Nobody gave Tug Valley even a slim chance of beating Class AA and ninth-ranked Man at Bob Brewer Field on Friday night.
That was nobody except Tug Valley.
The Panthers overcame a 12-0 deficit by scoring 20 second-half points to upset the Hillbillies, 20-12, thus clinching a Class A playoff berth.
Tug Valley, 6-3, secured the win on Caleb May’s interception at the goal line late in the final quarter.
Tug Valley quarterback Ethan Varney ran 35 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns and running back Zack Savage’s only carry was a one-yard touchdown.
Man running back Zack Frye had 164 yards on 10 carries, including a 97-yard touchdown run for the game’s first points. Quarterback Caleb Milton added a score on a short one-yard run.
The Hillbillies, now 7-2, will face Chapmanville (5-4) on the road Nov. 8. Kickoff from Tiger Stadium in set for 7:30 p.m. The Panthers are idle this coming Friday before opening playoff action on Nov. 8-9.
At Naugatuck
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
MN (7-2)…0 6 6 0 – 12
TV (6-3)….0 0 14 6 – 20
Scoring:
First Quarter
No scoring
Second Quarter
MN – Zack Frye, 97-yard run (conversion failed)
Third Quarter
MN – Caleb May, 1-yard run (conversion failed)
TV – Ethan Varney, 7-yard run (Caleb May pass from Ethan Varney)
TV – Ethan Varney, 1-yard run (pass failed)
Fourth Quarter
TV – Zack Savage, 1-yard run (pass failed)
Next up: Man (7-2) at Chapmanville (5-4), 7:30 p.m., Nov. 8; Tug Valley (6-3), TBA, Class 1A playoffs.