Vallivue Falcons soar past Tigers 35-14

Vallivue quarterback Corey Barnes threw for four touchdowns to lead the Vallivue Falcons past the Mountain Home Tigers 35-14 last Friday night at Vallivue.

The Vallivue win snapped a 15-game losing streak for the Falcons that stretched back to 2003.

The first quarter was controlled by the defenses, as neither team scored, Vallivue managing 90 total yards of offense in the first quarter and the Tigers minus 10.

A short field helped Vallivue score their first touchdown in the second quarter, on a series that started from the Tiger 30-yard line in the first quarter. Trey Phillips capped off the six-play drive, scoring from nine yards out. Kurt Hartley's PAT made it 7-0, Vallivue, with 10:53 left in the first half.

Mountain Home did get their first two first downs of the night on their next possession, but the drive stalled on the Vallivue 38-yard line, where the Falcons took over on downs.

Corey Barnes connected with C.W. Parker on a 27-yard pass play to cap off a 62-yard, seven-play drive for the score. Kurt Hartley made it 14-0, with the PAT, with 6:01 left in the half.

The Tigers then put together an impressive drive, going 58 yards in 13 plays, Bob Daniels sneaking it in from two yards out. With the PAT by Kyle Clark, Mountain Home had cut the lead to 14-7, with 1:27 left in the first half, appearing to be going into the locker room at halftime with some momentum.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, there were still 87 seconds left in the first half.

The Falcons used 82 of those to move the ball 71 yards in five plays, Corey Barnes hitting Andrew Casteneda on a 10-yard touchdown pass, with five seconds left in the first half. The Falcons went into the locker room at halftime up 21-7.

Mountain Home received the ball to start the second half, and on their first series, had a fourth-and-two at their own 19-yard line. The Tigers tried a fake punt, but the run ended at the Tiger 20 -- a yard short of the first down -- and the Falcons had the ball deep in Mountain Home territory.

Vallivue faced a third-and-13 at the Tiger 23-yard line when Corey Barnes found C.W. Parker on a slant pattern for a 23-yard score. Kurt Hartley's PAT was no good, but the Falcons led, 27-7, with 8:48 left in the third quarter.

The Tigers answered, getting a score of their own, capping off a 53-yard, four-play drive, Bob Daniels connecting with Nick Barrie on a 20-yard score. Kyle Clark booted the PAT to make it 27-14, Vallivue, with 6:56 left in the third quarter.

Not to be outdone, the Falcons came right back, going 65 yards in three plays, Corey Barnes finding C.W. Parker again, this time for 59 yards and a score. Kurt Hartley's PAT was again wide, but Vallivue led, 33-14, with 5:24 left in the third quarter.

The only other score of the ball game came approximately midway through the fourth quarter. The Falcons recovered a fumbled lateral at the Mountain Home 23 but the Tigers held them on downs, the Falcon drive stalling on the Mountain Home one yard-line.

Then, on first down for the Tigers, Zacq Hale was tackled in the end zone for a safety, and Vallivue led, 35-14, with 6:42 left in the ball game.

In pre-game radio comments, Mountain Home Tiger head football coach Brian Floyd was concerned about lackadaisical effort in practice that week by his Tigers, a concern that came into play in the ball game. Floyd reflected on the game afterwards.

"It wasn't a good week of practice. These guys think sometimes think they can just throw their jocks on the field and win, and that's really what it came down to. We didn't show up, especially on o- (offensive) line and d- (defensive) line, which, for how well they played last week (against Nampa), and then to come out and play so poorly, is very frustrating. I don't understand that.

"Georgio (Sutton) was unable to play (bruised ribs in the Nampa game) like we thought -- not making excuses, we should have been able to go without him -- and (Josh) Reynolds, was throwing up the whole way over on the bus. I don't know how he played the game, to be honest with you, it was a pretty gutsy performance."

The Tigers offense managed just 97 yards on the ground, with Tyson Sessions getting 52 of them, on 13 rushes, and Zacq Hale 37 yards on eight carries. John Deal rushed the ball one time for five yards, Bob Daniels had seven rushes for four yards and a touchdown, and Nick Barrie carried three times for minus one yard.

Through the air, the Tigers were not much better, Bob Daniels completing six of 18 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. Daniels had two passes picked off by the Falcons. Nick Barrie caught three passes for 34 yards and a score, Josh Reynolds had two catches for 38 yards, and Dave Anderson caught one pass for seven yards.

The Falcons rushed the ball for 210 yards and a touchdown, and passed for 230 yards and four touchdowns.

The Tigers fall to 1-2 on the season, and 1-1 in SIC 4A conference play.

Mountain Home will host the Emmett Huskies at home Friday night at Tiger Field.

Coach Floyd says his Tigers must regroup and go at it hard this week.

"Emmett beat Middleton on a hook-and-ladder on the final play of the game. They spanked us pretty good last year at their place. This time they come here, so hopefully, we can change that. (With the loss) it's an uphill battle in league, now, which is fine with me. You've got to prove yourself now."

Kick-off for the Mountain Home-Emmett game is set for 7 p.m. Friday night at Tiger Field.