LANCASTER — Teays Valley scored off the opening kickoff and never looked back in blanking Fairfield Union 40-0.

(See more pics from the game.)

“We’ve got a couple of athletes who are first and second-year players that are really starting to hit their stride,” TV coach Mark Weber said. “It also helps that the O-line is doing what they’re supposed to do.”

The Vikings were getting it done on offense with 267 yards, on defense shutting out the Falcons and on special teams with two scores, a blocked kick and a recovered fumble.

Clayton Knox took the opening kickoff at the 15-yard line and raced up the sideline. While he fumbled before crossing the goal line, Camden Primmer was there to recover and put the Vikings on the scoreboard 17 second into the game.

TV’s second possession covered 60 yards in seven plays highlighted by a 24-yard run from Chance Littler and capped by an eight-yard scoring run by Tristan McDanel.

The senior QB said a few changes to the blocking schemes earlier in the season have helped the Vikings.

“The line has just been going with it and they’ve been blocking great. We’ve kind of changed our mentality and are running the ball harder and it’s working for us,” he said. McDanel was the game’s leading rusher with 106 yards and threw for 83 more.

“We know we have playmakers and know we have guys who’ve got speed,” McDanel said. “The first couple games, I feel we were a little tentative with them. We know we can pass it and I’ve been working all offseason. I’ve been gifted with that talent and those guys have been gifted with talent so it was just a matter of time before we clicked.”

TV added a couple points a few plays later when a Fairfield Union punt snap was high and Michael Struckman chased down the FU punter to tackle him in the endzone for a safety.

Two plays after the free kick, McDanel connected with Knox on a 55-yard scoring pass.

The TV defense continued to keep the Falcons in check, forcing a punt after three plays. TV special teams came through again blocking the kick and giving the offense a short field.

The Vikings advanced to a first-and-goal at the six-yard line but a couple penalties stymied the drive.

Freshman Cole Clifton came out and nailed a 25-yard field goal to put his team up 26-0.

The Falcons fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Adam Trisler recovered for the Vikings. Two plays later, McDanel scored from four yards out. Clifton’s fourth PAT kick of the night put TV up 33-0, which is where the score stood at halftime.

With the running clock in the second half, the Vikings only had one full possession but made the most of it.

McDanel turned a busted play into a 52-yard gain and, a couple plays later, Gage Weiler ran 10 yards for the night’s final score.

Fairfield Union was limited to 120 yards of offense for the night and never got closer to the endzone than the TV 25-yard line.

“Our defense just understands where to be. All the way from sixth-grade up we teach this defense. It’s very fundamental,” Weber said. “If they’re where they’re supposed to be, we won’t give up many points. I thought our tackling was much better, that’s been a point of emphasis.

“We stopped the run so we’re making teams one-dimensional. I figure if a team has to rely on the pass, we’re probably going to win.”

The Vikings (4-1, 2-0) step out of the MSL Buckeye next week to welcome in Dunbar High School (1-4) from Dayton for TV’s homecoming game.

“We’re going to have to beat them with discipline, team ball and with toughness,” Weber said.

Fairfield Union (0-5, 0-2) makes a trip to Hamilton Township next week.

Teays Valley 40, Fairfield Union 0

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 F

Teays Valley 23 10 0 7 40

Fairfield Union 0 0 0 0 0

First Quarter

TV — Primmer recovered fumble in endzone (Clifton kick), 11:43.

TV — McDanel 8 run (Clifton kick), 4:51.

TV — Struckman tackled punter in endzone for safety, 3:13.

TV — Knox 55 pass from McDanel (Clifton kick), 2:14.

Second Quarter

TV — Clifton 25 field goal, 7:43.

TV — McDanel 4 run (Clifton kick), 6:53.

Fourth Quarter

TV — G Weiler 10 run (Clifton kick), 7:54.

TEAM STATISTICS

    TV      FU

First downs 11 8

Rushing yards 22-184 25-42

Passing yards 83 78

Comp.-Att.-Int 4-6-0 7-12-0

Total yards 267 120

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1

Penalties-Yards 8-110 6-56

Punts-Ave. 1-58; -13

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Teays Valley — Littler 5-40, McDanel 11-106, Know 1-2, G Weiler 3-18, P Weiler 1-16, 33 1-3. Fairfield Union — Daugherty 15-29, Patton 6-2, Seesholtz 1-3, Blake 3-8.

PASSING – Teays Valley — McDanel 4-6-0-83. Fairfield Union — 7-12-0-78

RECEIVING – Teays Valley — Knox 2-61, Hubbard 1-15, C Primmer 1-7. Fairfield Union — Seesholtz 2-18, Schmelzer 2-21, Miller 3-39.