Valley Vikings Hope To Realize Goal
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
“At the beginning of the season, that was our goal, to play for a sectional championship,” said Shriver. “This Friday we have a great opportunity on our field and in front of our fans. We need to step up to the challenge.”
The Vikings (8-2) host the ninth-ranked Heritage Patriots (8-2) in a Class 3A Sectional 18 semifinal at 7 p.m.
The winner advances to next week’s sectional final against either No. 1 Jimtown (10-0) or Whitko (4-6).
Not since 1992 when they won 24-23 at rival Rochester have the Vikings hoisted a sectional championship trophy.
Friday’s 44-0 win at West Noble was Shriver’s first postseason victory as Valley’s head coach and the program’s first since 2005.
“That was a great victory, we had a lot of kids do a lot of great things,” Shriver said of the dominating win in Ligonier. “In a lot of ways, it was a moral victory. It’s nice to still be playing. Half the teams in the state put their pads away after last week. We’re fortunate to still be playing.”
To keep practicing for at least another week, the Vikings have to defeat a Heritage team that averages 38 points per game and gives up just under 12.
The Patriots are on a four-game winning streak, and in three of those wins scored at least 42 points.
Heritage beat No. 10 Lakeland 42-16 in last week’s sectional opener.
“Heritage is a very good football team,” said Shriver. “They are very experienced. Of the 22 positions on offense and defense, they start 21 seniors and a junior. They have tremendous depth with great size and speed.”
Valley’s depth will take a hit this week, as a number of key players will be out with injuries, including juniors Tanner Andrews, Nick Gamble, Daryl Wright and Josh Tucker.
Junior Jaron Kidd will sit out Friday’s game after being ejected in last week’s win.
“We’re not at full strength, but at the same time that’s a great opportunity for some of our younger kids to step up,” said Shriver.
Senior Justin Gunter leads Valley’s ground game with 686 yards and 10 touchdowns on 108 carries.
Junior Chris Torpy has 540 yards and five touchdowns, while junior Nolan Sponseller has rushed for 207 yards and six scores.
Junior Ben Shriver has completed 95 of 153 passes for 1,526 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions.
A high percentage of those completions and yards went to Andrews, Valley’s all-state receiver who suffered a concussion last week.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder has caught 37 passes for 733 yards and seven touchdowns.
Sponseller has caught 13 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns.
“With Tanner out, it just means some other guys have the opportunity to step up,” said Shriver. “We may bump Mason Teel out there, he’s done some nice things for us this year. We can put Dayton Cohagan out there.”
The Vikings have outscored their opponents 345-106 this season.
Valley’s defense has given up just 32 points in the last five games.
This week, Valley’s Wrecking Crew faces a Heritage team that Shriver called “the biggest and fastest team we’ve seen all year.”
Conner Sheehan has completed 83 of 148 pass attempts for 1,494 yards and 19 touchdowns with four interceptions.
Brenton Lockett leads Heritage’s ground game with 954 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Wil Knapke has rushed for 777 yards and 10 touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 505 yards and six scores.[[In-content Ad]]
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“At the beginning of the season, that was our goal, to play for a sectional championship,” said Shriver. “This Friday we have a great opportunity on our field and in front of our fans. We need to step up to the challenge.”
The Vikings (8-2) host the ninth-ranked Heritage Patriots (8-2) in a Class 3A Sectional 18 semifinal at 7 p.m.
The winner advances to next week’s sectional final against either No. 1 Jimtown (10-0) or Whitko (4-6).
Not since 1992 when they won 24-23 at rival Rochester have the Vikings hoisted a sectional championship trophy.
Friday’s 44-0 win at West Noble was Shriver’s first postseason victory as Valley’s head coach and the program’s first since 2005.
“That was a great victory, we had a lot of kids do a lot of great things,” Shriver said of the dominating win in Ligonier. “In a lot of ways, it was a moral victory. It’s nice to still be playing. Half the teams in the state put their pads away after last week. We’re fortunate to still be playing.”
To keep practicing for at least another week, the Vikings have to defeat a Heritage team that averages 38 points per game and gives up just under 12.
The Patriots are on a four-game winning streak, and in three of those wins scored at least 42 points.
Heritage beat No. 10 Lakeland 42-16 in last week’s sectional opener.
“Heritage is a very good football team,” said Shriver. “They are very experienced. Of the 22 positions on offense and defense, they start 21 seniors and a junior. They have tremendous depth with great size and speed.”
Valley’s depth will take a hit this week, as a number of key players will be out with injuries, including juniors Tanner Andrews, Nick Gamble, Daryl Wright and Josh Tucker.
Junior Jaron Kidd will sit out Friday’s game after being ejected in last week’s win.
“We’re not at full strength, but at the same time that’s a great opportunity for some of our younger kids to step up,” said Shriver.
Senior Justin Gunter leads Valley’s ground game with 686 yards and 10 touchdowns on 108 carries.
Junior Chris Torpy has 540 yards and five touchdowns, while junior Nolan Sponseller has rushed for 207 yards and six scores.
Junior Ben Shriver has completed 95 of 153 passes for 1,526 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions.
A high percentage of those completions and yards went to Andrews, Valley’s all-state receiver who suffered a concussion last week.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder has caught 37 passes for 733 yards and seven touchdowns.
Sponseller has caught 13 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns.
“With Tanner out, it just means some other guys have the opportunity to step up,” said Shriver. “We may bump Mason Teel out there, he’s done some nice things for us this year. We can put Dayton Cohagan out there.”
The Vikings have outscored their opponents 345-106 this season.
Valley’s defense has given up just 32 points in the last five games.
This week, Valley’s Wrecking Crew faces a Heritage team that Shriver called “the biggest and fastest team we’ve seen all year.”
Conner Sheehan has completed 83 of 148 pass attempts for 1,494 yards and 19 touchdowns with four interceptions.
Brenton Lockett leads Heritage’s ground game with 954 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Wil Knapke has rushed for 777 yards and 10 touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 505 yards and six scores.[[In-content Ad]]
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