvath scooped it up and ran 10 yards into the end zone to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead it probably didn’t deserve.
Nottingham continued to hang in there in the third quarter when Ricardi Cherry intercepted a pass and Hopewell turned the ball over again on a fumble, but a short punt later set up Hopewell Valley at the Northstar 21-yard line. Hopewell Valley then pounded away with its running game and scored on a 5-yard run keeper around right end by Vlasac.
Nottingham did gain some life in the second half when James Rumph took over at quarterback and completed four passes for 71 yards, but it once again stalled out in the red zone early in the fourth quarter.
Set up by an interception by Jude Berman, Hopewell scored its fourth TD on a 1-yard tush push by Vlasac. It later got a 38-yard touchdown run by Lucas Hemmer on a sweep in by far its biggest play of the day with 2:46 remaining.
The Hopewell defensive front was outstanding. The Nottingham ground game went nowhere, and Horvath led a ferocious pass rush by recording two sacks. Kyle Yadamiec also had an interception for the Bulldogs, and field position was decidedly one-sided in their favor with one short Northstar punt nearly landing in the stands.
Hopewell Valley will be back in action when it hosts Allentown on Friday night. Nottingham’s next game is on Friday at Hightstown.
Hopewell Valley (3-1) 0 14 7 14 – 35
Nottingham (0-4) 6 0 0 0 – 6
N-Vasquez 1 run (kick blocked)
HV-Vlasac 1 run (Rheinhardt kick)
HV-Horvath 10 fumble return (Rheindhardt kick)
HV-Vlasac 5 run (Rheinhardt kick)
HV-Vlasac 1 run (Rheinhdardt kick)
HV-Hemmer 38 run (Rheinhardt kick)
