2018 FOOTBALL WRAP-UP: NEWARK VALLEY ENDURES UPS AND DOWNS (2018-11-28)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
NEWARK VALLEY - Newark Valley's season may not have ended as hoped, but the Cardinals were able to take away several positives.

"We had a good start to the season, were able to win a couple of close games vs. Tioga and SVEC during the first half of the season and started 5-0," said head coach Ted Hardenstine. "We played a poor game vs. a very talented and well-coached Susquehanna Valley team.  After that game, were weren't able to make enough plays to earn a win in our final three games, which were all very close games."

Despite a 5-4 overall record, and its first regular-season loss since 2015, NV had some notable moments.

"Our highlights for this season would be earning a close win, 10-6 to start the year, against Tioga," Hardenstine said. "Also playing well enough to earn decisive victories over Deposit-Hancock and Whitney Point, both who had winning records this year.

"I think we had exceptional defensive performances vs. Tioga and Oneonta.  We played very well offensively vs. Sidney and Whitney Point. We probably had our best overall performance vs. Deposit-Hancock."

After turning away Tioga, the Cardinals bulled through Deposit / Hancock, 51-6, and Harpursville / Afton, 55-6. That brought SVEC to town and even though the Eagles found their passing game in the second half, NV held on for a 30-25 victory. Next up was Whitney Point, which came in with a good record, but left with a 40-14 defeat.

That brought the showdown with Susquehanna Valley, which would go on to win the Class C state championship. The Sabers were clicking on all cylinders - NV wasn't - in a 62-0 rout that ended the Cardinals' regular-season win streak at 23 games. From there, NV dropped three close games, 10-7 to Oneonta, 53-46 to Sidney and to Waverly in the playoffs, 20-5. The Wolverines scored 14 points in the final 62 seconds of that game.

The Cardinals dealt with key injuries at various points of the season as well. Most notable was two-way lineman Trentyn Rupert. A two-time all-state OL, he was involved in a car crash five days before the season opener and missed or saw limited action early in the season. Running back Caden Bennett, was sidelined for a couple games near mid-season after suffering a gash on his leg.

Hardenstine refused to blame the team's struggles on injuries, and instead looked to his players to step up. Several answered the call.

"We had many players step up this year," he said. "Kyle Pratt stepped up and played well on both sides of the ball, especially filling in for Trentyn at left tackle to start the year.  Evan Powell came out as a senior this year, and earned a starting LB position and played very well."

NV also received some solid efforts from its younger players.

"We also had five sophomores up on varsity this year.  We have been fortunate to have enough numbers that we haven't had to bring up more than one or two for the last three seasons, however these guys did a great job and all earned a lot of playing time," Hardenstine said. "Connor Spoonhower started at LB and made all the defensive calls as a 10th-grader. Jake Armstrong was tough on the defensive line and blocked a few punts this year as a sophomore, and Raidyn Ford was a two way starter at RB and corner, and did an outstanding job, especially on defense."