Schuylkill-Colonial Week-10 Rivalry Special: * Battle of the Valley’s * Williams Valley at Tri-Valley Preview

Tagged under: District 11, News

Daniel Reed | October 28, 2022

PFNDan570FB’S *Game of the Week*
Williams Valley Vikings(7-2) at Tri-Valley Bulldogs(9-0)
Last Meetings: Bulldogs won 17 to 0(2021 Regular Season), Vikings won 28 to 13(2021 District XI Playoffs)
Streak: Vikings have won 1
Series History: Williams Valley leads series 33-30-3(4-5-0 in playoffs) dating back to 1965

Key Player(s) to Watch in this Game:
Williams Valley – Ezi Hite(Sr.)-(T/DE), Brady Evans(Sr.)-(WR/DB), Logan Williard(Sr.)-(FB/LB), Alex Achenbach(Jr.)-(RB/LB), Isaac Whiteash(Sr.)-(QB/LB)
Tri-Valley – Kole Miller(Sr.)-(QB/DB), Kameron Wetzel(Sr.)-(RB/SS), Jake Scheib(Sr.)-(FB), Reece Huntzinger(Sr.)-(RB), Layne Yoder(Jr.)-(WR), Shawn Bowman(Jr.)-(TE/DE)

Game Preview: Williams Valley enters the matchup winners of four in a row, sporting a very good 7-2 record along the way. The Vikings average 36 points a game to the Bulldogs 33. Defensively, the Bulldogs hold the edge giving up just 8 points a game, to the Vikings 27. During the four game win streak for the Vikings, they’re giving up just 15 a game, while scoring 38. Tri-Valley leads the way in rushing with 230 yards a game to the Vikes 217. In the passing game, Williams Valley leads the charge with 152 yards a game, the Bulldogs with 115, giving the edge to the Vikings in total yards a game with 369 to 345 for Tri-Valley. On paper, stat wise, this game is pretty much equal.

Coaches Words:

Williams Valley: We’re hoping to have a very efficient flow to our practice this week. Everyone is fully healthy and locked in, focused on this game. This is our best rival, we need to be balanced and bring our best mental determination to date said Coach Savage. In order to go on the road, and beat the #4 State Ranked Bulldogs, we need to be cranked up on emotion and execute the playbook utilizing all the weapons we have. We need to definitely take care of the football, limit penalties and mistakes. Coach Savage also stated, although we have been moved up to 2A, we are still treating this game as defending our District XI title from last year at 1A.

Tri-Valley: *N/A at time of publish*

My Outlook: Tri-Valley defeated the Vikings in last seasons final game of the regular season 14 to 0 behind a strong defensive effort from Reece Huntzinger and Josh Reno who racked up 27 tackles between the two. Offensively the Bulldogs struggled, recording just 121 yards of total offense, lead by Kameron Wetzel. Those 3 players along with others are back again this season as well and will play in the game on Friday night. In the playoff game 2 weeks later, it was the Vikings turning the table and came out with the victory 28 to 13. Again, it was Reece Huntzinger leading the way on defense for the Bulldogs who racked up 13 tackles in the game but it was the explosive offense of the Vikings eventually taking charge piling up almost 300 yards on offense led by Alex Achenbach and Brady Evans. In that game, the defense of the Vikings had 4 players with 10+ tackles. The Bulldogs defense this season has been very tough, recording 3 shutouts and in their last four games, have given up just 4 points a game on average. I feel the Vikings are still energized from earning, giving Coach Savage his 100th win a couple weeks ago, they want to go out and win. A win for the Vikings could give them a higher seed in the DXI Class 2A playoffs, most likely from looking at the rankings, they’d still be playing against Exec. Education Academy Charter in the first round. A loss by the Bulldogs would most likely drop them to #2 in the DXI Class 1A rankings behind Northern Lehigh, of course that depends on how their game fares that same evening.

PREDICTION: The team that comes ready to play FOUR full quarters, and manages the clock, should come out of this game victorious. Even though Williams Valley is on the road, against a very stingy defense, the Vikings win close… 20 to 16

2021 District XI Class 1A Championship Game Highlights

Don’t forget to tune in Friday Night as I will have LIVE UPDATES from the game in Hegins ! Follow @PFNDan570FB and @Bptashinski on TWITTER for all your Schuylkill-Colonial League and EPC action.

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