MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- With University being classified as a big-play team, Spring Valley coach Brad Dingess wanted to limit the Hawks' ability to score quickly.

But on Saturday afternoon, the Timberwolves were beaten at their own game as the Hawks churned out a 35-14 victory in the first playoff game at Mylan Pharmaceuticals Stadium.

University rushed for 185 yards and sustained several drives while taking advantage of 12 Spring Valley penalties and a pair of turnovers by the Timberwolves.

"Once you get to this level -- into the playoffs -- you can't turn the ball over like we did and commit stupid penalties," Dingess said.

The big turning point came in the third quarter as University scored a pair of touchdowns within three minutes to put the game out of reach.

The Hawks took the opening drive of the second half and marched 74 yards in six plays with Brandon Tucker's 39-yard run capping the march.

Three plays later, Spring Valley quarterback Kevin Lawrence fumbled and University's Lucas Henn recovered at the Timberwolves' 11-yard line. Three plays later, Dominique Dixon's 7-yard run up the middle gave the Hawks all the cushion they would need on a blustery afternoon.

"We talked about it at halftime. I said (to the team) we have to go out and score and get on top 21-7," University coach John Kelley said. "You get on top of these guys 21-7, they do not have the type of offense that is conducive to coming back."

Tucker finished with 115 yards on 20 carries with a score while Dixon churned for 83 yards and three scores on 15 carries.

Spring Valley got a late score in the third quarter when Anthony Evans took a screen pass from Lawrence and darted 38 yards for a score.

Following the play, the Timberwolves executed a well-designed onside kick and recovered at the 50-yard line, but could not do anything with it, ending any chance of a comeback.

"If we could've mustered up something, got down there and got a score, it would have been interesting," Dingess said.

The Timberwolves' offense had trouble establishing a rhythm throughout the contest. While University's defense played well, Spring Valley did not help its own cause with 12 penalties.

"We just kept digging ourselves a big hole on offense with penalties," Dingess said. "You can only hold off (the opposition) for so long."

University dominated the first half on both sides of the ball, but only had a 14-7 lead to show for it at the break as Spring Valley used its special teams to stay in the contest.

Spring Valley's Joey McComas used all of his 6-foot-5 frame to block a 25-yard field goal attempt on University's first possession to keep the game scoreless for the time being.

University took a 7-0 lead on Alex Seremetis' 1-yard plunge with 26 seconds left, but the Timberwolves knotted the game following a blocked punt by Dane Niday.

After the snap back to University's Lucas Henn was low, Niday came off the right side and smothered Henn's punt at the University 1-yard line. Lawrence's 1-yard run on the next play knotted the game at 7 with 8:54 left.

However, the Hawks took the lead on Dominique Dixon's 3-yard run just 37 seconds later after a 34-yard pass from Mark Golden to Demetreas Cunningham.

Spring Valley ended the game with 140 yards, but trumped it with 79 yards in penalties and a pair of turnovers. Lawrence finished 3-of-13 for 53 yards and led the Timberwolves with 46 yards rushing on 11 carries.

SPRING VALLEY 0 7 7 0 - 14

UNIVERSITY 7 7 14 7 - 35

U - Seremetis 1 run (Marcucci kick)

SV - Lawrence 1 run (Brody kick)

U - Do. Dixon 3 run (Marcucci kick)

U - Tucker 39 run (Marcucci kick)

U - Dixon 7 run (Marcucci kick)

SV - Evans 38 pass from Lawrence (Brody kick)

U - Dixon 12 run (Marcucci kick)

Team statistics

SV UNI

Total yards 140 241

First downs 8 11

Rushes-Yards 38-87 45-185

Comp-Att-Int 3-13-1 2-5-0

Passing Yards 53 56

Penalties-Yards 12-79 1-15

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0

Individual statistics

RUSHING: Spring Valley - Lawrence 11-46, TD; Evans 7-38; Kipp 4-13; Wellman 5-10; Stewart 3-7; Morris 1-3; Harrison 1-(-4); Amis 2-(-7); TEAM 3-(-19). University - Tucker 20-115, TD; Do. Dixon 15-83, 3 TDs; Golden 2-6; Seremetis 2-4; Bohon 2-0; Cunningham 3-(-7); TEAM 1-(-16).

PASSING: Spring Valley - Lawrence 3-of-13, 53 yards, INT; University - Golden 2-of-5, 56 yards.

RECEIVING: Spring Valley - Evans 2-44; McComas 1-9; University - Cunningham 1-34; Shine 1-22.

AP Video

Chris Harris

Chris Harris/The Herald-Dispatch Spring Valley fell to University on Saturday in the opening round of the Class AAA playoffs.

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