Myers Park 31, Sun Valley 24
The Myers Park defense made a goal-line stand with less than two minutes to go that allowed the Mustangs to hang on for a 31-24 non-conference victory over a stubborn Sun Valley Spartans team Friday night at Myers Park.
Trailing by a touchdown, Sun Valley drove to the Myers Park two-yard line and had a first-and-goal. After two rushing plays yielded minus three yards, an incomplete pass set up a last gasp fourth and goal at the 2.
Spartans freshman quarterback Sam Howell couldn’t find an open receiver and took off for the end one, only to be stopped at the two-yard line.
“Obviously the game’s on the line there; you’re hoping somebody makes a play and I thought it was a really good team defensive stand,” said Myers Park coach Scott Chadwick.
The Mustangs led 17-8 at halftime. As the second half began, it seems both teams’ defenses were still in the locker room. Sun Valley took the second-half kickoff 65 yards in only four plays and scored on Fabrice Funderburke’s 55-yard touchdown run. Funderburke finished with a game-high 167 yards on 23 carries
Myers Park quickly answered with a 64-yard drive capped off by Mustangs quarterback Jack Davidson throwing a six-yard TD pass to tight end Garland Greenway. Davidson threw to seven different receivers in the game going 15 of 21 for 176 yards and two touchdowns.
The Spartans and the Mustangs both scored on their next possessions and Myers Park took a 31-24 lead into the fourth quarter. Senior wide receiver Brandon Adams caught a six-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter that proved to be the winning points for Myers Park.
“Coach called our slant concept and Jack (Davidson) threw the right ball in the right place,” said Adams. “I caught it and we ended up winning the game.”
WORTH MENTIONING
Freshman Sun Valley quarterback Sam Howell is a star in the making. In only his fifth high school game, Howell threw for 208 yards going 19 for 29 and ran for two scores. Howell also teamed up with wide receiver Jeremiah Miller on successful two-point conversions on all three Spartans’ touchdowns. … Davidson went 8 of 8 for 80 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. … At halftime Myers Park honored its’ 1965 football team that went undefeated at 11-0. … In the first half the Mustangs blocked a Sun Valley field goal attempt, with Jamal Watson alertly picking up the ball and racing 75 yards for a score for Myers Park.
QUOTE
“I think at this point we’ve got to get a winning streak going. We’ve kind of been on a win one, lose one, win one and lose one streak. It would be nice to put some wins together in a row and see what we can be.” – Myers Park coach Scott Chadwick
RECORDS
Sun Valley (2-3, 0-0), Myers Park (3-2, 0-0)
WHAT’S NEXT
Sun Valley will stay on the road next Friday playing at Forest Hills, while Myers Park will host Rocky River.
This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 12:07 AM with the headline "Myers Park 31, Sun Valley 24."