Valley lacks depth, but has no shortage of talented athletes

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Monday, Aug. 23, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

The Valley High football team has made the Sunrise Regional playoffs the last two years as the No. 4 seed, being forced to play its postseason game on the road.

This year, the goal is simple: to host a first-round playoff game.

For that to happen, the Vikings will need to finish second or better in the Northeast Division — something coach John Elwell believes is an obtainable goal.

“We want to play that game in our house,” Elwell said. “The kids are really coming together as a group and trusting each other. We are more of a team than the last two years. They believe it can happen.”

Valley, like several schools in the Northeast, struggles with numbers and could be forced eliminate one of its lower level teams.

They will dress between 25 and 30 players for the varsity team, and while that doesn’t leave much room for injury, Elwell is confident he’ll be able to get the most out their ability.

Valley’s game plan is to get the ball in the hands of its athletes — something the program never has a shortage of.

“We have five or six guys who can flat out run,” Elwell said. “We are going to use the short passing game to try and create some space for these guys to run around in.”

Valley’s offense will be led by senior wide receiver Chris Jones (6-foot-2,180-pounds), running back Brian Brunson (5-foot-9, 165-pounds) and junior quarterback Anthony Sanders (6-foot, 175-pounds).

“We are going to be thin (with numbers), but still very competitive,” Elwell said.

Defensively, corner back Bryon Peeple (5-foot-10, 170-pounds) and lineman Charles Hicks (6-foot-1, 230-pounds) will be counted on to make plays.

Peeple was a second-team Northeast Division selection last year and Hicks will double on the offensive line.

Don’t expect Elwell or his players to complain about the problems they face.

In July, he represented Nevada at a three-day coaching clinic sponsored by the NFL at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He learned his school isn’t the only one that struggles.

“Everyone is affected by the recession,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you have a rural, urban or inner city school. That was kind of comforting to hear that we weren’t the only school with issues.”