Valley Football Coach Counting On Seniors
August 15, 2018 at 4:14 p.m.
Valley Football Coach Counting On Seniors
By Dale [email protected]
After going 2-8 with a young team a year ago, a squad that had just six seniors, the Vikings’ roster includes 14 seniors this season.
Miller is stepping into the quarterback position after Tanner Trippiedi, the team’s signal caller last season as a sophomore, chose not to play.
“Tanner is focusing on baseball and basketball. A lot of these travel teams, they sell a good package, and sometimes kids buy in,” said Moriary.
“Tanner is a heck of a baseball player, and I?get it. I wish him nothing but the best. I’m good friends with his family, and I still love the kid to death. I wish nothing but the best for him.
“Noah Miller has stepped up. He was the backup last year, filled in for the Peru game when Tanner got hurt in the sectional. Noah’s a senior, and that means something when you’re a senior. They know it’s their last chance, so they want things pretty clean and crisp. He’s a good kid to do it.”
Heading into the second season in his head coaching tenure, with a year of learning under his as well as the players’ belt, Moriarty believes the increased number of seniors has already been a positive.
“We’re up to 14 seniors now, I believe,” said Moriarty. “They’re good kids. We’ve been having senior leadership classes in the offseason to get together and develop that missing piece, the leadership on the field. It’s hard to hear from the sidelines sometimes, and these kids have really embraced it, having a better positive attitude.
“They’ve had a long journey with five different head coaches. I think we feel comfortable with each other. They know what I want, and I kind of listen to what they want, and we try to adapt. They’re solid though, and in the weight room they lead by example, that’s for sure.”
On the offensive side of the ball, seniors Jose Rivera, Brant Norris and Alex Bell will be among the seniors in the trenches asked to protect Miller.
Moriarty said the offensive line is a big focus this season.
“The big thing we’re concentrating on this year is the offensive line,” said Moriarty. “Last year we struggled a little there, so that’s been our primary focus. You almost had to try out for the offensive line before you could play halfback, that sort of thing.
“I think with Jose Rivera as a senior leader, and you’ve got Brant Norris coming back at center, Bell’s gonna there as well. Those are our three seniors on the line, but in the backfield it’s gonna be kind of a senior class.”
Expected to join Miller in Valley’s backfield are seniors Wes Melanson (fullback), Cam Parker (tailback), Alex Morrison (wing), Jalen Shepherd (receiver) and Jonathan Humes (receiver).
Names on the defensive side of the ball will include Jalen Potter, Jayce Potter, Trey Hardesty, Michael Sexton, newcomer Dwight Conley, Morrison, Melanson and Shepherd.
“We’ve got a lot of big kids,” Moriarty said when asked about his defense. “That’s different than the past. With Trey Hardesty and Michael Sexton up front it’s going to be hard to push us around. We’re not going to chase many people down from the middle, but we’re not gonna get pushed around either.”
Looking for their first winning record since going 8-3 in 2012, the Vikings open the season Friday when they host the Bremen Lions, a team that led Valley 14-13 at halftime in last year’s season open before dominating the second half en route to a 41-13 decision.
Moriarty said that game has served as motivation, and that “14-13” has become a rallying cry for the team.
Valley will travel to Culver Academies in Week 2, host North Miami in Week 3, and then open play in the Three Rivers Conference North Division by traveling to Northfield on Sept. 7.
After going 2-8 with a young team a year ago, a squad that had just six seniors, the Vikings’ roster includes 14 seniors this season.
Miller is stepping into the quarterback position after Tanner Trippiedi, the team’s signal caller last season as a sophomore, chose not to play.
“Tanner is focusing on baseball and basketball. A lot of these travel teams, they sell a good package, and sometimes kids buy in,” said Moriary.
“Tanner is a heck of a baseball player, and I?get it. I wish him nothing but the best. I’m good friends with his family, and I still love the kid to death. I wish nothing but the best for him.
“Noah Miller has stepped up. He was the backup last year, filled in for the Peru game when Tanner got hurt in the sectional. Noah’s a senior, and that means something when you’re a senior. They know it’s their last chance, so they want things pretty clean and crisp. He’s a good kid to do it.”
Heading into the second season in his head coaching tenure, with a year of learning under his as well as the players’ belt, Moriarty believes the increased number of seniors has already been a positive.
“We’re up to 14 seniors now, I believe,” said Moriarty. “They’re good kids. We’ve been having senior leadership classes in the offseason to get together and develop that missing piece, the leadership on the field. It’s hard to hear from the sidelines sometimes, and these kids have really embraced it, having a better positive attitude.
“They’ve had a long journey with five different head coaches. I think we feel comfortable with each other. They know what I want, and I kind of listen to what they want, and we try to adapt. They’re solid though, and in the weight room they lead by example, that’s for sure.”
On the offensive side of the ball, seniors Jose Rivera, Brant Norris and Alex Bell will be among the seniors in the trenches asked to protect Miller.
Moriarty said the offensive line is a big focus this season.
“The big thing we’re concentrating on this year is the offensive line,” said Moriarty. “Last year we struggled a little there, so that’s been our primary focus. You almost had to try out for the offensive line before you could play halfback, that sort of thing.
“I think with Jose Rivera as a senior leader, and you’ve got Brant Norris coming back at center, Bell’s gonna there as well. Those are our three seniors on the line, but in the backfield it’s gonna be kind of a senior class.”
Expected to join Miller in Valley’s backfield are seniors Wes Melanson (fullback), Cam Parker (tailback), Alex Morrison (wing), Jalen Shepherd (receiver) and Jonathan Humes (receiver).
Names on the defensive side of the ball will include Jalen Potter, Jayce Potter, Trey Hardesty, Michael Sexton, newcomer Dwight Conley, Morrison, Melanson and Shepherd.
“We’ve got a lot of big kids,” Moriarty said when asked about his defense. “That’s different than the past. With Trey Hardesty and Michael Sexton up front it’s going to be hard to push us around. We’re not going to chase many people down from the middle, but we’re not gonna get pushed around either.”
Looking for their first winning record since going 8-3 in 2012, the Vikings open the season Friday when they host the Bremen Lions, a team that led Valley 14-13 at halftime in last year’s season open before dominating the second half en route to a 41-13 decision.
Moriarty said that game has served as motivation, and that “14-13” has become a rallying cry for the team.
Valley will travel to Culver Academies in Week 2, host North Miami in Week 3, and then open play in the Three Rivers Conference North Division by traveling to Northfield on Sept. 7.
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