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Neuqua Valley beats Metea Valley, clinches playoff berth

Neuqua Valley didn't leave its postseason fate in the hands of playoff points.

The Wildcats, behind 163 rushing yards, ran their way to a 28-14 win over District 204 counterpart Metea Valley on Friday to finish the season at 6-3 and take a share of the Upstate Eight Valley title.

Neuqua Valley came off the bus running on its opening drive, going 80 yards in 19 plays and chewing 9:11 off the clock. Of the 19 plays, 15 were on the ground as Dominick Muoghalu carried six times while teammate Charlie Hunter carried nine times.

The drive ended with a 5-yard scoring run by Muoghalu with 2:49 left in the first quarter.

"The scheme we had set up was working and the offensive line was getting to the second level," Hunter said. "They were making lots of room and holes to run through."

After both teams traded possessions, Metea Valley went 50 yards in 10 plays, culminating in a 5-yard TD run up the middle by Bryson Oliver to tie the game at 7-7.

Neuqua Valley senior Liam Bunge set up the Wildcats' second score when he broke through the line of scrimmage, blocked Michael Sfikas' punt at the Metea Valley 48-yard line and took it down to the 25.

"I shot the gap and the ball came right to me," Bunge said. "I tried to take it down the sidelines but fell out of bounce. But it was good for our team and put us in a good position."

Three plays later, Hunter scored on a 7-yard run up the middle to put the Wildcats up 14-7.

Hunter gave Neuqua Valley a 21-7 lead with 1:33 left in the second quarter on an 8-yard run. The play was set up three plays earlier on a 54-yard completion from Broc Rutter to Owen Piche.

The Mustangs' second possession of the third quarter started on their own 5-yard line as quarterback Kyle Mooney had a 41-yard completion to Nick Dodson and also completed a key 8-yard pass near the flat to Oliver on fourth down that took the ball to the Neuqua Valley 19.

However, the drive stalled four plays later when Patrick Cadogan and Chris Rice combined for a 1-yard sack on Mooney for a turnover on downs.

On the ensuing possession, Hunter carried the ball on five straight plays for 31 yards that set up Rutter's 51-yard scoring strike to Isaiah Robertson for a 28-7 lead with 25 seconds left in the third quarter.

Metea Valley managed one last score when Mooney connected with Dodson on a 25-yard pass play into the end zone.

The Mustangs closed the regular season with a 5-4 record and will await word on whether or not their season will continue.

"We're in a good spot," Metea Valley coach Ben Kleinhans said. "Everything I've heard and seen says that we're going to be in (the playoffs). We're hoping and preparing like we're going to be playing next week."

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