Springs Valley Community High School

For the second consecutive week, the Springs Valley football team got off to a slow start. West Washington got the ball to open the game and possessed it for nearly nine minutes before scoring the game’s opening touchdown. A pair of fumbled snaps later, the Springs Valley offense returned the ball to the Senators in the red zone and they scored another touchdown. That early 14-0 deficit was erased before long, but the extra effort the Blackhawks had to use to level the game left them set up for a slowdown in the fourth quarter. The Senators would outscore them 16-0 in the game’s final period to win 38-17. It was the second consecutive week in which the Blackhawks have gone down 14-0 early and the second consecutive week that they’ve lost because of it, proving just how hard it is to overcome that sort of deficit. “Right now it’s a bit too hard [to come back and win] since we haven’t accomplished it yet,” Springs Valley coach Jason Lowe said. “It’s very tough to start that way and then have to play at a much higher level to get out of that hole. We’re very proud of our kids for doing that though.” Though their start and their finish weren’t great, the Blackhawks did control the game through much of the second and third quarters. During those periods everything went to plan for Springs Valley as it outscored West Washington 17-8 thanks to an increased physicality. “That’s exactly what we thought would work,” Lowe said. “We thought our offensive line would be able to be physical with them and we did that at times.” While Ezra Mills and Konner Chase each scored a touchdown and Griffin McGee hit all three of his kicks including a 39-yard field goal, Jaheim Hamilton was a particularly bright spot for the Blackhawks against West Washington. The junior provided one of the biggest plays of the game with an interception in the third quarter, led Springs Valley in receiving with three catches for 43 yards, and just generally brought the sort of energy and excitement that the Blackhawks need from everybody on the roster every night. “I love how hard Jaheim has worked and what he’s brought to our team,” Lowe said. “Once the game was over and you watch the film, you see that West Washington didn’t really go at Jaheim all night. He played with great discipline and great effort to shut down one side of the field.” Springs Valley (2-2, 1-2 PLAC) will try to bounce back on Friday when it hosts Salem. It’ll be a challenge for the Blackhawks, playing a Class 3A team, but they’re looking forward to testing themselves in their homecoming game. “We just have to show up on Monday willing to work and get better,” Lowe said. “I love the challenge that’s in front of us this week. Two tough losses and now we have a 3A opponent. A lot of teenage kids would throw in the towel after these past two weeks, but our kids won’t. They’ll show up on Monday and be ready to go. I can’t wait to prepare with them this week.” SENATORS 38, BLACKHAWKS 17 West Washington (4-0);14;0;8;16—38 Springs Valley (2-2);0;7;10;0—17 FIRST QUARTER WW: Wyatt Johnston 19 run (Johnston run), 3:39. WW, 8-0. WW: Hudson Cress 3 run (Run failed), 0:19. WW, 14-0. SECOND QUARTER SV: Konner Chase 5 run (Griffin McGee kick), 8:08. WW, 14-7. THIRD QUARTER SV: Ezra Mills 22 run (McGee kick), 11:05. 14-14. WW: Johnston 34 run (Ethan Roberts run), 5:13. WW, 22-14. SV: McGee 39 field goal, 1:24. WW, 22-17. FOURTH QUARTER WW: Cress 12 run (Kenton Chase run), 7:20. WW, 30-17. WW: Johnston 44 interception return (Roberts run), 6:46. WW, 38-17. TEAM STATISTICS ;;West Washington;Springs Valley First downs;10;14 Rushes-yards;38-194;35-128 Passing yards;29;99 Total yards;223;227 Passes;2-4-1;12-21-2 Fumbles-lost;1-0;0-0 Penalty yards;4-20;5-45 RUSHING West Washington: Johnston 13-80, Roberts 10-40, Chase 9-52, Cress 6-22. Springs Valley: Mills 15-86, Chase 14-52, Mavrick Land 5-(-15), Jack Dalton 1-5. PASSING West Washington: Chase 2-4-1-29. Springs Valley: Land 12-21-2-99. RECEIVING West Washington: Greyson McCoy 2-29. Springs Valley: James Walls 5-20, Jaheim Hamilton 3-43, Keaton Pritchett 2-19, Chase 2-17.