Sandy Valley made an impressive statement on Friday night, bouncing back from a tough loss to Canton South with a resounding victory against Minerva. The Cardinals now stand at 3-1 on the season after their dominant performance.
The first quarter set the tone for Sandy Valley’s victory, with an explosive offensive display that left Minerva struggling to catch up.
Quarterback Nick Petro and wide receiver Lukas Gilland were in sync, connecting for two touchdowns in the opening period. Gilland was undoubtedly the star of the quarter, capping off the quarter with an electrifying 82-yard punt return for another touchdown as time expired, putting the Cardinals ahead 21-0.
Chapin Greer added to Sandy Valley’s lead early in the second quarter, extending the score to 28-0 with his two-yard touchdown reception from Petro.
Minerva finally managed to get on the scoreboard, thanks to a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Hunter Dietrich with just over five minutes remaining in the second quarter. Unfortunately, the extra point attempt was unsuccessful for the Lions, leaving them with just those six points for the entire game. Dietrich ended the night with 99 yards through the air, completing 10 of his 21 pass attempts.
Sandy Valley’s special teams also made their presence felt, with Jason Morris returning the ensuing kickoff an impressive 80 yards for yet another touchdown – the Cardinals second special teams touchdown of the game.
As the game progressed, Chad Davis took over the spotlight for the Cardinals, scoring the team’s final two touchdowns. Davis had an outstanding performance, rushing for 113 yards on just six carries and finding the end zone twice.
Quarterback Nick Petro had a highly efficient night, completing 8 of his 10 pass attempts for 137 yards and three touchdowns.
Sandy Valley (3-1) will be back in action at Malvern (4-0) on Friday, Sept. 15. Minerva will travel to Ravenna Southeast.