Valley Gets 300th Win; Rolls Past Wawasee
August 21, 2021 at 4:23 a.m.
Valley Gets 300th Win; Rolls Past Wawasee
By Dale [email protected]
In a 42-7 season-opening win over the host Wawasee Warriors, Valley used its depth, experience and running game to dominate the time of possession and notch the 300th win in program history.
The lopsided victory came on what would have been Brendyn Stump’s 17th birthday.
Stump, popular in the Valley community and a member of coach Chad Patrick’s varsity boys basketball team, was killed in a car crash in the spring.
The Vikings, who capitalized on a number of Wawasee turnovers, tallied 333 yards of total offense - 264 of which came on the ground.
The Warriors were held to 164 yards of offense - 87 through the air and 77 on the ground.
“It’s something special. I told the boys in the locker room before we took the field, ‘you are about to make history,’” said Valley coach Stephen Moriarty, whose squad won a season opener for the first time since 2010.
“All the players that have ever worn green and gold, the coaches that have been through, it all started on the practice field, and on the dummies, and in the chutes. That’s where it all began.
“To see that come alive, and to get our 300th win, and to get it against Wawasee in the first time we’ve ever played them, that makes it very special. It’s a tribute not only to this team, but all the Valley teams before us that got those wins.”
The Vikings scored 14 points in the first quarter, getting touchdown runs from sophomore Dalton Alber and senior Braden Shepherd.
Senior Hunter Eherenman and sophomore Nate Parker scored rushing touchdowns in the third quarter, and an 11-yard run by Alber, followed by a 2-point conversion catch by sophomore Landon Durkes, made it 36-0 with 17 seconds remaining in the frame.
Wawasee scored its lone touchdown with 3:23 left in the fourth quarter when backup quarterback Jaxon Brown threw a 57-yard strike to Lucas Ringler, who started the game under center.
The Vikings accounted for the final score when signal caller Branson McBrier pounded his way in from a yard out as time expired.
Valley won seven games last season, and returned seven starters on each side of the ball.
Moriarty felt like his team’s experience under the Friday night lights was an advantage.
“I think it was a big factor,” said Moriarty. “First-game jitters weren’t there. They were excited to play, but they weren’t nervous to play. I think that was a big key, to understand what we’re trying to do, and to not lose your mind if we saw them in a different formation than we were ready for. I think having that varsity experience was a big key.”
McBrier completed 5 of 7 pass attempts for 69 yards, two receptions and 45 yards of which went to senior Rex Kirchenstien.
Shepherd led the Vikings with 12 carries and 90 yards, while Parker added eight carries and 69 yards, and senior Jamasyn Virgil tallied 55 yard on nine attempts.
To go with his 57 receiving yards, Ringler rushed for 32 yards on 14 carries, and completed 3 of 7 pass attempts for 30 yards for the hosts.
Wawasee sophomore Brandon Kelly rushed for 24 yards on seven carries.
Valley hosts Northfield in Week 2, while the Warriors travel to West Noble.
In a 42-7 season-opening win over the host Wawasee Warriors, Valley used its depth, experience and running game to dominate the time of possession and notch the 300th win in program history.
The lopsided victory came on what would have been Brendyn Stump’s 17th birthday.
Stump, popular in the Valley community and a member of coach Chad Patrick’s varsity boys basketball team, was killed in a car crash in the spring.
The Vikings, who capitalized on a number of Wawasee turnovers, tallied 333 yards of total offense - 264 of which came on the ground.
The Warriors were held to 164 yards of offense - 87 through the air and 77 on the ground.
“It’s something special. I told the boys in the locker room before we took the field, ‘you are about to make history,’” said Valley coach Stephen Moriarty, whose squad won a season opener for the first time since 2010.
“All the players that have ever worn green and gold, the coaches that have been through, it all started on the practice field, and on the dummies, and in the chutes. That’s where it all began.
“To see that come alive, and to get our 300th win, and to get it against Wawasee in the first time we’ve ever played them, that makes it very special. It’s a tribute not only to this team, but all the Valley teams before us that got those wins.”
The Vikings scored 14 points in the first quarter, getting touchdown runs from sophomore Dalton Alber and senior Braden Shepherd.
Senior Hunter Eherenman and sophomore Nate Parker scored rushing touchdowns in the third quarter, and an 11-yard run by Alber, followed by a 2-point conversion catch by sophomore Landon Durkes, made it 36-0 with 17 seconds remaining in the frame.
Wawasee scored its lone touchdown with 3:23 left in the fourth quarter when backup quarterback Jaxon Brown threw a 57-yard strike to Lucas Ringler, who started the game under center.
The Vikings accounted for the final score when signal caller Branson McBrier pounded his way in from a yard out as time expired.
Valley won seven games last season, and returned seven starters on each side of the ball.
Moriarty felt like his team’s experience under the Friday night lights was an advantage.
“I think it was a big factor,” said Moriarty. “First-game jitters weren’t there. They were excited to play, but they weren’t nervous to play. I think that was a big key, to understand what we’re trying to do, and to not lose your mind if we saw them in a different formation than we were ready for. I think having that varsity experience was a big key.”
McBrier completed 5 of 7 pass attempts for 69 yards, two receptions and 45 yards of which went to senior Rex Kirchenstien.
Shepherd led the Vikings with 12 carries and 90 yards, while Parker added eight carries and 69 yards, and senior Jamasyn Virgil tallied 55 yard on nine attempts.
To go with his 57 receiving yards, Ringler rushed for 32 yards on 14 carries, and completed 3 of 7 pass attempts for 30 yards for the hosts.
Wawasee sophomore Brandon Kelly rushed for 24 yards on seven carries.
Valley hosts Northfield in Week 2, while the Warriors travel to West Noble.
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