Written by: Will Hoenike
When the Valley Vikings re-entered the 8-man ranks after a short foray in 11-man football, people around the program quietly whispered, “just wait.”
The 2022 team was very young, going just 1-7 overall and finishing last in the 1A Division 1 (now 2A) Snake River Conference.
But the words echoed – just wait.
In 2023, the Vikings won five regular-season games, qualified for the state playoffs, and won their opening-round game in Hazelton against a good Potlatch team before falling in the quarterfinals to eventual state champion Butte County.
And now it’s 2024 with a lot of those players back in the blue and white uniforms, ready to open their season on August 30 against the same team that ended their 2023 season, Butte County.
“We have a great group of juniors and seniors this year,” said Brian Ayers, who is in his second season of his second tenure as Valley’s head coach. “If everyone can buy into the role they are needed to play, we will have an outstanding season.”
Leading the way is dual-threat senior quarterback/defensive back Josh Hardy. He’s coming off a breakthrough season where he earned second team All-State honors at both positions and was named the Snake River Conference offensive player of the year. He returns a deep pool of pass-catching targets including all-conference seniors Pedro Robles and Taigen Roseborough, but that’s hardly all. Seniors Andrew Lukes, Shaun Malone, Drake Jones, and Nathan Christensen all return for the Vikings on the perimeter, giving Hardy plenty of options when he looks to loft the ball downfield.
The team also returns junior running back Thomas Vargas. Last year’s top running back, Aaron Damian, is gone so Vargas will have the opportunity to step into that top role. Senior Joe Kent and junior Austin Stubbs should also see time in the backfield as well.
Ayers and his staff will have to fill in some gaps along the offensive and defensive fronts following the graduations of Daniel Juarez and Logan Stubbs, but the coaches have plenty of talented players to choose from. Two-way standout Caydon Jarvis returns, as does junior Jesus Urias. Alfredo Valdez and Diego Arteaga look to earn playing time up front as well.
On defense, Ayers will count on senior Jonathan Zamudio to anchor the defensive front in front of Jones and Vargas at linebacker. Lukes, a 2nd team All-Conference defensive back, joins Hardy and Robles to form what should be a formidable secondary for the Vikings. The defense was prone to give up some big plays last season, particularly on first down, so improvement on that side of the ball will be a big key for Valley this fall.
How big of a key? In Valley’s six wins last season, the team allowed an average of just over 22 points per game which, overall, is a pretty solid number. In the team’s five losses, though, that number jumped to more than 51 points per game surrendered.
Valley plays in the 8-man gauntlet known as the Snake River Conference. While Carey dropped from the 2A SRC back to the 1A Sawtooth Conference this fall, the Hagerman Pirates moved up from 1A to 2A. Oakley, Murtaugh, Glenns Ferry, and Raft River also await the Vikings. Usual conference rival Lighthouse Christian is not fielding a varsity football team this fall.
Ayers and his staff aren’t messing around in the non-conference portion of their schedule, either. Besides the season-opener against the defending state champions, Valley will play perennial state power Prairie at Fruitland High School on September 6 and host Notus to close out the regular season on October 25.