ELNORA — When it comes sectional time, the name of the game is survive and advance, and it was definitely survival of the fittest at North Daviess High School Friday night where the Springs Valley Blackhawks braved the conditions and came away with a decisive 28-6 victory over the Cougars to advance to the Sectional 40 finale.

The Cougars got on the board with less than three minutes gone in the opening quarter, but the Hawks pitched a shutout the rest of the way, scoring 20 points in the worst of conditions during the second half.

“Our defense has been playing really well and we knew North Daviess was going to come out ready to play,” Valley coach Mark Hammond said. “They came out with great emotion and great intensity and got one on us early, but our kids, like they’ve done all year, they didn’t quit. We knew it was going to be a long game and our defense kept us right there until our offense got going, so it was really a big night for us.”

With water already standing on the field and gusting winds driving a steady rain, it was more like sink or swim at times and the Hawks found themselves treading water early when North Daviess junior Deven Shake took a handoff from Garrett Byrer and set sail around left end for a 68-yard touchdown at the 9:07 mark of the first quarter.

The Hawks failed to record a first down on their first two possessions, but junior Taylor Wilkinson picked off a Byrer pass midway through the first quarter and Valley had the upper hand the rest of the way.

After racking up first downs on runs by Chris Walker and Luke Allstott, Valley was forced to punt, but the Hawks’ defense refused to budge and when the Cougars attempted to punt the ball back from their own 26, the snap from center sailed over the head of Byrer, who smartly kicked the ball out of the end zone for a safety.

The free kick gave the Hawks the ball on the North Daviess 37 and they needed just two plays to find the end zone as Brant Crowder went up the middle, breaking tackles at the line and in the defensive backfield before rambling 34 yards for the score that gave Valley an 8-6 edge at the half.

With the conditions rapidly deteriorating, Hammond felt confident with the slim lead at the half.

“At halftime we talked about having the lead and we knew that’s all we needed,” Hammond said. “I really didn’t think we’d get too close to the end zone in the second half, but we knew if we kept them from scoring we were going to win the game. “But a credit to our offensive line and our backs, they ran extremely hard the second half. I don’t know if they just got used to the conditions or what, but they did a really nice job of running the ball and just hanging on to it.”

Allstott picked off a pass midway through the third quarter and returned it to the North Daviess nine-yard line and Crowder found the end zone three plays later to push the Valley lead to eight.

Dustin Land scored on a quarterback sneak with 8:59 to play and Crowder capped the scoring with a 48-yard scamper at the 2:01 mark.

The Hawks and Cougars combined to put the ball on the ground 10 times, but the lone turnover for Valley came on their only pass attempt in the contest, midway through the ...

“In a game like this, the center and quarterback have to get a lot of credit for just getting the ball up and making plays like that to keep drives alive,” Hammond said. “There were times when I didn’t think we were going to get a handle on the ball, but Alex Pierce and Dustin Land did a great job of taking care of it and that’s where it all starts.”

Crowder finished with 142 yards on 16 carries, while Allstott added 98 yards on 15 totes for the Hawks, who amassed 263 yards on the ground.

Valley’s defense allowed the Cougars just one first down in the first half and three in the second, limiting their opponents to a mere 136 yards to reach the sectional final for the first time since the 2000 season.

“This was the step we wanted to take right now,” Hammond said. “This is where we want to get Springs Valley football, playing for sectional championships again. It’s just an awesome feeling right now, knowing we’re going to play for a championship.

“These kids deserve it and we’ve got eight great seniors that really lead this team and they’re just showing all the hard work they’ve put into it in the offseason and we’re getting Springs Valley football back to where it needs to be.” The Hawks (7-3) will entertain seventh-ranked Perry Central in the Sectional 40 championship game. The Commodores got past Linton, 21-14, Friday night.

Times-Mail Sports Writer Bill Keane welcomes comments at 277-7284 or by e-mail at bill@tmnews.com .