VERSAILLES — Twin Valley South’s five-game winning streak and best postseason run in more than two decades ended at the hands of No. 4 seed Versailles, 58-7, in the Division VI, Region 24 quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 4.
South, the No. 12 seed, had not won a playoff game in 23 years until last week’s 70-38 upset of Williamsburg.
“We had a great season. We just ran into a brick wall in the shape of a defending state champion,” South coach Chris Fogle said. “Our kids went into the game with a desire for an upset but it wasn’t meant to be. We had great efforts on defense led by Brayden Koeller and Kaiden Kingsley. We had Chandler Ulrich step and start for the injured Cais Kingsley.”
The Panthers finished the season 7-5 after starting the season with a 2-4 record. It was South’s first season with a winning record since 2015.
Versailles, the Division V state champions from a year ago, left little doubt about the outcome of this one.
The Tigers scored 27 points in the first quarter and led 51-0 at the half.
Three minutes into the game Conner Stonebraker connected with Michael Osborn for a 16-yard TD pass for a 7-0 lead.
Moments later, the due hooked up on a 42-yard TD pass for a 14-0 lead.
Joel Gehret added a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 20-0.
Osborn followed with his third scored of the first quarter on a 20-yard run to make it 27-0.
In the second quarter, Versailles blocked a punt which resulted in a touchdown and a 34-0 lead.
Brayden Henry added a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown for a 41-0 lead.
Gehret scored his second touchdown on a 35-yard run and a late field goal made it 51-0.
In the third, Aaron Bowling extended the Tigers lead to 58-0 with a 14-yard touchdown run.
South’s lone scored came on a 55-yard pass from punter Eric Allison to Cole Bishop off a fake punt.
“We just couldn’t get in a rhythm at all on offense with our loan score coming from a fake punt,” Fogle said.
Fogle said the program is headed in the right direction.
”I am very proud of all the work and success we had this season. Our first winning season since 2015, first playoff victory since 1999, and of course we won the rivalry game again with the team up North,” Fogle said. “So all in all a good year and a massive step in the right direction for our program. I can not wait to get back in the weight room and prepare for next season.”
