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Valley Vikings vs. Prairie Pirates

Saturday, Nov. 21 @ 1:00 p.m. MT, Holt Arena

Broadcast Commentators: Matt Harris, Sven Alskog, Will Nordquist

Click HERE to watch this game LIVE.

Ever since their 72-18 beatdown at the hands of Prairie in the state championship last season, the Vikings have been on an absolute roll. They are 11-0 overall and have held the top spot in both the IdahoSports.com and State Media Football Polls for pretty much the entire season. With several starters back for Valley including All-State players Ben Taylor and Kaleb Burk, it’s easy to see why Valley has been so good this season.

Remember, this is only Valley’s second year in the 1AD1 ranks after spending their previous history in the 2A classification.  Their adjustment to the 8-man game has gone very smoothly and efficiently. Their closest game this season was their state quarterfinal matchup against Kamiah, which ended in a 48-36 win for the Vikings here at Holt Arena.

Ben Taylor has been the focal point of the offense for the past two seasons and he is having another stellar campaign. Through 11 games this year, he has thrown for 2,556 yards and 47 TD’s while running in three more TD’s. His backfield mate is Kaleb Burk and has been excellent as well with 1,152 rush yds and 17 TD’s on the ground plus 208 receiving yards and 3 TD’s.

The Valley offense overall is loaded and potent, also featuring receivers Garrett Mussman (1,045 receiving yds and 19 TD’s), Jacob Henry (399 receving yards, 9 TD), Taylor Coates (351 rec yds, 6 TD) and Mike Elorrieta (260 rec yds, 5 TD).

Their defense has been very solid as well. Prior to the Kamiah game two weeks ago, the Vikings had given up a grand total of 68 total points this year. In the last two weeks against very good Kamiah and Lapwai teams, the Vikings have surrendered 84 points total… while scoring 152 points themselves. 

Last week, they beat the Lapwai Wildcats in record setting fashion. The Vikings travelled up to the Kibbie Dome in Moscow and won the ball game 104-48. Yes… you’re reading that right. 104 total points for Valley. From what we understand, according to our good friend David Bashore, it is the single highest scoring output in a high school football playoff game in Idaho history. It may also be the highest scoring output in any football game in Idaho in recent memory.

Here’s how the touchdown distribution breaks down from that game: 

-       QB Ben Taylor: 6 TD passes

-       RB Kaleb Burk: 1 pass TD, 3 rush TD, 2 rec TD

-       TE Jake Nelson: 2 rec TD

-       RB Garrett Mussmann: 2 rec TD, 1 interception return TD

-       RB Calvin Korom: 2 rush TD, 1 kickoff return TD

-       WR Taylor Coates: 1 rec TD

-       WR Mike Elorrieta: 1 rush TD

Valley has worked all year long to get back to this point in the state playoffs. They made it all the way here last year in their first season of 8-man football… but they were embarrassed by the Prairie Pirates in the Kibbie Dome to the tune of 72-18. It was the highest scoring output by a team in the state championship in Idaho 8-man history. That loss has fueled Valley all year long and now not only are they back here competing in the state championship, they get to take on the Prairie Pirates once again.

Overall this season, the Vikings were relatively untested. They hammered every single team they played this year with their closest game prior to the quarterfinals a 48-6 win over Hagerman in the play-in round. As I previously mentioned, this is only Valley’s second season in 8-man football and they have even improved from last year’s blistering pace. The scoring averages for Valley kind of show that as well:

-       In 2014, Valley averaged 56.3 ppg on offense while giving up 24.5 ppg on defense for a difference of 31.8 ppg overall.

-       In 2015, Valley is averaging 64.9 ppg on offense while giving up 13.8 ppg on defense for a difference of 51.1 ppg overall.

That’s essentially a 20-point improvement over last season. Valley is ready. This may be their best opportunity to seize the title. But it is going to be an absolute slugfest trying to pry it from the hands of the Prairie Pirates.

A win on Saturday would give the Pirates a second straight title, making them the first 1AD1 team to do so since the Kendrick Tigers did it back in 2000-2001 when there was just one 8-man classification.

As I mentioned previously, last year’s 1AD1 state title game was, well, a blowout. Prairie took control in the first quarter and never relented. They forced 5 total interceptions from Valley’s Ben Taylor and essentially mopped the floor with the Vikings. In the process, QB Jake Bruner had a nearly perfect night for the Pirates, including completing 17-of-18 passes for 329 yards and 2 TD’s while rushing 10 times for 49 yards and 4 more TD’s. With his athletic ability and size, he is a difficult matchup for anyone in Idaho.

Now, Prairie lost quite a few contributors from last season’s historic championship squad, but that doesn’t mean they should be taken any less seriously. They are a solid all-around team that current features a 23-game winning streak… and should they win on Saturday, that would mark a second straight perfect undefeated season.

Jake Bruner has had a solid season once again, throwing for 2,643 total yards with 29 TD’s and 7 INT. But not only is he their main passing threat, he is also their main rushing threat. Bruner has 919 rush yards and 20 TD’s on the ground too.

He has a great supporting cast in the rushing game including Lucas Wemhoff (452 rush yds, 12 TD), Terran Peery (451 rush yds, 5 TD’s) and Calvin Hinkelman (388 rush yds, 8 TD).

In the receiving corps, Isaiah Sheers leads the way with 48 rec, 1032 yards, and 11 TD’s. Hinkleman has also turned in 31 receptions, for 611 yards and 7 TD’s. Wemhoff and Devin Bruegeman have chipped in 3 and 2 TD's as well.

The Prairie defense again has been solid this year, holding opponents to 20 points or less 5 times this year. Their schedule wasn’t the easiest either. They defeated tough 1AD2 opponents Salmon River and Council early on before rolling the rest of their schedule, including solid wins against Kamiah and Lapwai. Once the playoffs rolled around, they were tested by Oakley and Raft River in consecutive weeks. But Prairie marched on as they look to make history again. 

In Prairie looking to secure a second straight state title, how do their scoring averages measure up from last year to this year? Here’s how it looks:

-       In 2014, Prairie averaged 62.7 ppg on offense and gave up 15.2 ppg on defense for a difference of 47.5 ppg overall.

-       In 2015, Prairie is averaging 59.8 ppg on offense while giving up 16.2 ppg on defense for a difference of 43.6 ppg overall.

Those numbers are very similar to their record setting campaign last year. The Pirates continue to be the team of consistency the last few years in 8-man football.

Last week, they made a long trip to southeast Idaho as they took on the Raft River Trojans in Malta. The Pirates jumped out early, but Raft River climbed back into it throughout the rest of the game before Prairie finally slammed the door shut in a 44-30 win. In that ball game, Prairie rushed for 458 yards and shredded the Trojan defense. Bruner was the main figure on offense, racking up four total touchdowns with help from Terran Peery (1 receiving TD), Lucas Wemhoff (45-yd rush TD), and Calvin Hinkelman (10-yd rushing TD).

It’s been quite the 3-year run for Prairie… a total record of 32-3 (including those 23 straight wins). The Pirates know that they are going to get their best shot from a revamped and hungry Valley Vikings team. Does the blue trophy remain in Northern Idaho? Or will it travel back to District 4? This should be an extremely fun game Saturday afternoon from the comfy confines of Holt Arena.