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PHENIX CITY — The Valley High Rams got off to a great start in their 2024 season opener, but that great start ended in heartbreak as the Glenwood Gators came back from a 20-0 deficit to pull out an unlikely 21-20 win in their first-ever game with a public school team.

Valley couldn’t have played much better in the first quarter and a half in rolling out to that big lead, but give Glenwood credit they did show lots of heart in hanging in there and coming back to score a historic win.

The game was played in some ideal football weather. The evening was a bit cooler than it’s been in recent days. With that definite touch of fall in the air, the Rams couldn’t have gotten off to a better start than they did with Dee Dunn running back the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Xander Newton’s PAT made it 7-0 in favor of Valley with 11:49 still showing in the opening period of play.

The lead went to 14-0 early in the second quarter on a short run by quarterback Galvin Goss. Newton’s second extra point had the Rams holding a two-TD lead with 11:08 left before halftime. The key play in the scoring drive was a long pass from Goss to Zan Woody, who made a great effort to catch the ball inside the Gator 10.

Valley appeared to be in complete control when the lead went to 20-0 at the 8:33 mark of the second quarter. They took advantage of a short-field opportunity after Glenwood failed to make a first down after going for it on fourth-and-two on their own 40. Goss led the team down the field and scored on a six-yard run around left end. It didn’t look like a big deal when Valley missed the extra point, but that would later prove to be the difference in the game.

A lot of teams in the situation the Gators were in may have just given up and lost by a big score. They knew it was big game for their school and they started playing like it. On their next possession, they drove the ball 78 yards for their first score of the game. In what may have been one of the biggest plays of the game, they converted a fourth-and-five play from their 48. A pass down the middle from Pinder to Cooper gave them a first-and-ten on the Valley 23.

They moved the ball on the ground to another first down on the Valley 12 before another one of the big plays of the game took place. In a pass to the right corner of the end zone, Valley’s Antwon Loyd apparently intercepted it. Rather than signaling a touchback, the officials allowed the play to continue. The Glenwood receiver then proceeded to wrestle the ball away from Loyd, who was clearly in possession of it from the start.

Instead of still being ahead 20-0 with a first-and-ten on the 20, Valley’s lead had been cut to 20-7 when Corey Hughes point-after kick was good.

Disaster struck the Rams on the next possession. A miscue in the kicking game gave Glenwood a golden opportunity to get right back into it from inside the Ram 20.

A low snap on a punt play caused the kicker to kneel on the ground to retrieve the ball. He was able to get the punt off, but he was ruled down where his knee had touched the ground.

That gave the Gators the ball on the Valley 16. They scored a few plays later on a six-yard run to cut the score to 20-14.

It remained that way until the fourth quarter. Glenwood took their first lead with 8:12 left in the game After recovering a Valley fumble near midfield, they drove 52 yards and scored on a fourth-and-goal play from the eight. They made the end zone on a well-executed pass play to the right side of the field. Hughes’ third straight PAT put Glenwood in a lead they wouldn’t give up.

Down by a single point, the Rams did get a drive going. A terrific run by Loyd advanced the ball from the Valley 35 to past midfield. Runs by Goss and Woody had Valley in a first-and-ten situation at the Glenwood 24. They looked to have the lead back when Tylin Carrell crossed the goal line on a wide play, but back upfield a flag was on the ground. They were flagged for holding. Instead of being back in the lead, Valley had it first and 20 on the Glenwood 34.

The ball went over on downs a few plays later. Glenwood put the ball in play on their 21 and on the first play handed the Rams an opportunity for a game-changing play. They left the ball on the ground. Had Valley fell on it they would have had it at the 20, but they tried to pick it up and knocked it out of bounds.

It was a missed opportunity for sure, but the Rams did get the ball back one more time. With 4:30 left in the game, they took over on their 38 after forcing Glenwood to give it up on a punt. Another great run by Loyd got it down to the 25 but they couldn’t get any closer than that. On fourth and nine from the 24, the ball went over on downs when Goss’ pass to the end zone was incomplete.

It was a bitter defeat for Valley, but credit the home team for doing what they had to do to win it.

The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for the Rams. Next Friday they will have their home opener with Smiths Station, the largest school on the Valley schedule. The following week they will take on Clay Central, the defending Region champion.