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VALE – The annual Vale/Nyssa matchup (The Black and Blue Bowl) was a bit different this year. In the past, the two teams sat on the top of the league standings and the game typically decided the EOL champion and a home game for the first round of the state playoffs (throw Burns in the mix in most years).
This season, the game marked two teams going opposite ways. The Vikings again appear bound for a state playoff run while the Bulldogs are mired in fourth place in the 3A District 4 standings and facing a game versus Ontario to finish a tough year on the field. In a game showing domination both on the scoreboard and in the statistics after the fact, the Vikings rolled to a 45-0 win.
Vale, not seeing the field after a bye week and a MacHi forfeit, failed to score in the first quarter, turning the ball over on downs once and punting the ball away once. Nyssa, also picking up two chances in the first quarter, punted twice. The Vikings found their first points just 58 seconds into the second quarter as Eli Aldred scored on an 18-yard run. After Nyssa miscued on a punt and a Vale fumble recovery on the Nyssa 2-yard line, it was Aldred again for a Vale 14-0 lead.
The Viking defense took the stage for the next points as Colton Stepleton picked off an attempted Bulldog pass, running it back a full 25 yards for a 21-0 Vale lead with 8 minutes, 10 seconds still left in the half. A fourth score by the Vikings, a 24-yard TD pass to Charlie Lamb, was nullified by a penalty and the two teams hit the locker room with Vale leading 21-0.
The second half started with a Bulldog turnover as Brooks Haueter came up with the interception, setting the Viks up for a 43-yard pass play from Stepleton to former Bulldog-now Viking Skyler Cade. Vale again went to the pass late in the third quarter, converting on a 4th down and 13 with Stepleton connecting with Haueter on a 33-yard pass for the score. Entering the final quarter, the Vikings led 33-0.
The fourth quarter started with rain coming down and the points continuing for the Viks. Stepleton again used his arm, this time on a 45-yard pass scoring play to Kase Schaffeld and wrapped up the points on the board after one more Bulldog turnover. Spur Jacobs placed the final Vale points on the board on an 8-yard run.
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“Colten (Stepleton) had his best game of the year both on offense and defense and kicking it deep,” said Vale coach Jeff Aldred. “We had a good plan on defense coming into this game and the kids executed it to perfection.”
Stepleton ended his night 9-for-10 passing for 191 yards, an average of over 20 yards per pass. He also picked up 28 yards on five rushes, scoring once.
Schaffled was Stepleton’s favorite target for long plays, picking up 70 yards on two catches. Haueter ended with three catches for 52 yards and Owen Crane saw 31 yards on two catches.
In addition to his two trips to the end zone, Aldred had 108 yards on 18 touches of the ball. Penalties against the Vikings totaled 110 yards including the TD called back.
“Owen (Crane) helped all night at a number of different levels and Eli (Aldred) ran well,” Aldred said. “Our offensive line continues to develop and get better every game. I felt bad for Charlie (Lamb). He is a great player and teammate and we really wanted him to get that score.”
The Vale defense completely shut down the Bulldog passing game. Nyssa ended the night 0-for-12 passing for zero yards and only had 76 total yards of total offense.
Using a combination of three different players at the quarterback position, the Dawgs were under pressure the entire night. Accounting for 54 of the 76 yards, Dylan Robbins ran the ball on six occasions.
The Vikings put up the 45 points on only 39 offensive plays with the game finished under OSAA’s “mercy rule” early in the fourth quarter.
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