Valley Rolls Past Wabash, Improves To 8-0
October 9, 2021 at 4:09 a.m.
Valley Rolls Past Wabash, Improves To 8-0
By Connor McCann-
The win also ensures Valley will have at least a share of the Three Rivers Conference championship, with a chance to win it outright next week.
The game began with one of the shakiest starts the Vikings have endured this season. On their opening drive, running back Braden Shepherd coughed up the football, giving the Apaches the ball in promising field position. But the worries didn’t last long. A couple of plays later, Shepherd, now on the defensive side of the ball, picked off a pass to regain possession. On the first play of the ensuing drive, he would run 82 yards to get the ball to the one-yard-line, before scoring on the next play. Once the seal was broken, the Vikings did what they’ve done every game so far this season: score in droves.
It was a field day for the Tippy Valley offense once again, who have outscored their opponents 171-6 over the last three games. On the team’s next possession, quarterback Branson McBrier found receiver Rex Kirchenstien for a 49-yard touchdown. The pass brought McBrier’s career passing yards total to over 2,000.
On the day, eight Viking players would find the end zone. Along with Shepard and Kirchenstien, Nate and Karl Parker, Jamasyn Virgil, Dalton Alber, Brock Derf and Wade Jones all put points on the board. The final score being Jones’ 35-yard interception return for a touchdown, his second of the season.
The end result for the Vikings was 442 yards of total offense; McBrier finished his day 9-16 for 104 yards and a score. Virgil finished with 122 rushing yards and two scores and Shepherd finished with 112 yards rushing and a touchdown before leaving early due to injury.
“I was really pleased with the win, the scoreboard looks nice,” Tippecanoe Valley head coach Steve Moriarty said. “We know the shelf we want to reach. Getting the shut out was important mentally for our guys, I was proud all the way around with our efforts and our attitudes.”
The focus of the team now turns to the IHSAA sectional draw Sunday night. The team’s body of work speaks for itself this season, but Coach Moriarty doesn’t want his team getting overconfident.
“There’s a lot of things to fix as we get ready to go throughout the playoffs, some of those little things we need to fine tune and clean up,” Moriarty said. “I believe our kids will be ready. They have a goal, and they’ve done a great job this season at obtaining their goals.”
The Vikings will have a chance to put the final stamp on a perfect season Friday night at home against Southwood. The Knights have beaten the Vikings the last three seasons.
“We’ve gotten second in the conference the last two years,” Moriarty said. ”I think that’s enough. I think we’ll be ready and I’m so pleased our fans came out and traveled well tonight. It means so much to these kids to see them come out in droves to support the Vikings.”
The win also ensures Valley will have at least a share of the Three Rivers Conference championship, with a chance to win it outright next week.
The game began with one of the shakiest starts the Vikings have endured this season. On their opening drive, running back Braden Shepherd coughed up the football, giving the Apaches the ball in promising field position. But the worries didn’t last long. A couple of plays later, Shepherd, now on the defensive side of the ball, picked off a pass to regain possession. On the first play of the ensuing drive, he would run 82 yards to get the ball to the one-yard-line, before scoring on the next play. Once the seal was broken, the Vikings did what they’ve done every game so far this season: score in droves.
It was a field day for the Tippy Valley offense once again, who have outscored their opponents 171-6 over the last three games. On the team’s next possession, quarterback Branson McBrier found receiver Rex Kirchenstien for a 49-yard touchdown. The pass brought McBrier’s career passing yards total to over 2,000.
On the day, eight Viking players would find the end zone. Along with Shepard and Kirchenstien, Nate and Karl Parker, Jamasyn Virgil, Dalton Alber, Brock Derf and Wade Jones all put points on the board. The final score being Jones’ 35-yard interception return for a touchdown, his second of the season.
The end result for the Vikings was 442 yards of total offense; McBrier finished his day 9-16 for 104 yards and a score. Virgil finished with 122 rushing yards and two scores and Shepherd finished with 112 yards rushing and a touchdown before leaving early due to injury.
“I was really pleased with the win, the scoreboard looks nice,” Tippecanoe Valley head coach Steve Moriarty said. “We know the shelf we want to reach. Getting the shut out was important mentally for our guys, I was proud all the way around with our efforts and our attitudes.”
The focus of the team now turns to the IHSAA sectional draw Sunday night. The team’s body of work speaks for itself this season, but Coach Moriarty doesn’t want his team getting overconfident.
“There’s a lot of things to fix as we get ready to go throughout the playoffs, some of those little things we need to fine tune and clean up,” Moriarty said. “I believe our kids will be ready. They have a goal, and they’ve done a great job this season at obtaining their goals.”
The Vikings will have a chance to put the final stamp on a perfect season Friday night at home against Southwood. The Knights have beaten the Vikings the last three seasons.
“We’ve gotten second in the conference the last two years,” Moriarty said. ”I think that’s enough. I think we’ll be ready and I’m so pleased our fans came out and traveled well tonight. It means so much to these kids to see them come out in droves to support the Vikings.”
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