WILLIAMSTOWN — Just when adversity was knocking at the doorstep of the Williams Valley football team, it found answers from unexpected sources Friday night at homecoming.

The Viking were missing a few players, but they somehow rose to the occasion to pull away from a stubborn and fast-improving Panther Valley team and win 35-14 in a Schuylkill-Colonial League contest.

Yep, it was close until a late surge by the Vikings (6-1) turned the tables on the upset-minded Panthers by scoring 21 points in the second half and keeping Panther Valley (2-5) out of the end zone.

Knotted at 14, the Vikings called on freshman quarterback Chevy Green, junior Trevon Bair and another ninth grader, quick-footed Cole Hubler, to carry the load.

Williams Valley had a few no-shows, mainly its stellar quarterback Brady Shomper and speedy sophomore running back Fletcher Thompson, for most of the evening, before getting a call late in the game.

For every yard the Vikings were churning out, the Panthers were answering with a roundhouse swing.

Panther Valley delivered the first blow, forcing a fumble by the host at the 8, a yard loss then superb quarterback Brody Briener found fellow senior Ben Baneravage in the end zone for a stunning 6-0 lead with only 65 seconds off the clock.

That score was set up by Steven Weaver, who had picked up a fumble and nearly took it to the house, running 50 yards to the Williams Valley 8.

But by the time the Vikings got their second chance on offensive, they had an answer. They needed all of seven plays to hit the end zone as Green powered behind his forward wall for a 3-yard touchdown, and then went on top thanks to Quin Smetlz’s extra-point.

The setup had come on the kickoff following Panther Valley’s touchdown, when Bair nearly broke it, racing from his own 20 to the PV 35.

It looked like Williams Valley was going to put the pedal to the metal when it jumped in front 14-6, mainly because it returned a punt to the Panther Valley 48, then put together a 52-yard scoring drive.

The Vikings turned to Green’s running, and he ripped off a 12-yard gain. Moments later Hubler zipped 11 yards to the PV 18. Green then found Blazer Lords, who latched onto an 18-yard touchdown reception with 3:22 to play in the opening quarter.

“I thought our younger guys did a great job, they responded very well,” said head coach Stephen Sedesse, alluding to Green, Bair and Hubler. “We were happy the way the young kids stepped up … we had a couple freshman make some big plays for us.”

There was 4:41 until the half when the Panthers generated their best drive of the night.

Breiner hit superb sophomore receiver Chase McArdle for 7 yards, the heady quarterback juked 10 yards, then three more yards. After two incompletions with 1:11 until the half and faced with a fourth down, Breiner found Baneravage flying down the middle of the field uncovered. The connection yielded a 53-yard touchdown.

Baneravage used an end-around pass to Weaver for the deuce and it was tied at 14 at the break.

Williams Valley never came unglued despite the unknowns. Green rallied the troops and led the team on a seven-play 50-yard march to take a 21-14 lead with 4:04 on the third quarter clock.

Shomper got his strong arm back in rhythm with a perfectly thrown 41-yard touchdown pass to Colin Crisswell. Thompson got his legs pumping by racing 58 yards to the end zone on a swing pass from Shomper with 4:15 to play to end the upset-minded Panthers’ hopes.

“I know they had a few starters that didn’t play until late, but that doesn’t take away from the way our guys played,” Panther Valley head coach Mark Levine said. “Hey, their offensive (and) defensive (linemen) were all on the field at the same time. They played the entire game.”

LOOKOUT … Williams Valley has a youthful comer in quarterback Green. He played with poise, throwing for 128 yards and running for 23.

COUNT ON ME … Panther Valley’s Breiner is a workhorse. He came up with some big runs going inside, finishing with 74 yards on 19 carries.

GOOD HANDS GUYS … McArdle had seven catches for 60 yards, Baneravage two for 56, and Yuricheck four for 21.

UP NEXT … Panthers are at Shenandoah Valley next week.

Williams Vy. 35, Panther Vy. 14

Panther Vy. 6 8 0 0 - 14

Williams Vy. 7 7 7 14 - 35

PV - Baneravage 8 pass from Breiner (kick failed)

WV - Green 3 run (Smeltz kick)

WV - Lords 18 pass from Green (Smeltz kick)

PV - Baneravage 53 pass from Breiner (Weaver pass)

WV - Green 1 run (Smeltz kick)

WV - Crisswell 41 pass from Shomper (Smeltz kick)

WV - Thompson 58 pass from Shomper (Smeltz kick)