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SYLACAUGA, Ala. — The Valley High Rams evened their record to 3-3 on the year and 2-1 in 5A Region 4 with a 26-7 road win over the Sylacauga Aggies Friday night at Legion Stadium.

Senior quarterback Galvin Goss played one of his best games to date, running for two touchdowns and having two interceptions on defense. His best play of the game may have been an option pitch he made to Tylin Carrell that broke the game open.

The Rams were leading 14-7 at the time and were in a fourth-and-four situation on the Sylacauga 19. On a wide play to get the first down, Sylacauga players were fast converging on him. At the last possible moment, he pitched the ball to Carrell who ran untouched down the sideline to put the game out of reach for all practical purposes. It gave Valley a 20-7 lead with 7:03 left in the game.

Valley added a final score on a 29-yard run by Carrell with 2:58 left. On their last-gasp possession, the Aggies went for it on fourth-and-17 with 4:25 remaining. Valley took over on the Sylacauga 45 and drove it in for a score while running out the clock.

The Rams took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter on a 73-yard run down the left sideline by Goss. Xander Newton’s point-after kick was good, and with 3:55 showing in the first quarter Valley was up by one score.

Valley’s defense led by big defensive linemen Antwan Greenwood, Jaylen Roberts and Antwan Hatchett, frustrated almost everything Sylacauga tried to do on offense.

Valley should have been ahead by two or three touchdowns at the half, but stopped themselves on offense with penalties. Goss and Carrell had several long runs called back on holding penalties.

The lead was only 7-0 at the half, but Valley quickly made it a two-TD advantage in the third quarter.

Sylacauga was given a great opportunity to tie the game at seven when Valley fumbled the ball on their first possession in the second half. The Aggies took over on the Valley 31, but returned the favor on the first play when Goss had his second interception on a pass over the middle. He ran it back past midfield to have the Valley offense in business with a first-and-ten on the Aggie 30. From there, Carrell followed a great block from Zan Woody to run the ball all the way to the five. Goss ran around left end on the next play for Valley’s second score of the game. Xander Newton’s second extra point increased Valley’s lead to 14-0 with 8:21 left in the third period.

Sylacauga had their lone bright spot of the game on their next possession. One of their running backs, London Chambliss, got loose down the home sideline for a 62-yard scoring run. Ethan Pruitt’s PAT narrowed the score to 14-7 with 7:24 left in the period.

Things seemed to be going the Aggies’ way when their defense held Valley to a three-and-out on their next possession and they got a drive going. They moved it from their 20 to past midfield before the Ram defense slammed the door on them. On fourth and four from the Valley 39, Greenwood, Roberts & Company came up with a big play when they sacked the Sylacauga quarterback, causing a fumble. Valley recovered the ball and took over on the Sylacauga 45.

The Ram offense would take it in from there with runs by Goss and Carrell moving the ball steadily down the field. It was on a fourth-and-four play from the 19 that Goss made the brilliant option pitch to Carrell for the Rams’ third score of the game.

Valley’s offensive line had a terrific game, consistently giving Goss and Carrell some really good running lanes.

Valley will be back home next Friday with a key Region game against a good Elmore County team. Valley won a close game over them last year on a very memorable Hail Mary pass from Cam Dooley to Brandon Thomas, who at six-foot-six out jumped everyone for the football in the back of the end zone.

The Elmore County game will be the first of three straight Region games. This is make-it or break-it time for Valley if they want to make the playoffs. Next Friday’s game will be at home. The following week they will be on the road versus Holtville, and on October 25th they will host Beauregard. They will close out the regular season on the road versus Dadeville.