Football: as Hidden Valley heads into the 2010 campaign, the ability to replace the leadership and experience of last year’s playoff team will be the deciding factor in determining what kind of team the Titans will be this season in a very competitive River Ridge District.
The Titans head into 2010 after going 7-4 last season under first-year head coach Scott Weaver. Hidden Valley’s four losses came to teams that made the playoffs, including a 20-18 to Group AA State Champion Northside during the regular season and a loss to Christiansburg in the regional semifinals.
“We look to a more balanced attack this season,” said Weaver. “We expect junior Michael Simonic to really improve with a year under his belt at starting quarterback.”
The Titans have experience across the board at every position other than offensive tackle and tailback when they line up on offense.
“With this experience we hope to be able to expand on the offense that was installed during my first season here,” added the coach.
Weaver went on to say, “we must replace David Williams at tailback and our two senior tackles. Those players were the cornerstone of our rushing attack last season.”
Returning starters on offense include Dylan Johnson (senior, FB), Griffin Brand (senior, WR), Kolton Lescure (senior, TE), Cole Sampson (senior, C) Will Claytor (senior, OG) and Kevin Draudt (senior, kicker).
Others who will probably see playing time on offense include Kyle Stanley (junior, TB), Andy Richards (senior, WR), Jordan Parke (sophomore, OT), Jimmie Batey (senior, OG) and Jared Repass (junior, OT).
Defensively, the Titans are returning six starters and should be strong up the middle.
“Last season we started four sophomores and a freshman on the defensive side,” noted Weaver. “We hope that last season will give these young men the experience to make up for the seniors we lost.”
Returnees include Dee Fletcher (junior, S), Jake Kite (soph.,CB/KR), Stanley (SS), Jake Hubbard (junior, MLB), Lescure (DE), Repass (DL) and Draudt (punter).
Other probable defensive starters include Dylan Hawkns (junior, CB), Garrett Pierce (junior, OLB), Lamar Hale (junior, DL), Will Hux (senior, NG) and Shane Foley (junior, DE).
“We have experience up the middle with Hubbard (MLB) and Fletcher (safety). We hope to surround these guys in the middle with speed on the corners of the defense,” Weaver mentioned, “[but] we must get better up front. We lost experience at strong end, strong tackle and both corners.”
Hidden Valley opens up its regular season this Friday, Aug. 27, with an away game at Patrick Henry. Kickoff is scheduled for 7p.m.
Volleyball: with six returning players and a transfer from Florida, the Hidden Valley Titans have the potential to make some noise again as they vie for the River Ridge District volleyball crown and another run deep in the state playoffs.
The Titans, who were the Region IV runner-ups, fell to E.C. Glass 25-21, 28-26, 25-23 in the Group AA state quarterfinals to end their 2009 season.
Returning for Hidden Valley in 2010 are seniors Sarah Church (MB), Liz Burke (RB), Lottie Meadows (DS), Rachel Thomas (OH), Kim McDow (Libero) and sophomore Caroline Boone (MB). Both McDow and Church will serve as team captains this season. “We have experience in our five seniors,” said head coach Carla Poff.
New to the varsity program this fall is Sarah Patterson, a 6-1 transfer from Florida, who will play setter. Patterson is being looked at by several Division I schools, according to the coach.
Other new faces include junior Allison Burton (DS) and sophomores Jenny Clark (OH), Lauren Thomas (MB/RS), Sarah Gray (DS) and Kelly King (S).
“We have potential this season,” noted Poff. Hidden Valley opened its season earlier this week at Northside and won 3-0.
By David Grimes [email protected]