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2024 Snapshot: Valley View

Valley View LB Cesar Berryman (photo by Shelby Frieszell/TriStateFootball.com)

It appears that the football gods are going to make Valley View’s quest for a third straight regional championship difficult. The Spartans are moving up to a very deep and talent rich Division IV, Region 16 after winning the last two Division V, Region 20 titles. It was the first time that the program has won back-to-back crowns since 1996-97. It was also the ninth regional title in school history (all in last 31 years). With the graduation of a very decorated senior class from a year ago, and unproven talent waiting in the wings it is going to take a monumental effort to get that that 10th banner hung.

This Valley View team is chomping at the bit to show that they aren’t to be taken lightly. “The guys have worked very hard this offseason to reach their potential. They are looking forward to getting the season started! They have taken on an underdog mentality and are excited to accomplish our team goals,” head coach Matt King states.

Gone is quarterback Caden Henson who turned in one of the greatest offensive seasons that Valley View fans have ever witnessed which earned him 2023 OPSWA Ohio Division V Co-Offensive Player of the Year, OPSWA Division V First Team All-Ohio (QB), OPSWA Ohio Division V Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year, SWBL Southwestern Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-TriState Football (P) and the TriState Football Dayton Offensive Player of the Year accolades.

King knows replacing Henson’s output on offense will have to be by committee. That may not be a bad thing as competition for snaps on Friday nights will be fierce between hungry, up-and-coming players. “We will need to get multiple players at the skill positions ready to play more reps at the varsity level.”

The good news is that the Spartans will be strong in the trenches on both sides of the ball. It will be a team strength for the coaching staff to lean all season long. “We will be experienced up front, only graduating two starters on the offensive line. We have guys who have taken varsity reps that should be able to step into those vacant positions. On the defensive line, we have multiple guys who have played a lot of varsity snaps and we only graduated one starter,” King says.

Sometimes the most pleasant surprises are the teams that come after the ones that set the bar at an extremely high level. With a group of seniors that have 26 victories under their belts over the past two seasons its not far-fetched to believe that this Valley View squad can meet or exceed the expectations of the Spartans that came before them.

Valley View WR/DB Anthony Valenti (photo by Shelby Frieszell/TriStateFootball.com)

The Division IV, Region 16
2023 RECORD: 13-2, 4-1 SWBL Buckeye
HEAD COACH: Matt King (26-4 at Valley View, two years; 26-4 overall)

HONOR ROLL
Brayden Bell, Sr, K – A valued commodity to have on special teams. Bell was a model of consistency as a junior knocking down 61/62 extra points and both of his field goal attempts for 67 points. He had nine touchbacks on 89 kickoffs. Bell was named OPSWA Division V Second Team All-Southwest District for his work.

Peyton Flannery, Sr, OL/DL – At 6-foot-3 and 260-pounds Flannery blows opponents up on both sides of the line for the Spartans. He was named Second Team All-SWBL Buckeye (OL) as a junior. Flannery also had 59 total tackles, three sacks, nine tackles for losses, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries on defense.

Nehemiah Simpson, Sr, OL – You can’t teach size and coaches love that. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound “Nemo” is the big fish on the Spartans o-line. Simpson was named Honorable Mention All-SWBL Buckeye as a junior after helping pave the way for the Spartans offense to average 400.0 yards per game (207.2 rush, 192.8 rec) with 89 touchdowns (52 rush, 32 rec).

Anthony Valenti, Jr, WR/DB – An electrifying talent. Valenti had 602 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns (six rec., one rush, one rec) on 37 touches including 264 yards on 15 receptions as a sophomore. He also had 78 total tackles, three tackles for losses, eight pass breakups and four interceptions (tied for fourth most in the SWBL) on his way to Honorable Mention All-SWBL Buckeye accolades.

OTHER RETURNEES
Owen Malara, Sr, WR/DB – In his first season as a starter Malara proved to be a pest for foes out of the Spartans secondary. He tallied 42 total tackles, had three-and-a-half tackles for losses, one fumble recovery and nine pass breakups.

Valley View WR/DB Owen Malara (photo by Shelby Frieszell/TriStateFootball.com)

Bryce Shock, Sr, DL – A vital cog on a deep defensive line. Shock recorded 44 total tackles, three-and-a-half sacks, six-and-a-half tackles for losses, with two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a junior.

Kash Wollett, Sr, WR/DB – Even though the sample size is small, Wollett has shown that he can be a playmaker. He has averaged 23.2 yards on 11 receptions with three touchdown catches in his career.

Sean Patterson, Sr, DL – Had a rock-solid varsity debut in 2023. Patterson finished the year with 35 total tackles, four sacks, nine tackles for losses, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Landyn West, Jr, OL/DL – A returning starter on an offensive line that opened holes for a Spartans rushing attack that averaged 207.2 yards per game with 52 touchdowns in 2023.

Tristan Smith, Jr, RB/LB – All signs point to a breakout junior season on offense for Smith as the Spartans need to replenish their production out of the backfield. As a sophomore, Smith tallied 66 total tackles, two sacks, seven tackles for losses, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups. On offense, he carried the ball 12 times for 150 yards (12.5 yards/car) and two touchdowns.

Valley View RB/LB Tristan Smith (photo by Shelby Frieszell/TriStateFootball.com)

Cesar Berryman, Jr, LB – One of the best players in Southwest Ohio, in the Class of 2026 that you don’t know about. A breakout sophomore campaign saw Berryman get in on 93 total tackles, with six-and-a-half sacks, 18.0 tackles for losses, one forced fumble, three pass breakups and one interception.

Adam Dickson, Jr, WR/LB – Teamed with classmates Berryman and Smith to form and outstanding young core at linebacker for the Spartans. Dickson recorded 40 total tackles, two-and-a-half sacks, seven tackles for losses and two fumble recoveries as a sophomore.

NEWCOMERS
Seniors OL Cole Baker and WR/DB Kace Kozarec are looking to become factors on Friday nights. Baker adds nice size up front with his 5-foot-11, 252-pound frame.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(24 appearances, 45-21) – 2023 (Regional Champion), 2022 (Regional Champion), 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2002 (Regional Champion), 2001, 2000 (Regional Champion), 1999, 1998, 1997 (State Champion), 1996 (State Champion), 1995, 1994 (State Champion), 1993 (Regional Champion), 1992 (Regional Champion)

2023 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/23/24 – at Coldwater (12-2 in 2023) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/25/24 – at Milton-Union (7-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/01/24 – BELLBROOK (8-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/08/24 – at Carlisle (3-8) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/15/24 – at Eaton (8-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/22/24 – OAKWOOD (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/29/24 – MADISON SENIOR (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/06/24 – at Edgewood (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/13/24 – BROOKVILLE (10-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/26/24 – at Waynesville (11-3) – 7:00 PM

 

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