Tippecanoe Valley Looks To Avenge 2020 Sectional Loss To Marian
October 27, 2021 at 7:49 p.m.
Tippecanoe Valley Looks To Avenge 2020 Sectional Loss To Marian
By Anthony Anderson-
This year’s semifinal rematch, however?
Entirely different, Melanson insists.
“Maybe a little,” Melanson conceded Tuesday evening of whether there was an intimidation factor to that 2020 meeting, “but we also had a few guys out with injuries (Melanson rattled off three key players immediately). We were kind of going in there like a one-armed man. This year, we have all the parts and pieces. We’re rolling.”
Last October, in the first game between the two schools in 12 years, the visiting Knights ambushed the Vikings, grabbing a 41-0 lead by halftime on their way to a 41-24 win.
Valley will be the host again Friday, but other particulars have changed.
Marian motored into last year’s matchup 8-0 and ranked No. 2 in 3A, while the Vikings were 7-3. This time around, it’s Valley with the unblemished mark at 10-0, while the Knights are 7-3.
Nevertheless, the Vikings still aren’t getting the love that matches.
The Sagarin computer, used nationally for all sorts of sports, has Marian as a three-point road favorite. Renowned state picker John Harrell says Marian, too, 28-24. The coaches poll lists Marian at No. 9 and Valley No. 14. Oddly conversely, the AP media poll does have the teams flipped by an identical five spots, at No. 7 for the Vikings, No.12 for the Knights.
“They’ve lost a couple guys on offense that were studs,” Melanson said of Marian, mentioning since-graduated quarterback Maddix Bogunia-Bright and running back Malcolm Anderson by name, “but they’re still a great team.”
“Their efficiency on defense is a big concern,” Moriarty said. “They return seven starters on defense from a semistate team, and they still have a lot of explosive players. (Greg) Atkinson’s an explosive play waiting to happen.”
Regardless, the Knights should be up against a more ready Valley club, partially because the Vikings are plain better than a year ago, and partially because they’ve had a firsthand taste of what Marian unleashed a year ago.
“I think we’ll be more ready for the speed of the game,” Moriarty said of having faced the Knights in 2020. “Watching them on film last year, we didn’t pick up on the speed, because they were playing teams with equal speed.
“I think there was a little bit of shock playing them last year, a little intimidation,” Moriarty added. “They’re very talented, but I really don’t think our guys will be as intimidated as last year.”
That Vikings’ loss last fall is what set them on the course they’ve been on ever since.
“After that game, we looked at ourselves and asked, ‘How can we compete with teams like that?’” Moriarty said, “and what we came up with is the weight room. We put in a lot of time in the offseason, and it paid off in the regular season. We’re stronger than we were last year.”
Melanson says the offseason weight room participation level was special.
“Oh yeah, every one of our players was there like 80 percent of the time,” said Melanson, who handles over half the snaps at defensive tackle to go with being a powerful fixture on offense. “The weight room was huge in building us into a 10-0 team.”
So was the camaraderie that came with it.
“Honestly, the brotherhood,” Melanson said of what’s the best thing about the 2021 Vikings. “We’ve all been together so long. In that weight room, we’re behind each other when trying to max out or trying to hit a couple grinding reps at the end of a set. In games, when we do make mistakes, we don’t turn on each other and start yapping. We’re in this together.”
Together, they’re up against a Knights team from the Northern Indiana Conference that has won four straight and seven of its last eight, the loss coming 35-0 against 6A Penn and six of the wins coming by double digits.
The ever-dangerous Atkinson has caught 33 passes for a 22.0 average and nine touchdowns, to go with three TDs off five interceptions, two rushing tallies, a punt return score and a 28.2 average on kick returns.
Sophomore quarterback Bryce LaSane is 87-of-165 throwing for 1,379 yards and 14 TDs against six picks. Running back Kaleb Lusanga has rushed for 939 yards, a 5.5 average and 13 TDs.
Defensive headliner Stefano Sete has racked up 117 tackles, 72 of them solos, and 12 tackles for loss, with Michael Murphy at 97 tackles and nine TFLs. Blake Oberg has matched Atkinson’s five interceptions.
For Valley, Jamasyn Virgil and Braden Shepherd have combined for 1,562 ground yards on 159 carries — a 9.8 average — with 24 TDs, while Shepherd’s blended in 16 catches for a 27.4 norm and six additional touchdowns.
Senior QB Branson McBrier is 65-of-96 passing for 1,193 yards and 13 TDs against just two picks, while wideout Rex Kirchenstien has 25 receptions, a 20.6 average and seven TDs.
Sophomore safety Wade Jones is coming off a school-record four interceptions in last week’s 22-8, opening-round win at Garrett to push his season total to 10, tied for the state lead.
As a team, the Vikings have racked up 38 takeaways. Karl Parker (57 tackles, 10 TFLs), Hunter Ehereman (50, 10) and Dalton Alber (42, 11) are pacing a balanced unit in stops.
The Vikings are seeking their first advancement to a sectional final since 1993, while Marian owns six straight sectional titles — third-best active streak in the state — and three regional crowns in the last four years.
The survivor of Friday’s game is guaranteed a home contest next week, against No. 11 Jimtown (8-2) or Glenn (5-4).
“Hopefully, we keep playing, but I really want to say thank you to the community for the support they’ve given us all year,” Melanson emphasized Tuesday of a season in which Valley has already clinched its best record since 1981. “We’re gonna try to bring home a win for them.”
This year’s semifinal rematch, however?
Entirely different, Melanson insists.
“Maybe a little,” Melanson conceded Tuesday evening of whether there was an intimidation factor to that 2020 meeting, “but we also had a few guys out with injuries (Melanson rattled off three key players immediately). We were kind of going in there like a one-armed man. This year, we have all the parts and pieces. We’re rolling.”
Last October, in the first game between the two schools in 12 years, the visiting Knights ambushed the Vikings, grabbing a 41-0 lead by halftime on their way to a 41-24 win.
Valley will be the host again Friday, but other particulars have changed.
Marian motored into last year’s matchup 8-0 and ranked No. 2 in 3A, while the Vikings were 7-3. This time around, it’s Valley with the unblemished mark at 10-0, while the Knights are 7-3.
Nevertheless, the Vikings still aren’t getting the love that matches.
The Sagarin computer, used nationally for all sorts of sports, has Marian as a three-point road favorite. Renowned state picker John Harrell says Marian, too, 28-24. The coaches poll lists Marian at No. 9 and Valley No. 14. Oddly conversely, the AP media poll does have the teams flipped by an identical five spots, at No. 7 for the Vikings, No.12 for the Knights.
“They’ve lost a couple guys on offense that were studs,” Melanson said of Marian, mentioning since-graduated quarterback Maddix Bogunia-Bright and running back Malcolm Anderson by name, “but they’re still a great team.”
“Their efficiency on defense is a big concern,” Moriarty said. “They return seven starters on defense from a semistate team, and they still have a lot of explosive players. (Greg) Atkinson’s an explosive play waiting to happen.”
Regardless, the Knights should be up against a more ready Valley club, partially because the Vikings are plain better than a year ago, and partially because they’ve had a firsthand taste of what Marian unleashed a year ago.
“I think we’ll be more ready for the speed of the game,” Moriarty said of having faced the Knights in 2020. “Watching them on film last year, we didn’t pick up on the speed, because they were playing teams with equal speed.
“I think there was a little bit of shock playing them last year, a little intimidation,” Moriarty added. “They’re very talented, but I really don’t think our guys will be as intimidated as last year.”
That Vikings’ loss last fall is what set them on the course they’ve been on ever since.
“After that game, we looked at ourselves and asked, ‘How can we compete with teams like that?’” Moriarty said, “and what we came up with is the weight room. We put in a lot of time in the offseason, and it paid off in the regular season. We’re stronger than we were last year.”
Melanson says the offseason weight room participation level was special.
“Oh yeah, every one of our players was there like 80 percent of the time,” said Melanson, who handles over half the snaps at defensive tackle to go with being a powerful fixture on offense. “The weight room was huge in building us into a 10-0 team.”
So was the camaraderie that came with it.
“Honestly, the brotherhood,” Melanson said of what’s the best thing about the 2021 Vikings. “We’ve all been together so long. In that weight room, we’re behind each other when trying to max out or trying to hit a couple grinding reps at the end of a set. In games, when we do make mistakes, we don’t turn on each other and start yapping. We’re in this together.”
Together, they’re up against a Knights team from the Northern Indiana Conference that has won four straight and seven of its last eight, the loss coming 35-0 against 6A Penn and six of the wins coming by double digits.
The ever-dangerous Atkinson has caught 33 passes for a 22.0 average and nine touchdowns, to go with three TDs off five interceptions, two rushing tallies, a punt return score and a 28.2 average on kick returns.
Sophomore quarterback Bryce LaSane is 87-of-165 throwing for 1,379 yards and 14 TDs against six picks. Running back Kaleb Lusanga has rushed for 939 yards, a 5.5 average and 13 TDs.
Defensive headliner Stefano Sete has racked up 117 tackles, 72 of them solos, and 12 tackles for loss, with Michael Murphy at 97 tackles and nine TFLs. Blake Oberg has matched Atkinson’s five interceptions.
For Valley, Jamasyn Virgil and Braden Shepherd have combined for 1,562 ground yards on 159 carries — a 9.8 average — with 24 TDs, while Shepherd’s blended in 16 catches for a 27.4 norm and six additional touchdowns.
Senior QB Branson McBrier is 65-of-96 passing for 1,193 yards and 13 TDs against just two picks, while wideout Rex Kirchenstien has 25 receptions, a 20.6 average and seven TDs.
Sophomore safety Wade Jones is coming off a school-record four interceptions in last week’s 22-8, opening-round win at Garrett to push his season total to 10, tied for the state lead.
As a team, the Vikings have racked up 38 takeaways. Karl Parker (57 tackles, 10 TFLs), Hunter Ehereman (50, 10) and Dalton Alber (42, 11) are pacing a balanced unit in stops.
The Vikings are seeking their first advancement to a sectional final since 1993, while Marian owns six straight sectional titles — third-best active streak in the state — and three regional crowns in the last four years.
The survivor of Friday’s game is guaranteed a home contest next week, against No. 11 Jimtown (8-2) or Glenn (5-4).
“Hopefully, we keep playing, but I really want to say thank you to the community for the support they’ve given us all year,” Melanson emphasized Tuesday of a season in which Valley has already clinched its best record since 1981. “We’re gonna try to bring home a win for them.”
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