Apaches No Match For Vikings
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony Gadson-agadson@timesuniononline.com
Scoring 27 first-quarter points, the Tippecanoe Valley Vikings (4-2, 4-0 TRC) dispatched the Wabash Apaches (2-4, 0-4 TRC) by a 63-0 count, which was coincidentally the same score when Wabash last visited Valley in 2009.
"We had a lot of respect for Wabash after what we saw on film," Valley coach Jeff Shriver said. "We saw them move the ball right down the field on North Miami and saw them play a pretty solid defense game against Whitko. We're not in a position right now, with team experience and depth, that we can overlook anybody."
With a team lacking upperclassmen, the Vikings have been getting better and better each week, and against the Apaches, Valley dominated the line of scrimmage.
Spending most of the night in the Wabash backfield on defense and pushing the Apaches off the line on the other side of the ball, Valley posted 378 rushing yards to Wabash's negative-two.
"Brogan Kennedy had an outstanding game," Shriver said about one of his defensive linemen. "Then David Green is back from his concussion — this is the first game he's played in three weeks. It was nice to have him back. And, of course, Treston Fisher has been an anchor of our offensive line and maybe the unsung hero in term of ironman football."
Capitalizing on the offensive line's play, junior Justin Gunter ran for 118 yards, followed by sophomore Chris Torpy's 71, sophomore Nolan Sponseller's 46, sophomore quarterback Ben Shriver's 46, junior Dan Miller's 44 and junior Jacob Ritchey's 38.
During the rushing barrage, Gunter, Torpy, Sponseller, Shriver, Ritchey and senior James Gregory ran for scores.
As if the ground attack wasn't enough, Shriver was also connected through the air, completing 6 of 7 passes for 108 yards and touchdown strikes to junior Mason Teel and sophomore Tanner Andrews.
"Our running game was potent tonight, and we didn't have to resort to the passing game, but we still had an efficient passing game," the elder Shriver said. "We really saw some good things happen."
The Valley coach would probably have liked to have seen his son put the ball up a few more times, but when you get on top of a team 39-0 at the half, it's kind of frowned upon.
"When the score's like this, it's not the right time to be dropping back a throwing the ball," Shriver said. "But when you're 6 of 7 and the offensive line is giving you time to throw the ball, it's nice."
In all, eight different Vikings took part in Valley's nine scores, which makes scouting the squad pretty difficult right now.
"We talk about the fact we don't have a great deal of depth, but that doesn't mean we don't have a great deal of talent," Shriver said. "That's kind of tough to understand sometimes. When you talk about six or seven guys that you thought would be in pads this year, but aren't here — then you have eight guys score."
The team scouting Valley this week is their biggest rival, the Rochester Zebras.
This Friday's matchup between the two rivals won't only be for the Bell Trophy, but will also put one of the team's in a better position to win a TRC crown. Going into the game, Valley, Rochester, Whitko and North Miami all sit at 4-0 in conference play.
"It is a big rivalry game," Shriver said. "It's a great rivalry for our two communities. Our young men did a nice job this week of staying focused, not looking past Wabash for Rochester. We're going to go to Rochester and play on their field, and hopefully be able to bring that bell home."[[In-content Ad]]
Scoring 27 first-quarter points, the Tippecanoe Valley Vikings (4-2, 4-0 TRC) dispatched the Wabash Apaches (2-4, 0-4 TRC) by a 63-0 count, which was coincidentally the same score when Wabash last visited Valley in 2009.
"We had a lot of respect for Wabash after what we saw on film," Valley coach Jeff Shriver said. "We saw them move the ball right down the field on North Miami and saw them play a pretty solid defense game against Whitko. We're not in a position right now, with team experience and depth, that we can overlook anybody."
With a team lacking upperclassmen, the Vikings have been getting better and better each week, and against the Apaches, Valley dominated the line of scrimmage.
Spending most of the night in the Wabash backfield on defense and pushing the Apaches off the line on the other side of the ball, Valley posted 378 rushing yards to Wabash's negative-two.
"Brogan Kennedy had an outstanding game," Shriver said about one of his defensive linemen. "Then David Green is back from his concussion — this is the first game he's played in three weeks. It was nice to have him back. And, of course, Treston Fisher has been an anchor of our offensive line and maybe the unsung hero in term of ironman football."
Capitalizing on the offensive line's play, junior Justin Gunter ran for 118 yards, followed by sophomore Chris Torpy's 71, sophomore Nolan Sponseller's 46, sophomore quarterback Ben Shriver's 46, junior Dan Miller's 44 and junior Jacob Ritchey's 38.
During the rushing barrage, Gunter, Torpy, Sponseller, Shriver, Ritchey and senior James Gregory ran for scores.
As if the ground attack wasn't enough, Shriver was also connected through the air, completing 6 of 7 passes for 108 yards and touchdown strikes to junior Mason Teel and sophomore Tanner Andrews.
"Our running game was potent tonight, and we didn't have to resort to the passing game, but we still had an efficient passing game," the elder Shriver said. "We really saw some good things happen."
The Valley coach would probably have liked to have seen his son put the ball up a few more times, but when you get on top of a team 39-0 at the half, it's kind of frowned upon.
"When the score's like this, it's not the right time to be dropping back a throwing the ball," Shriver said. "But when you're 6 of 7 and the offensive line is giving you time to throw the ball, it's nice."
In all, eight different Vikings took part in Valley's nine scores, which makes scouting the squad pretty difficult right now.
"We talk about the fact we don't have a great deal of depth, but that doesn't mean we don't have a great deal of talent," Shriver said. "That's kind of tough to understand sometimes. When you talk about six or seven guys that you thought would be in pads this year, but aren't here — then you have eight guys score."
The team scouting Valley this week is their biggest rival, the Rochester Zebras.
This Friday's matchup between the two rivals won't only be for the Bell Trophy, but will also put one of the team's in a better position to win a TRC crown. Going into the game, Valley, Rochester, Whitko and North Miami all sit at 4-0 in conference play.
"It is a big rivalry game," Shriver said. "It's a great rivalry for our two communities. Our young men did a nice job this week of staying focused, not looking past Wabash for Rochester. We're going to go to Rochester and play on their field, and hopefully be able to bring that bell home."[[In-content Ad]]
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