Vikings Boast Stellar Skill Set
AKRON – There’s no shortage of excitement around the Tippecanoe Valley football program this season.
There’s definitely no shortage either of talented skill position players for the Vikings.
Valley, coming off an 8-3 campaign which included a 6-1 mark to claim a share of its second straight Three Rivers Conference title, has high expectations this fall for sure.
“We have a lot of talent and experience back at our skill spots,” said Valley coach Jeff Shriver as he enters his eighth season. “We have a high expectation of success this year.
“I think we are a better football team than we were last year. But, potential is interesting and performance is everything. Every day is an opportunity for all of our guys to improve. They need to treat every rep in practice as important to make us the team we want to be in November. I think they’ve bought into that.”
The success for Valley again this fall will rest in large degree on the broad shoulders of senior stars Tanner Andrews and Ben Shriver. Split end Andrews, a three-sport standout, earned All-State honors a year ago for the second time with 37 receptions for 734 yards. The 6-3, 190-pound Andrews is receiving plenty of Division I college interest from schools like Valparaiso, Purdue, Indiana State, Ball State and Toledo. Quarterback Shriver, a smart 6-1, 180-pounder, will direct the pistol attack from shotgun formation as a three-year starter. He threw for over 1,600 yards and completed 60 percent of his passes as a junior to earn All-TRC and honorable mention All-State accolades. The younger Shriver, the son of the coach, needs just 186 yards to set the school’s all-time passing record.
“We just need to continue to work hard and push each other,” said quarterback Shriver at a recent practice session. “This offense can put up big numbers. We just need to keep our heads out of the clouds. As a senior class one of our big goals is to win the sectional.”
Valley has not won a sectional title since 1992.
“I’m anxious and feel we have a great team this year,” Andrews said. “It’s a big deal for us as seniors to leave our mark on the program. For me, I just want to give the team everything I’ve got this season.”
The Vikings also have a strong backfield that features seniors Chris Torpy and Nolan Sponseller. Torpy rushed for over 500 yards and five touchdowns in 2012 and Sponseller, also a standout defensive back, 200 plus yards and six scores.
Valley will look to the improvement of its offensive line this fall as a huge piece to the puzzle. The senior trio of Cameron Castle (5-11, 257), Nick Gamble (6-2, 295) and Darryl Wright (6-4, 195), along with junior Austin French (6-0, 230) and sophomore Isaac Sponseller (5-7, 239) will be counted on to lead the way.
“We’ve made some position moves on our offensive line and we need those guys to step up for us,” said coach Shriver. “It’s all about finding the right pieces and trying to get the best combination of 11 guys on the field for us. As coaches, we have to put the guys in the best position to be successful.”
Shriver has plenty of experience back on defense. Players such as Castle and French up front, along with Wright, Torpy, junior Jarred Littlejohn and sophomore Garrett Bell in a deep linebacking corps are key. The defensive backfield includes talents like Andrews, Nolan Sponseller and Shriver.
“I think that there is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm around this team,” said Shriver. “The biggest keys for us are to stay healthy and continue self-improvement.”
Valley plays at Culver Academy Friday night to open the 2013 campaign. The Vikings dropped a 27-22 final at home to the Eagles a year ago. Valley hosts Bremen Aug. 30 before the TRC opener at Manchester on Sept. 6.