Warriors steamroll over St. Vincent

By DONN ADAMSON
Daily Journal Sports Editor

STE. GENEVIEVE — The Valle Warriors coming fresh off a huge win over state-ranked Ste. Genevieve, continued their momentum so strong that it must have seemed like a sunami to the St. Vincent Indians from the very start of the game.

In just five and a quarter minutes, the Warriors had amassed a 26-0 lead on their way to a 49-7 crushing of the visiting Indians.

St. Vincent obliged the Warriors by turning the ball over twice and failing to cover an accidental onside kick.

Valle was able to move the ball quickly on the Indians defense by either breaking tackles for long runs or sharp passes by quarterback Michael Greminger.

Completing two passes of 15 yards to Garrett Kertz and 20 yards to Jason Blum, Greminger orchestrated the first drive with Kertz also breaking looses for a 22 yard run. It took only 10 plays to traverse 67 yards with Greminger diving in from the one at the nine minute mark.

The Inidians could not hang on to the football on the following kickoff and Nick Brown fell on the fumble to give Valle another chance at the 29-yard line, and they only needed one play to cash in as Greminger hit Blum on a 29-yard strike for Valle’s second score.

Down 13-0, the Indians finally were able to put their offense on the field, but only for one play. Valle’s tacklers hit the Indians’ running back hard behind the line and the ball popped loose for a recovered ball by Blum on St. Vincent’s 30.

A 22-yard run by Luke Uding set up a two-play drive for a one-yard run by Kertz for the TD. The kick failed, but the next kick made up for it.

Valle’s kickoff was shanked to the right side of the field catching the Indians off-guard, and in his pursuit downfield, Zach Weiler spotted the loose ball and dove on it at the 39 before the Indians could recover.

Greminger to Kertz paid dividends again. A first-play pass of 39 yards resulted in the Warriors fourth touchdown in just over five minutes of action. 

St. Vincent’s offense was able to make four plays on their next possession, but it resulted in a minus 10 yards and a punt as Valle’s defense was up for the task.

Valle settled down from their instant-touchdown mode and drove the ball 52 yards on seven plays, highlighted by a 16 yard run by Uding. Greminger finally hit Nathan Geile with a six-yard pass to make the score 32-0.

The Indians received a special boost on the kickoff as Justin Eggers broke loose for a 70-yard runback to Valle’s 17-yard line. A pass interference penalty gave the Indians the ball at the six and three plays later, quarterback Darin Yanmitz ran the ball in from the one. With 50 seconds left in the first quarter, Valle held a 32-7 lead.

Valle was able to make one sustained drive in the second quarter as the Indians defense settled down and was even able to stop that drive on downs at the eight-yard line.

Late in the second quarter from the 46, Valle once again began a scoring drive. Greminger was 3-5 on the drive for 33 yards with the last a nine-yard touchdown pass to Blum with 1:12 left in the half.

St. Vincent could not move the ball in the second half either, and after being held to one first down they punted the ball back to Valle. The Indians defense looked to hold the Warriors, until Greminger stuck the pigskin on his hip and broke past the line for a 52-yard break-away run and Valle’s last score with 9:17 left in the third quarter.

The touchdown put the clock in running mode, but it was slowed by several penalties and injuries to Yanmitz and also to one of the referees. Valle put in their subs and Weiler finished out the quarterback duties for Greminger.

Valle, 2-1, will again be at home this Friday when they will host Grandview.