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Versailles
senior Jace Barga (6) runs the ball for his only carry of the night for
the Tigers.
CNO Photo by Chuck Runner
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Versailles
holds on for big victory
Peters runs wild against Vikings
By George Starks
CASSTOWN, OH- “It all begins at the line of scrimmage,” said Versailles
coach Adam Miller.
Versailles did exactly what it had to do Friday night against Miami
East.
The Tigers controlled the line of scrimmage and would score a 34-27
victory in the opening round of the OHSAA football playoffs.
Versailles junior running back Colin Peters ran wild in the meanwhile.
Peters had a career night against the Vikings, running the ball 22
times for 226 yards and accounted for 24 of the Tigers 34 points,
scoring three touchdowns rushing and had a 30 yard scoring reception
with 40 seconds left in the opening half to give the Tigers a 20-14
lead at the break.
In addition to Peters, Kyle Dieringer ran for 64 yards on nine carries
with a score.
“Offensively it starts up front,” Miller said. “They (the offensive
line) were making big holes, and between Moose and Collin, they had
some nice running. I thought we did some great things offensively.”
On defense, the Tigers were forced to stop two of the best runners in
the Cross County Conference in Colton McKinney and Kurt Brower.
Before the start of the game, McKinney had rushed for over 1,000 yards
while Brower was knocking on the door of that 1,000 yard mark.
When the game had ended, McKinney had been held to only 43 yards on 15
carries while Brower had been limited to just 42 yards on 16 rushes.
“We had to get off the field on third and long, fourth down,” Miller
said. “That was what hurt us tonight. I felt like the defense played
great, just had some opportunities to make some big plays and didn’t
get them all. But the important thing is the team held together, and we
got the victory.”
Holding together is exactly what the Tigers were able to do.
In a back and forth game that seen the Tigers up 6-0 at the end of the
opening quarter, Versailles saw itself staring at a 14-12 deficit when
senior quarterback Colton Hellyer hit McKinney on a 21 yard strike for
a score with 2:26 left in the half.
Junior quarterback Jerrod Niekamp put the Tigers up at the half with
the 30 yard strike with :40 left in the clock.
The turning point for the Tigers came in the opening drive of the third
quarter.
With the Vikings driving, Hellyer dropped into the pocket on a 2nd and
nine at the Versailles 26.
Heller found junior Adam Lyons and Lyons had stopped the Vikes drive,
giving the Tigers offense the ball at their own 29.
Versailles would find pay dirt on just four plays, going 71 yards in
1:43, highlighted by a 43 yard run by Dieringer.
“Coming out it was a one-score game, and that (interception) allowed us
to put it to a two-score game and keep it a comfortable lead,” Miller
said.
The third quarter would end with the Vikings driving and trailing 26-14.
East would start the final 12 minutes, scoring on a four yard pass from
Hellyer to Mark Beaty at the 11:55 mark of the frame. Closing to within
a 26-21 count.
Versailles would counter on its next possession with a four yard score
by Peters at the 5:53 mark for a 34-21 lead.
Miami East would get its final score with 1:22 remaining on a two yard
run by junior, Brower.
“It was great to get the win,” Miller said. “It wasn’t pretty, but also
Miami East is a good team. They did a lot of good things. We knew
offensively they could do some things, and they gave our defense
everything we could handle.”
Versailles will advance to the second round Friday and a date with
Minster in Piqua.
The last time the Tigers were in the second round of the playoffs was
against Coldwater in a loss at Welcome Stadium.
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