Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
AKRON - It's a time of change at Tippecanoe Valley.
Gone is long time football coach Scott Bibler as former assistant Jeff Shriver takes over.
"It's been really a lot of fun," said Shriver. "I've enjoyed it. We miss Coach Bibler. I coached with him for 15 years. Being a head coach is a little different, more responsibility but it's been good."
While the experience has been good, all the Viking fans want to know if the team will be good.
What Valley fans can expect is a team of talented athletes. The trick for Shriver and his staff is turning in this crop of Vikings into football players.
Valley is coming off a 7-4 season but lost quarterback Bryce Kelley and several talented defensive players.
Taking over for Kelley will be junior Darren Beyers. Beyers, the younger brother of former Valley quarterback David Beyers, will be handing the ball off to tailback Jerrod Parker. Parker was Valley's starting tailback last year and will most likely see an increased role for the Vikings.
Kyle Brady will also see some time at tailback.
"He's done a great job for us in camp," said Shriver of Parker. "We expect him to have a great year for us in green and gold."
Blocking for Parker will be Kyle Ritchey, Derek Bruner and Justin Hughes at fullback. Ritchey is questionable for the first week after tweaking his ankle during the Mentone 3-on-3 tournament over the Fourth of July weekend. He re-injured it again during camp.
Bruner is someone Shriver describes as a "vicious blocker" and Hughes is a converted guard who Shriver thinks can provide some big holes for Parker.
Austin Prater will see time at wing for Valley.
"He can catch the ball well and runs well. We're just working on his blocking," said Shriver of Prater.
The offensive line will consist of a combination of Matt Koldyke, Brandon Coward, Eddie Ewing, Trent Rutherford and Cody Long.
Beyers will have a couple of talented wide receivers to throw to this season. Junior Chad Hoffer, who will also be the centerpiece of Bill Patrick's basketball this winter, is perhaps the most talented athlete in the Three Rivers Conference.
Steven Tillman, a fellow basketball player, came out for football this season and will also see significant time at wide receiver.
The Vikings are a junior dominated group with just seven on the roster. Senior Nick Huffman also is playing football for the first time this season.
That lack of experience is definitely something on Shriver's mind.
"We don't have a big senior class," said Shriver of his team. "And our junior varsity only played five games last year. Our challenge is to get experience and mature. For our younger guys its to get used to the speed of playing under the Friday night lights."
So with some athletes with varying degrees of experience, how does Shriver think his team will fare in the TRC?
"The TRC is an interesting puzzle," said Shriver, a Rochester graduate. "Rochester is tough this year. Whitko has a lot of experience. North Miami has a talented group of athletes. The rumor is Southwood may have a triple option this year so that's something new to prepare for and Manchester has some athletes. Northfield has some great numbers and the coaches are really turning that program around."
Valley opens the season against Culver Academy Friday at 7:30 p.m. and then travels to Bremen. The Vikings have played Bremen just once in the school's history and are taking over for Mississinewa on the schedule.
2006 Schedule
Aug. 18 CULVER ACAD
Aug. 25 at Bremen
Sept. 1 MANCHESTER
Sept. 8 at Southwood
Sept. 15 NORTHFIELD
Sept. 22 at Wabash
Sept. 29 ROCHESTER
Oct. 6 at North Miami
Oct. 13 WHITKO
2006 Roster
No. Name Grade
2 Blake Moore 10
3 Anthony Green 10
5 Steven Tillman 11
7 Chad Hoffer 11
8 Brady Baugher 11
9 Kenny Campbell 11
10 Derek Leckrone 10
11 Ross Miller 10
12 Jerrod Parker 12
13 Daren Beyers 11
14 Derek Bruner 11
15 Travis Hedington 11
16 Devin Vogel 10
20 Nick Huffman 12
21 Jared Baize 21
22 Kyle Brady 11
23 Ryan Roberts 23
24 Brandon Fields 10
25 Justin Newsome 11
26 Shane Bellies 11
27 Chad Dennie 11
30 Steven Hall 12
34 Austin Prater 11
35 A.J. Austin 12
40 Seth Kamp 10
41 Keith Koser 10
42 Kyle Ritchey 11
45 Justin Hughes 12
50 Elijoe Yoder 10
53 Aaron Peters 10
54 Chris Stinfer 10
55 Kyle Horn 10
56 Gary Horton 10
58 Matt Koldyke 11
59 Kevin Harris 11
61 Greg Snelling 11
62 Brandon Coward 12
63 Seth Howard 11
65 Andrew Coughenour 11
68 Cody Long 11
69 Eddie Ewing 11
70 Trent Boganwright 11
71 Trent Rutherford 11
72 Randall Hughes 11
74 Ryan Bruner 10
76 Jeremy Larson 76
78 Tyler French 10
79 Kyle Grossman 10
80 Anthony Prater 11
81 Andrew Holloway 10
82 Arthur Sanders 82
83 Aaron Julian 10
84 Donald Barton 11
85 Tyler Strahlem 11
