[AlittleRusty]

If their issue was on defense then Whitman would have made a big difference. He is the leading that defense in tackles this year. Having a team's biggest offensive and defensive threat out of a game absolutely makes a difference and it was a difference in a win or loss. I'm actually shocked it was as close as it was.

LCA's defense could not stop Valley's rushing attack, but a couple of fumbles deep in Eagle territory prevented what likely would have been 2 more Wildcat touchdowns. Also, with SV up by 17 points, LCA scored their last touchdown with about a minute to go to make the score a little more respectable.

With better ball security, this game easily could have been a 3 or 4 touchdown margin.

Not saying that LCA being without their best player would have not made a difference but I have to agree with Cowbell on this one the game wouldn't have been as close without the two untimely fumbles by SV and a fumble by LCA that hasn't been mentioned were two of SV players had a chance to recover the ball in bounce but LCA got a break and the ball went out of bounce, LCA then got the ball back and scored on the next play. Therefore it could have been at least a 3 or 4 touchdown game.