'Coach' Toth's versatility on display in New Lex win vs. Tri-Valley
· Yahoo Sports
NEW LEXINGTON — Tanner Toth wears many hats for New Lexington.
One of those is a playmaker, as the senior stepped up late the first half to propel the Panthers past Tri-Valley 42-19 in a Muskingum Valley League crossover on Sept. 25 on Hall of Fame Night at Jim Rockwell Stadium.
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Toth blocked a Tri-Valley punt in the end zone, leading to a safety with 1:12 left in the first half. He then hauled in a 33-yard touchdown pass from Lane Ratliff with 13 seconds, putting New Lex up 20-6 at the intermission.
"You could tell those plays deflated them," Toth said. "We started sloppy with turnovers and penalties, but we talk about persistence. We stayed after it and that blocked punt was huge."
Toth is a key asset, and Board noted his presence as a "coach on the field" is among the reasons why the team remains untarnished. It was the Panthers first win against Tri-Valley at home since 2005.
Board called him "a coach's dream."
"He's the greatest football player I've coached," Board said. "He has such a high football IQ. He's athletic and brings so many intangibles to the field. He studies the game and knows the playbook in and out. He's a great leader on the field and in the classroom, locker room and community. He's well-respected and it's easy to see why he's so successful."
New Lex's surge to end the first half carried into the second. The Panthers forced a three-and-out, and then the offense went to work when Tyson Spicer spun out of a 5-yard loss and reversed field for a 60-yard run. It set up Ratliff's 5-yard touchdown run, and the extra point made it 27-6 midway through the third.
Carson McCoy added the finishing touches with a 42-yard interception return for a score later in the third, stretching the lead to 34-6.
Stone Spiker found Lucca Gargasz for a 69-yard TD on the ensuing Tri-Valley drive, but Ratliff connected with Spicer for a 39-yard touchdown early in the fourth.
Leevi Wade, who was held in check for most of the night, capped the scoring with a 1-yard run in the final quarter.
Board praised the defense's effort in slowing him down. He entered the game as the MVL's top rusher on pace for a second 2,000-yard season.
"Our message was to get many hats to the ball," Board said. "We knew you don't take him down on the first hit. It was going to take a second, third or fourth hit to get him down. Our guys did a great job rallying to the ball."
Toth echoed that.
"We haven't been very good getting to the ballcarrier," Toth said. "We stood up to the challenge. We got after them, and it was the best effort of the season."
Ratliff got the scoring started with a 24-yard TD run in the second quarter, but the Scotties (3-3) answered when Spiker hit Gargasz for a 23-yard TD on fourth down, tying the game at 6.
Colton Mathias, who had several key runs, made his presence known with a 17-yard, go-ahead touchdown with two minutes left in the second quarter.
"We lost Paul (Stenson), but Colton ran for 530 yards last year and has that many if not more this year," Toth said. "He brings another element to our offense. He's another reason why we're playing well."
Board knew what Mathias could do and is pleased that the junior's development.
"He was in Paul's shadow last year, but he's a different type of runner," Board said. "He has had a great year. He has improved so much. He's hitting the hole faster, making good cuts and falling forward for that extra yard or two. He made some third and fourth downs manageable for us in this one. He's always going to run hard and give you his best."
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This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: 'Coach' Toth's versatility on display in New Lex win vs. Tri-Valley