AKRON - A program rich in history, one that will honor its state championship team later this season, Tippecanoe Valley enters the 2009 campaign in an awkard position.
For the first time since 2003 and just the seventh time in school history, the Vikings enter a season trying to rebound from a losing record, as they were 3-7 overall and 3-4 in the Three Rivers Conference in 2008.Trying to right the ship, fourth-year coach Jeff Shriver has to replace eight starters on offense and six on defense.
"We're blessed with some young talent, as far as we've got a good sophomore class and a good junior class," said Shriver, who owns an 18-12 mark as Valley's head coach. "We've also got some seniors that are getting back into football after not playing last year. We're optimistic and we're youthful."
Part of Shriver's optimism - and some of the youth he talks about - comes from a sophomore class that went undefeated last leason at the freshman level and shut out all of its opponents.
At the same time, Shriver wants those players to understand that they can't just show up and expect to win - they have to put in a winning effort.
"That's something we've talked about," said Shriver. "We've still got a lot of growing up to do. We did not have a great summer. We've got some guys who really worked hard in the weight room, and we've got some guys who were ghosts this summer. The past is the past, though. We need to put every thing behind us and move forward."
Graduated from last year's team are quarterback Ross Miller, receiver Devin Vogel, running backs Keith Koser, Jordan Boggs and Derek Leckrone and first-team All-TRC offensive lineman Kyle Grossman.
Five-foot-9, 145-pound senior Michael Lewis is the leading returner in both rushing and receiving.
Lewis carried the ball 22 times last season for 160 yards, an average of 7.3 yards per carry, and had 12 receptions for 271 yards, an average of 22.6 yards per catch. Lewis scored four tochdowns for the Vikings last season.
Shriver, a graduate of Rochester High School and Purdue University, has picked senior Gus Lukens to start at quarterback and direct Valley's wing-T offense.
"Gus Lukens played well throughout the summer and in camp," said Shriver. "We're excited to see what he can do. We think he's going to develop into a pretty good quarterback."
The Vikings open the season Friday when they travel to Culver Military Academy.
"CMA is returning nine starters on offense and defense," said Shriver. "It's fun to play CMA. You look down the roster and they have kids from all over the place, it's like a small-college roster. And they're very good team. It'll be a good test for us."
After the season opener at CMA, the Vikings host Bremen in Week 3 and then open the Three Rivers Conference schedule at Manchester on Sept. 4.
