By Hank Keathley
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02 Oct, 2024
The high school football season has moved past the halfway point and things are going to be very interesting from here in. With four games to go, three of the five teams in the Inter-Valley Conference South Division are still unbeaten. The big matchup this week will see 6-0 Indian Valley traveling to Sugarcreek to face 6-0 Garaway. Both are coming off impressive wins. Indian Valley knocked off Sandy Valley 42-14 last week, while Garaway posted a 38-0 win at Claymont last Friday. Both teams have the ability to score big. The Braves are averaging over 48 points per game, with a high of 62 points scored in Week 2 at Meadowbrook. Garaway is scoring 35 points per game. The Pirates’ average got a big boost in the first two weeks when they won a pair of games by a combined score of 97-0. Indian Valley has impressive wins over John Glenn (41-26) and Dover (45-41). The Pirates scored a 14-13 win over Youngstown Mooney in Week 4 and then knocked off previously unbeaten Malvern 41-8 the following week. It’s going to be interesting from here out in the South Division. The Braves play Ridgewood in Week 7, while the Generals and the Pirates don’t play until Week 10. If you can’t make it to the game at Sugarcreek, catch it on the Big Time Sports YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@BigTimeSportsOH Cable replay times are Friday at 11 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. IVC NORTH Newcomerstown has run the table through the first part of the season. The Trojans sit at 6-0 and are prepared to host Tuscarawas Central Catholic this week. The Saints had to call off last week, but are prepared to return to action Friday night. “Our numbers are down and we’ve talked to the IVC,” said AD Mike Sweet. “They know we’re on a week-to-week basis.” Sweet said the team had a high of 17 players this season, but due to injuries, etc., they’ll take a squad of 13 to Newcomerstown. The Saints were scheduled to play Buckeye Trail last week, but had to cancel. Buckeye Trail ended up playing Conotton Valley, which also had an opening last week. “That worked out about as well as it could,” Sweet noted. MARK THE DATES It’s not too early to look ahead to basketball season. The Tuscarawas County Sports Hall of Fame will be hosting a pair of events to welcome the new season. On Monday, Nov. 4 will be the High School Basketball Preview Night for girls’ basketball, featuring coaches from all nine county teams to talk about their upcoming season. The same will be held for the boys’ season on Monday, Nov. 11. Both events will be held at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center in Dover. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a meal beginning at 6.  Tickets are $25 each and are available for purchase at the Dover Public Library or online at: www.eventbrite.com.