Vikings Hoping Returnees Lead To Big Things
August 18, 2021 at 11:17 p.m.
Vikings Hoping Returnees Lead To Big Things
By Anthony Anderson-
The Vikings return seven starters on each side of the ball.
They’re coming off back-to-back seven-win seasons, too, marking the first time the storied program’s been at least three games over .500 in consecutive years since 2007.
“I think we’ve got a chance to do OK this year,” Valley coach Steve Moriarty said recently. “We try to make it about being week to week, but the goal, of course, is to make a run. We’d like to win the (Three Rivers Conference), but there will be a lot of good teams, and then our (Class 3A) sectional’s going to be very tough again with Marian (No. 4 in the preseason coaches’ poll) coming back and Jimtown with a lot of starters back.”
Valley, though, doesn’t figure to be daunted given all those veterans of its own.
On offense, third-year starter and two-time all-state honoree Wade Melanson cornerstones the line from his right guard spot. Fellow seniors Grady McGriff at center and DJ Estep at right tackle return as well.
“Wade’s done a fantastic job being an anchor for us,” Moriarty said. “He’s almost like a player-coach on the field, and those guys around him are pretty good, too.”
They’ll each be blocking for plenty of familiar faces this season.
Reigning team MVP Jamasyn Virgil is slated for wingback duties again after leading the 7-4 Vikings of a year ago with 859 yards and nine touchdowns rushing on 106 carries, good for an 8.1 average. He added 19 catches for 272 yards and three more scores.
Fullback and fellow senior Joel Cisneros (443 yards, 5.5 average, eight TDs) is back as well, as is senior tailback Braden Shepherd, who’s not counted as a full-season starter, but who flashed brilliantly during Valley’s opener a year ago with 90 total yards against Culver Academy before suffering a season-ending injury.
Senior quarterback Branson McBrier also returns after completing 59-of-117 passes last fall for 1,099 yards and 14 touchdowns against six interceptions, as does his premier target of a year ago, senior wideout Rex Kirchenstien. He turned 19 catches into 471 yards, a 24.8 average and five TDs during his first season of football.
“Branson’s done a good job in the offseason really taking time and working on his technique,” Moriarty said. “I think it’s gonna pay off.”
In Kirchenstein, Virgil and Melanson, the Vikings return each of their three All-TRC offensive selections from a year ago, while McBrier was an honorable mention pick at QB.
Juniors Noah Prater at guard and Evan Maish at tackle have earned spots on the left side of the line, and sophomore Landon Dukes has emerged as the favorite at tight end.
On defense, Melanson and all-TRC pick Estep at tackle, Virgil and junior Karl Parker at outside linebacker, senior Hunter Eherenman and sophomore Wade Jones at safety, and Kirchenstien at cornerback are all returning starters.
“We’ve got some guys who can fly to the ball,” Moriarty said. “We’ll be an aggressive defense.”
Virgil tied since graduated All-TRC middle linebacker Johnny Gonsalez for the team lead in tackles for loss last season with seven, and was second to Gonsalez in both solo tackles with 45 and total tackles at 66. He added a pair of interceptions as well.
Eherenman led Valley with four picks, and though he was just a freshman, Jones nabbed three interceptions to go with 35 tackles across nine games.
Dalton Alber made an impact as a freshman as well, ranking second for the Vikings in sacks at four. He’ll line up at one defensive end, with McGriff at the other.
Cisneros gets the nod to succeed Gonsalez at middle linebacker.
“He’s done a good job,” Moriarty said. “He’s a hard-nosed kid and a great senior leader.”
Valley opens the season Friday on the road with a first-ever meeting against Wawasee. It’ll also be the Vikings’ first game against any Northern Lakes Conference opponent since a 2002 sectional loss to NorthWood, and a chance at a first win over an NLC club since beating Warsaw in 1996.
Conference play begins in Week 2 when Northfield visits Death Valley. The Vikings, Norsemen and Peru all tied for second in the league last year at 6-2, with Southwood taking the crown at 7-0.
The Vikings return seven starters on each side of the ball.
They’re coming off back-to-back seven-win seasons, too, marking the first time the storied program’s been at least three games over .500 in consecutive years since 2007.
“I think we’ve got a chance to do OK this year,” Valley coach Steve Moriarty said recently. “We try to make it about being week to week, but the goal, of course, is to make a run. We’d like to win the (Three Rivers Conference), but there will be a lot of good teams, and then our (Class 3A) sectional’s going to be very tough again with Marian (No. 4 in the preseason coaches’ poll) coming back and Jimtown with a lot of starters back.”
Valley, though, doesn’t figure to be daunted given all those veterans of its own.
On offense, third-year starter and two-time all-state honoree Wade Melanson cornerstones the line from his right guard spot. Fellow seniors Grady McGriff at center and DJ Estep at right tackle return as well.
“Wade’s done a fantastic job being an anchor for us,” Moriarty said. “He’s almost like a player-coach on the field, and those guys around him are pretty good, too.”
They’ll each be blocking for plenty of familiar faces this season.
Reigning team MVP Jamasyn Virgil is slated for wingback duties again after leading the 7-4 Vikings of a year ago with 859 yards and nine touchdowns rushing on 106 carries, good for an 8.1 average. He added 19 catches for 272 yards and three more scores.
Fullback and fellow senior Joel Cisneros (443 yards, 5.5 average, eight TDs) is back as well, as is senior tailback Braden Shepherd, who’s not counted as a full-season starter, but who flashed brilliantly during Valley’s opener a year ago with 90 total yards against Culver Academy before suffering a season-ending injury.
Senior quarterback Branson McBrier also returns after completing 59-of-117 passes last fall for 1,099 yards and 14 touchdowns against six interceptions, as does his premier target of a year ago, senior wideout Rex Kirchenstien. He turned 19 catches into 471 yards, a 24.8 average and five TDs during his first season of football.
“Branson’s done a good job in the offseason really taking time and working on his technique,” Moriarty said. “I think it’s gonna pay off.”
In Kirchenstein, Virgil and Melanson, the Vikings return each of their three All-TRC offensive selections from a year ago, while McBrier was an honorable mention pick at QB.
Juniors Noah Prater at guard and Evan Maish at tackle have earned spots on the left side of the line, and sophomore Landon Dukes has emerged as the favorite at tight end.
On defense, Melanson and all-TRC pick Estep at tackle, Virgil and junior Karl Parker at outside linebacker, senior Hunter Eherenman and sophomore Wade Jones at safety, and Kirchenstien at cornerback are all returning starters.
“We’ve got some guys who can fly to the ball,” Moriarty said. “We’ll be an aggressive defense.”
Virgil tied since graduated All-TRC middle linebacker Johnny Gonsalez for the team lead in tackles for loss last season with seven, and was second to Gonsalez in both solo tackles with 45 and total tackles at 66. He added a pair of interceptions as well.
Eherenman led Valley with four picks, and though he was just a freshman, Jones nabbed three interceptions to go with 35 tackles across nine games.
Dalton Alber made an impact as a freshman as well, ranking second for the Vikings in sacks at four. He’ll line up at one defensive end, with McGriff at the other.
Cisneros gets the nod to succeed Gonsalez at middle linebacker.
“He’s done a good job,” Moriarty said. “He’s a hard-nosed kid and a great senior leader.”
Valley opens the season Friday on the road with a first-ever meeting against Wawasee. It’ll also be the Vikings’ first game against any Northern Lakes Conference opponent since a 2002 sectional loss to NorthWood, and a chance at a first win over an NLC club since beating Warsaw in 1996.
Conference play begins in Week 2 when Northfield visits Death Valley. The Vikings, Norsemen and Peru all tied for second in the league last year at 6-2, with Southwood taking the crown at 7-0.
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