Valley Scores TRC Win
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
So is the lack of confidence, he continued.[[In-content Ad]]"There's an old quote that says confidence is contagious," said Shriver. "But so is the lack of confidence. There's people in our school, in the conference and in the community that have written us off. They don't think we're a good team. What's important to me is that the players and the coaches on this team believe we're a good team. We're going to keep going about our business."
The Vikings answered their naysayers with a 23-6 win over Three Rivers Conference foe Northfield Friday night at Death Valley.
Needing a win, not only to avoid a 1-4 record for the first time in the program's history but also to stay in the hunt for a conference championship, Valley overcame its own mistakes and made the Norsemen pay for their miscues.
"This is exactly what we needed," Shriver said of the win, which improved his team to 2-3 overall but more importantly 2-1 in conference play. "We were able to play a lot of kids, we got some young kids out there so they could get some confidence. We were able to sub in and out."
The Vikings fumbled four times, all four of which were recovered by Northfield, and had nine penalties for 75 yards, yet Northfield was really no match for Valley.
The Norsemen, who fell to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in the TRC, were picked off five times by Valley's "Wrecking Crew" defense.
Jordan Boggs came up big for the Valley defense with two interceptions, while Gus Lukens, Michael Lewis and Tony Reed each added a pick.
"Our secondary has been maligned, but they stepped up big tonight," said Shriver. "Those interceptions came at key times in the game. Those are the types of things we needed to do. We need to be good tacklers and get turnovers. We had guys step up tonight."
The Vikings held Northfield to 165 yards of offense, only 54 of which came on the ground on 34 carries.
Valley, meanwhile, rushed for 256 yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries.
The Vikings' tandem of quarterbacks - Ross Miller and Lukens - combined for an ultra-efficient 7-of-9 passing for 106 yards.
Miller, who started the game under center, was 6 of 7 through the air for 73 yards while Lukens quarterbacked the team in the second half and was 1 of 2 for 33 yards.
Neither Valley signal caller threw an interception.
Shriver said after the game that putting Lukens in at quarterback in the second half was so the sophomore could get varsity playing time at the position.
"Gus has been injured, I think he's played one-and-a-half games," said Shriver. "We just wanted to see what he could do. We wanted to get him on film."
Valley's defense wasted no time in setting the tone of the game, as Boggs came up with an interception on the opening drive of the game.
Three plays later, following runs of 8 and 27 yards by Boggs, Keith Koser pounded his way in from five yards out for the game's first touchdown.
After a three-and-out by Northfield, Valley's offense struck again, this time when Koser highlighted a one-play drive with a 59-yard touchdown run.
Koser's second touchdown run, which was followed up by a 2-point conversion run by Miller, gave the Vikings a 14-0 lead with 3:59 to play in the first quarter.
Koser finished the game with 102 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, while Boggs rushed 13 times for 73 yards and a score.
"Keith Koser got seven stitches in his hand last week and still played through the pain," said Shriver. "This week it was still a little tender, but his toughness and desire really showed tonight."
Boggs' touchdown run, a 7-yard scamper with 3:31 remaining in the game, accounted for the final score after Luis Lara converted the extra-point kick.
Valley's other two points were scored on a safety with 7:19 to play in the third quarter, giving the Vikings a 16-0 lead.
Lewis led Valley's receivers with four catches for 75 yards.
Calob Coffman led the Northfield receiving corps with five catches for 75 yards.
The Norsemen's ground game was led by Tucker's 15 carries for 39 yards.
Northfield scored its only touchdown of the game when Tucker and and quarterback Matt Frieden hooked up for a 9-yard halfback pass play with 7:20 to play in the game.
Valley hits the road Friday and will play at winless Wabash, which fell to 0-5 last night with a 40-0 setback at Whitko.
Northfield will host Whitko Friday.
So is the lack of confidence, he continued.[[In-content Ad]]"There's an old quote that says confidence is contagious," said Shriver. "But so is the lack of confidence. There's people in our school, in the conference and in the community that have written us off. They don't think we're a good team. What's important to me is that the players and the coaches on this team believe we're a good team. We're going to keep going about our business."
The Vikings answered their naysayers with a 23-6 win over Three Rivers Conference foe Northfield Friday night at Death Valley.
Needing a win, not only to avoid a 1-4 record for the first time in the program's history but also to stay in the hunt for a conference championship, Valley overcame its own mistakes and made the Norsemen pay for their miscues.
"This is exactly what we needed," Shriver said of the win, which improved his team to 2-3 overall but more importantly 2-1 in conference play. "We were able to play a lot of kids, we got some young kids out there so they could get some confidence. We were able to sub in and out."
The Vikings fumbled four times, all four of which were recovered by Northfield, and had nine penalties for 75 yards, yet Northfield was really no match for Valley.
The Norsemen, who fell to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in the TRC, were picked off five times by Valley's "Wrecking Crew" defense.
Jordan Boggs came up big for the Valley defense with two interceptions, while Gus Lukens, Michael Lewis and Tony Reed each added a pick.
"Our secondary has been maligned, but they stepped up big tonight," said Shriver. "Those interceptions came at key times in the game. Those are the types of things we needed to do. We need to be good tacklers and get turnovers. We had guys step up tonight."
The Vikings held Northfield to 165 yards of offense, only 54 of which came on the ground on 34 carries.
Valley, meanwhile, rushed for 256 yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries.
The Vikings' tandem of quarterbacks - Ross Miller and Lukens - combined for an ultra-efficient 7-of-9 passing for 106 yards.
Miller, who started the game under center, was 6 of 7 through the air for 73 yards while Lukens quarterbacked the team in the second half and was 1 of 2 for 33 yards.
Neither Valley signal caller threw an interception.
Shriver said after the game that putting Lukens in at quarterback in the second half was so the sophomore could get varsity playing time at the position.
"Gus has been injured, I think he's played one-and-a-half games," said Shriver. "We just wanted to see what he could do. We wanted to get him on film."
Valley's defense wasted no time in setting the tone of the game, as Boggs came up with an interception on the opening drive of the game.
Three plays later, following runs of 8 and 27 yards by Boggs, Keith Koser pounded his way in from five yards out for the game's first touchdown.
After a three-and-out by Northfield, Valley's offense struck again, this time when Koser highlighted a one-play drive with a 59-yard touchdown run.
Koser's second touchdown run, which was followed up by a 2-point conversion run by Miller, gave the Vikings a 14-0 lead with 3:59 to play in the first quarter.
Koser finished the game with 102 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, while Boggs rushed 13 times for 73 yards and a score.
"Keith Koser got seven stitches in his hand last week and still played through the pain," said Shriver. "This week it was still a little tender, but his toughness and desire really showed tonight."
Boggs' touchdown run, a 7-yard scamper with 3:31 remaining in the game, accounted for the final score after Luis Lara converted the extra-point kick.
Valley's other two points were scored on a safety with 7:19 to play in the third quarter, giving the Vikings a 16-0 lead.
Lewis led Valley's receivers with four catches for 75 yards.
Calob Coffman led the Northfield receiving corps with five catches for 75 yards.
The Norsemen's ground game was led by Tucker's 15 carries for 39 yards.
Northfield scored its only touchdown of the game when Tucker and and quarterback Matt Frieden hooked up for a 9-yard halfback pass play with 7:20 to play in the game.
Valley hits the road Friday and will play at winless Wabash, which fell to 0-5 last night with a 40-0 setback at Whitko.
Northfield will host Whitko Friday.
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