Dragons quick start drowned by Valle’s offense

STE. GENEVIEVE — The Ste. Genevieve Dragons and Valle Warriors are now even in their cross-town football rivalry with 23 wins apiece. The Dragons grabbed an instant lead on an 80-yard return of the opening kickoff by Brandon Wehner.

Forty-eight playing minutes later it was the Valle Warriors who claimed bragging rights for the second year in a row with a final score of 47-12.

Valle quarterback Michael Greminger picked apart the Dragons’ defensive backfield with pin-point accuracy and with receivers who had  baseball glove-like hands. Valle had success on nearly every possession, except for their first two.

After stopping Valle three-and-out on their first possession, the Dragons put together their best drive of the game, but a sack by Christian Moulton and a holding penalty stopped the drive short.

Greminger guided the Warriors on their third possession with a pair of nine-yard completions, and then put a cap on it with a pass to receiver Jason Blum on the first play of the second quarter. Blum went up high and brought down the ball over his shoulder to beat the defender and he was able to race in from 20 yards out for a 49 yard score.

Kevin Abts gave Valle the lead for good with his first of five extra points with 11:51 left in the quarter.

The Kodak moment of the game came just four minutes later. Greminger launched a long pass down the right sideline and Nick Brown got a hand on the ball with a Dragons’ defender making the hit, the ball popped up and Brown tapped it again as he fell to his back on the ground but kept his composure as he hauled in the ball to his chest for the touchdown.

Strong runs by Luke Uding set up the third Valle score. Greminger from eight yards out ran a draw up the middle and was hardly touched as he scampered into the end zone with 5:14 left in the half.

Valle’s defense continued to stifle the Dragons and upon reclaiming the ball with 2:47 left the Warriors marched to the 50 where Greminger hit Uding on the fly and the junior receiver took it all the way for the Warriors fourth touchdown of the half.

The second half was no better for the home team. On the first play from scrimmage, Greminger found Nathan Geile on a screen pass that went 64 yards to make the score 34-6 with only 30 seconds off the clock.

Ste. Genevieve turned the ball over on their next possession as safety Zach Weiler picked off a pass from Brendan Weiler at the 50 and ran it back to the 30 with a five-yard facemask tacked on.

Five plays later, Uding punched the ball in from the two to make it 41-6 and activate the running clock with 8:59 remaining in the third quarter.

The Dragons took advantage of a botched snap by the Warriors late in the quarter, and upon recovering the fumble. Brendan Weiler found Derek Brown in the end zone for the Dragons second touchdown. The two point pass was no good, but the score did stop the running clock.

 Another fumble by the Dragons proved costly as well. Greminger capped off his night with touchdown for the final score, giving him 102 yards rushing, 327 yard passing and two touchdowns.

Valle  0  28  13  6  – 47

Ste. Genevieve  6  0  6  0 – 12

First Quarter:

SG (0-6) – Weiler 80-yd runback of kickoff (2-pt. failed) 11:45

Second Quarter:

VALLE (7-6) – Blum 49 yd. pass from Greminger (Abts kick), 11:51

VALLE (14-6) – Brown 35 yd pass from Greminger (Abts kick), 8:03

VALLE ( 21-6) – Greminger 2 yd run, (Abts kick), 5:15

VALLE (28-6) – Uding 50 yd pass from Greminger (Abts kick), 37.3 sec.

Third Quarter:

VALLE (34-6) – Geile 64 yd pass from Greminger (Kick NG), 11:41

VALLE (41-6) – Uding 2 yd run (Abts kick), 8:59

SG (41-12) – Brown 18 yd pass from Weiler, (2-pt. failed), 3:57

Fourth Quarter

VALLE (47-12) – Greminger 2 yd run, (Kick NG), 11:14