Philo High School pulled off a dramatic victory Friday night, defeating rival Tri-Valley 31-29 on the final play of the game at Sam Hatfield Stadium. Quarterback Audie Buchanan threw a touchdown pass to Rusty Trout with no time remaining on the clock, capping an improbable comeback. The winning score came after officials called pass interference against Tri-Valley in the end zone, setting up an untimed down for the dramatic finish.
The Electrics trailed significantly through much of the contest, finding themselves down 21-10 at halftime before mounting their comeback. Running back Slade Sprankle was instrumental in the second-half surge, accumulating 269 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The turning point came when Sprankle broke loose for a 48-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, giving Philo a 25-21 lead before Tri-Valley scored to go ahead 29-25 with under a minute to play.
Buchanan led the final drive methodically downfield, connecting with receiver Ky-Mani Phillip for a crucial 24-yard gain to set up the end zone play. Coach Dirk Lincicome praised his quarterback’s composure and growth, while Trout acknowledged the team’s resilience after a difficult first half. The victory marked only the Electrics’ second win against Tri-Valley in their last 22 meetings in Muskingum Valley League play.
For Tri-Valley, Leevi Wade rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns, while quarterback Stone Spiker completed seven of 19 passes for 150 yards. Despite the loss, the Scotties mounted a strong second-half performance before falling victim to the game’s dramatic conclusion.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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