MCGUFFEY — Hard-nosed and gritty.
That is how Upper Scioto Valley head coach Dustin Price describes his team and that get-the-job done type of attitude has led the Rams to its first outright Northwest Central Conference this year and securing a home playoff game against conference rival Perry at 7 p.m. Friday.
“I feel our team is a reflection of our community,” Price said. “We are a blue collar team that comes to work every day and we work hard and we have faced a couple of situations this year where we kind of got hit in the mouth and we responded right back. They are just really gritty kids.
“I think that goes back to last season where we finished with 11 guys and playing with 11 guys the entire game is tough and that it is pretty much all the guys on this year’s team and it made them stronger going through things like that.”
Despite the low numbers last year, the Rams returned to full strength this year with high expectations coming into the season and the Rams could have easily fallen into the trap of over-confidence but it was just the opposite as the Rams, after losing its season opener to Allen East, reeled off nine straight wins.
“It is obviously special for our team and our program,” Price said. “We haven’t won a conference title outright in school history and this being the first outright it just means a lot to our group and our program and where we want to take things.
“We got a lot of first with this team and we are super excited and the community has really come out strong and supported us and we appreciate that and we are going to need that on Friday night.
Originally the playoff game against Perry was scheduled for Saturday but had to be changed due to a conflict with an already planned school trip.
It is no surprise that the Rams’ offense is led by its pound and ground running game that features three running backs.
Jackson Rohrs is the top ground gainer with 1,770 yards while scoring 24 touchdowns on 161 carries and Connor Sanders, who was moved to the backfield this season, produced 1,247 yards and 16 scores on 140 carries.
Leading the way on the offensive line were juniors Blaine Castle and Kevin Smith. Castle, with 22 pancake blocks was a first-team, all-NWCC selection at tackle and Smith was a an all-conference selection at guard.
“We are running the ball really well,” Price said. “We are averaging about 360 yards rushing per game. That is kind of what we do. We have some big, offensive linemen and have a combination of size and speed in the backfield. Our guys have good vision and they block well for each other. I think that is the big key.
Sanders added that moving Sanders from the tight end position to the running back spot has paid dividends in a number of ways.
“In reflecting from last year we knew we didn’t use Connor as much as we could have so we knew we had to get him the ball more and it really has been a great decision to put him back there,” Price said. “Out of the three running backs, Alex Sanders has kind of been the unsung hero. He doesn’t get the touches Connor and Jack do but he is very selfless. He is basically a lineman in the backfield. He does a great job on lead blocking and such a team guy that we appreciate it.”
The Rams defense is not too be overlooked. USV is giving up an average of stingy 14.3 points a game and has limited the opposition to single digits in five of those games.
“There has been a lot of points scored on us once we have subbed our starters out,” Price said. “I think our starting defense has give up just under nine points and I think the starting defense has given up about 100 yards a game.”
Price points out that points average is a lot lower against the team’s starters as team’s have added points in blow-out games as the second units played.
The Rams’ ability to stop teams starts on the defensive line with Smith, Sanders and Castle all making the first-team, all-NWCC team and senior Tristan Fisher. Sanders, an all-ohio choice last year, has recorded 14 tackles for loss and has 53 tackles. Smith has 11 tackles for loss and Castle made 5.5 tackles for loss.
“Our defensive line is our strength with Connor and Tristan do a great job as the defensive ends and Blaine and Kevin in the middle,” Price said. “They are so big in the middle that they cause a lot of problems.”
The defense will once again need to step up when USV plays Perry in the first round. The Commodores are led by NWCC offensive player of the year Ryan Yingst. The dual threat Commodore signal caller manufactured more than 3,200 yards on offense and totalled 36 touchdowns.
“it is unfortunate we have to play a conference opponent and one of us is going to get knocked out but that is how things go in the playoffs,” Price said. “Perry is a really good team with a lot of team speed. Yings is a really good quarterback, throwing and running so we know we have to contain Yingst and defensively our dbs have to keep the receivers in front and we will throw some screens so we have to come up and tackle their athletes in space because they have the capabilities of making the guys on the outside miss and take it to the house.”
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