Years as Head Coach
1st Year (2nd Stint)

Previous Experience
Assistant and Head Coach at VHS from 1996 - 2018

Assistant Coaches
Bern Mussmann, Brayden Cantu, Marlin Mussmann, Erich Buschhorn

Record Last Year
1-7

State Titles
1990, 2015, 2018

Returning Players
Daniel Juarez, OL-DL, 12th
Aaron Damian, RB, LB, 12th
Irving Estrada, WR, LB, 12th
Logan Stubbs, OL, DL, 12th
Josh Hardy, DB, QB, RB, 11th
Pedro Robles, DB, WR, 11th
Drake Jones, DL, QB, WR, 11th
Jonathan Zamudio, DL, OL, 11th
Aiden Malone, WR, LB, 11th

Incoming impact players
Andrew Lukes, WR, DB, 11th
Caydon Jarvis, OL, LB, 11th
Taigen Roseborough, LB, WR, RB, 11th
Nathan Christensen, WR, DB, 11th
Shaun Malone, WR, DB, 11th
Joe Kent, OL, LB, 11th
Thomas Vargas, RB, LB, 10th
Jesus Urias, OL, DL, 10th
Alfredo Valdez, LB, OL 10th

Written by: Will Hoenike

Head coach Brian Ayers lists it as his “first year back” at Valley. But make no mistake – the Viking head man knows his way around the 8-man field pretty well.

Ayers coached in the program from 1996 to 2018 but stepped away following the program’s 11-1 state-championship run in 2018. Valley played the following season at the 1A Division 1 level before moving up to the 11-man 2A classification for two seasons. Valley returned to the 1A Division 1 classification last season, struggling to a 1-7 record, before Ayers’ return to the sideline in Hazelton this season.

“The team from last year was very young. All of those sophomores are now juniors,” Ayers said. “We will look to build off the foundation our young players were given last year and take advantage of their extra year of experience to make us a more consistent and confident team.”

The team graduated just five seniors from last year’s squad so there is reason to believe a move in the standings could be imminent. Valley returns experience upfront with seniors Daniel Juarez and Logan Stubbs and junior Jonathan Zamudio back along the offensive and defensive lines. Juniors Caydon Jarvis and Joe Kent will compete for playing time along the offensive line on offense and linebacker positions on defense while sophomores Jesus Urias and Alfredo Valdez will look to earn playing time as well.

The Vikings averaged just 14.5 points per game on offense last season. Juniors Josh Hardy and Drake Jones will see time at the quarterback position as the team looks to take a big jump forward in that statistical category. Senior Aaron Damian showed flashes of big-play capability as a junior and is joined by returning skill-position players Irving Estrada (senior), Pedro Robles (senior), and Aiden Malone (junior). Don’t be surprised to see the two quarterbacks moved around on the field as well to add more playmaking ability to the team’s offense. Hardy could see time as a running back and Jones as a receiver when they’re not taking snaps as the team’s quarterback.

“I love the attitude and work ethic of this year's team,” Ayers said. “They work well together and understand the importance of placing the team before the individual. I can’t wait to see what they can put together when we get on the field this fall.”

The team returns Damian, Estrada, and Malone at the linebacker spots and depth appears solid as Jarvis, Kent, junior Taigen Roseborough, and sophomore Thomas Vargas add to the mix. Depth is critical for a team that wore down late last season, giving up a number of big plays. Hardy and Robles return in the secondary and will be supported by juniors Andrew Lukes, Nathen Christensen, and Shaun Malone.

The Vikings jump right into the deep end of the pool to open the season on August 25 when they host perennial power Butte County. Six of the eight teams on Valley’s schedule reached the 1A Division 1 state playoffs last season.

Depth and health are always key factors in football, especially at the 8-man level where rosters are usually small. Valley appears to have some depth and gained much valuable experience last season, so the X-factor for the Vikings likely lies in its rear-view mirror: two trying seasons at the 11-man level followed by a tough campaign last fall. Finding success on the field may have as much to do with mental toughness as physical toughness.

“Staying healthy will be a big part but learning how to play confident after a couple tough years will be the deciding factor,” Ayers concluded.