Home News Football Guide:

Incoming coach keeping Grizz on same path

Heather Cory

Spring Valley begins its fifth year still searching for their first playoff victory. From left, lineman Nate Halloway, running back Jacques Adams and linebacker Tom Krysztof hope to make history.

By Christopher Drexel (contact)

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Spring Valley

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Spring Valley team page & schedule
Spring Valley roster
Colors: Navy blue and gold
Coach: Kelly Murphy, first year
Homecoming game: Sept. 19 against Clark
Key players: OT/DT Nate Holloway, RB/CB Jacques Adams, QB/FS Anton Stallworth, LB/FB Tom Krysztof, OG/DT Steve Bejarano
Prediction: Grizzlies are rebuilding, but make playoffs

2008 High School Football Guide

Every member of Spring Valley's coaching staff will return in 2008 — well, almost everybody.

During the offseason, Kelly Murphy relocated from Colorado to assume the Grizzlies' head coaching duties. He replaces Johnny Macon, who built the program during the school's initial four years of existence.

Murphy doesn't plan on changing much.

"The first thing I wanted to do when I came in was instill in the kids a lunch-pail work ethic," Murphy said. "There was a good sense of work ethic before I got here and I just want to take it a step further in general day-to-day how we go about our business. We will work hard every day, every rep, every down."

Murphy coached in Colorado the last 15 years, both as an offensive and defensive coordinator. Spring Valley is his first head job.

It didn't take long for Murphy to learn of the tradition Spring Valley has built the last four years as his father, Bob Murphy, has served as the Grizzlies' defensive coordinator for three of them.

Kelly Murphy wants to continue the school's strong play defensively from a season ago, when it held seven of its 11 opponents to 20 points or less, including two shutouts. The defense will be led by Nate Holloway, who weighs 330 pounds and is being courted by multiple Division I schools. He doubles at offensive tackle.

"We have a very strong defense — both our pass defense and rush defense are going to be very good," Holloway said. "We have lot of good talent here. If we continue to work hard we think we can make it to the big game in Reno."

On offense, Kelly Murphy thinks he has one of the fastest tailbacks in the city in Jacques Adams. Adams can break any given run for a touchdown and will carry the ball 20 to 25 times a game, the coach said.

The Grizzlies hope to secure the first playoff win in school history. They lost to Cheyenne in the Sunset Regional quarterfinals the past two years.

“It’s important to the kids and coaches to get that first playoff win,” Kelly Murphy said. “Once we get there, we’ll do our best to make sure that happens. We hope the seniors have an even bigger goal than just winning one playoff game. But that’s the first step.”

Christopher Drexel is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-8929 or christopher.drexel@hbcpub.com..