By Dan Ramey
Chillicothe scored 10 unanswered points to defeat Teays Valley 31-27 in the season opener for both teams.
With under two minutes remaining, the Cavs' JJ Harris took a high snap in the end zone on a punt and ran for the first down marker. He fell short of a first down setting up the Teays Valley offense at the Chillicothe 9 yard line.
Two plays later under a heavy Cavalier rush, TV quarterback Brandon Coleman threw for the end zone, but the ball fell into the hands of Chillicothe's Jason Benson. That gave the Cavs a chance to close out the contest with the win.
Cavs quarterback Branden Maughmer threw for 202 yards and rushed for another 114 as Chillicothe rallied from a 14-0 hole.
The Vikings stopped Chillicothe's first possession on a Coleman interception. Coleman then drove his TV offense to the Cavalier 8 yard line and hit Dylan Simmons on a touchdown pass for the early lead.
Chillicothe fumbled on the first play of the ensuing possession and on the next play Coleman ran 18 yards to put the Vikings ahead 14-0.
The Cavaliers got back on track when Maughmer rushed 41 yards for a score before the end of the 1st period. The Cavs got the tying score on a penalty aided drive to close out the first half. The Vikings had a roughing the passer penalty and a pass interference penalty within four plays to put Chillicothe in the red zone. Facing 4th and three from the TV 10 yard line, the Viking defensive front jumped the gun. That allowed Maughmer to fins Connor Mathis for the tying TD with 10.8 seconds remaining.
Eric Yates had a 31 yard run to set up the next TV score. Yates tallied 115 yards on 13 lugs and his 19 yard carry put the Vikings ahead 20-14.
Chillicothe's Zach Coats had a 67 yard kickoff return and 14 seconds later, Maughmer hit AJ Corbin in the right corner of the end zone and to put the Cavs back on top 21-20.
Teays Valley answered right back with a one play toss by Coleman to Taylor Robinson completing a stretch of three touchdowns in 30 seconds at 27-21.
Maughmer hit Coats again at the goal line, then punched the go ahead score in on a quarterback sneak and Matt Detty followed up with a 25 yard field goal to close out the scoring.
Chillicothe ran 70 plays for 379 yards to TV's 48 plays for 347 total yards. The biggest difference was by penalty. Teays Valley was flagged nine times for 90 yards to Chillicothe's 4-for-40 yards.
Chillicothe (1-0) hosts the first of six conseuctive games at The O beginning Friday with Licking Heights. Teays Valley (0-1) heads to Logan.