DRESDEN — Special teams doesn’t often play a deciding factor in an allstar game.
It did for Muskingum Valley on Friday night.
New Lexington’s Tommy Russell hit punts of 55, 51, and 64 yards in the
second half to pin Licking County deep and help Muskingum Valley come
away with a 21-6 victory in the 34th annual meeting at Jack Anderson
Stadium.
Muskingum leads the series 18-16.
Russell earned MVP honors and collected three sacks and a fumble recovery on defense.
“I’ve never punted that well,” he said. “Our team had a good time, and
the teams that are good together usually win this game.”
Muskingum Valley coach Justin Buttermore stressed the importance of
developing a team bond. He noted that the players and coaches stayed a
couple of hours after nearly every practice for a cookout.
That played a factor in Buttermore’s mind.He is 3-0 in this game.
“These guys played together and were rooting for each other,” he said.
“The teams I’ve coached in this game before were the same way. When
you’re able to play together like this after two weeks, it’s a
testament to the kids.”
Muskingum led 13-0 at the half.
Russell saved Muskingum, which went 3-and-out on its next possession,
by booming a 55-yard punt to put Licking County at its own 24. Licking
County threw three straight incompletions, and then a bad snap over the
punter’s head led to a safety and a 15-6 Muskingum lead with 6:48 left
in the third.
Later in the third, a 51-yard punt by Russell
pinned Licking County at its 28.
The 64-yard punt early in the fourth sealed Licking County’s fate, as it failed to get outside its own 10.
“Tommy was very inconsistent in practice, but he saved his best punts
for the game,” Buttermore said. “He flipped the field and put our
defense in great spots. I certainly wasn’t expecting our special teams
to play a big role, but Tommy gave us an advantage.”
Each team
lost a fumble in the opponents’ territory during a scoreless first
quarter, but Muskingum got on the board at the 9:59 mark of the second
quarter.
Muskingum scored on its next possession for a 13-0 lead at the 5:40 mark of the second.
Collin Russell ran for 64 yards on 11 carries to lead Muskingum.