Batesville, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Nov. 9, 2024 – The Valley View Blazers’ 35-7 victory against the Batesville Pioneers on Friday night cemented the team’s first flawless season in five years.
Having already clinched first place in the 5A East Conference, Valley View (7-0) traveled to Batesville (2-5) who have been eliminated from playoff contention.
For the Blazers, in all but one game, the starters were consistently relieved in the fourth quarter. The matchup against Batesville looked a favorable one to preserve Valley View’s starters going into the playoffs, and while the seemingly-undermatched Pioneers mirrored the team through the first half, it would again be the unbeaten Blazers cruising to another comfortable win.
The Pioneers received the ball first. Wiping away the first quarter with a 22-play drive, the home team scored on a quarterback sneak from Cole Bentz as time expired in the period. This marked the first deficit of the season for the Blazers.
It would take just over four minutes and 12 plays for the favorites to respond, with the drive capped off when sophomore running back Carter Wallace barreled into the endzone for a two-yard touchdown. Refusing to back down, Batesville was ultimately stopped on 4th down on the Valley View 16-yard line.
A quick stop gave the Pioneers another chance, with just under three minutes remaining in the first half. Sophomore receiver Gabe Bledsoe’s 30-yard scamper via a screen pass placed Batesville back in Valley View territory to the 22-yard line.
However, the home team failed to take the lead after a dropped pass in the endzone and a missed field goal concluded the first half. The Pioneers settled for a 7-7 scoreline as they made their adjustments.
An 80-yard kickoff return touchdown from Valley View senior Andrew Jones opened the second half. The Pioneers couldn’t score and Valley View quarterback Drew Gartman subsequently doubled the lead for his team on a 9-yard run.
This two-possession deficit barred Batesville burning the clock and taking their time on drives, so the Pioneer offense never found the endzone again. Valley View pulled further away in the fourth quarter.
Wallace broke free up the middle, outrunning everyone on his way to a 73-yard touchdown with 10 minutes to go. Gartman supplemented the lead with a two-yard score later and the game would finish 35-7 with the Blazers on top.
The Blazers’ 10-0 season provides them a first seed and thus home field advantage. A season of dominance will be put to the test when the most successful team in 5A football in the state heads into the playoffs.