Steel Valley starts fast, storms past Valley

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 21, 2018 | 11:48 PM

It was a game that got so out of hand, even mother nature saw enough.

With a second-half running clock, torrential rains and Steel Valley’s ball deep in Valley’s territory, the waning seconds of the third-quarter clock expired. On cue, a flash of lighting struck nearby Valley’s Memorial Stadium, sending the game into a 30-minute delay. Both coaches met on the field and decided to call it a game.

Steel Valley’s Kameron Williams did plenty of damage in three quarters, rushing for 112 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Class AA No. 4-ranked Ironmen past Valley, 42-0, in an Allegheny Conference matchup between teams looking to get back in the win column.

“Our schedule has been ugly since Day 1, and it’s starting to lighten up,” said Valley coach Muzzy Colosimo, whose Vikings (1-4, 0-3) have played three ranked in teams in as many weeks. “We’re just trying to prepare for what we have ahead of us, and we can still make the playoffs.”

Steel Valley (3-1, 3-1) was coming off a tough loss at home to Shady Side Academy and jumped on Valley from the onset. The Ironmen forced a three-and-out on the Vikings’ first possession.

“Coming off a defeat last week, we wanted to show what we’re made of,” Steel Valley coach Rod Steele said. “We rebounded. We refocused, and we came out in tonight’s game with a great start.”

The Ironmen took over at their 31-yard line and drove 69 yards in 11 plays before Williams scored on a 6-yard run to make it 7-0 with 3 minutes, 47 seconds left in the first quarter.

On Valley’s next drive, Steel Valley senior Todd Hill picked off a deflected Tyler Green pass and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown to start the rout.

“Like I’ve (said) before, we got to fix a lot of things and you’re seeing them fall apart,” Colosimo said.

The Valley offense struggled up front, which had ripple effects. Most plays, the Steel Valley defensive line was in the backfield before Green could hand off to the Vikings’ workhorse running back, Deonte Ross. The 6-foot, 220-pound Ross was no match for the sure-tackling Steel Valley defenders.

“I think that (Steel Valley) even took a couple (handoffs),” Colosimo said. “We got one of the best backs in the WPIAL, and today, he couldn’t get going because they were there for the handoffs.”

If Vikings ball carriers weren’t being stuffed in the backfield, a slew of holding, illegal procedure and delay of game penalties continually moved the Valley offense in the wrong direction.

Williams scored on a 1-yard dive to open the second quarter and extend the lead to 21-0.

Then Steel Valley put together a seven-play, 67-yard drive that was capped off by a 2-yard run by Hill to make it 27-0 after the extra point was blocked. Hill finished with 52 yards on six carries.

Just as the heavy, sideways rain moved in, Steel Valley blocked a Ross punt and recovered it at Valley’s 15. Two plays later, Williams scored on a 6-yard run, and Shaun Meadows ran in the 2-point conversion to ensure there would be a running clock to start the second half.

“Kam (Williams) is a horse, man,” Steele said. “The thing about him is that he’s so conditioned, he can go for days. He’s a great and conditioned athlete.”

William tacked on a 3-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to close the scoring.

Green finished 5 of 8 for 37 yards and one interception. Vaun Ross led Vikings receivers with two receptions for 15 yards.

“We’ll work on it,” Colosimo said. “We had a lot of things this week that went on, and the weather was fitting for tonight.”

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Steel Valley, Valley