WK 1 Vinton County @ Unioto

[Smart Guy]

Bengalfan76.........Sorry for hating on you. But other than that, I stand by what I said. Go Browns LOL!!!!!!

[boilermaker]

Id say the Vikes by a couple of scores.
Good Luck & Good Health to both schools.

[bengalfan76]

Bengalfan76.........Sorry for hating on you. But other than that, I stand by what I said. Go Browns LOL!!!!!!

Now you offended me.lol
I don't disagree with what you said just I am not a participant.

[vikings52]

Here is the season preview on the Vikes. Enjoy.

Vikings go back to the ‘bone, basics

By PAUL BOGGS
Sports Editor

McARTHUR — The Vinton County High School football team is going back to the ‘bone, back to the basics, and back to what it does best.

Following the graduation of 15 seniors, and a one-year experiment with an opened-up offense, the Vikings are going retro this season with a multitude of unheralded players.

For former Viking standout and third-year head coach Nolan Yates, it’s what the program has built its tradition upon.

That being the wishbone offense with a fullhouse backfield.

“Vinton County football is based on knocking people off the ball, and we’re going back to our roots and what we’re good at,” said Yates.

For the past couple of campaigns, the Vikings were laden with talented skill players, and tweaked their schemes to suit their personnel.

“We’ve tried some other things,” said Yates. “We were an I-formation team two years ago which is more of our style. Last year, we tried a little bit of the zone read with the shotgun.”

In fact, Ryan Stewart became just the fourth quarterback in Vinton County High School history to throw for 1,000 yards, and just the third signal-caller to complete a dozen or more passes for touchdowns.

Stewart, an all-Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division and first-team Division III all-district selection, finished his stellar senior season with 2,028 all-purpose yards.

He completed 25 passes for 426 yards to tight end Dustin Guthrie, who also graduated as an all-league and first-team all-district performer.

Guthrie’s six touchdown receptions last season ranks third all-time at the school in a single season.

But Yates believes the team’s strength this fall lies within the offensive line.

We feel like our strong suit is our guys up front which are returning this year,” he said. “We do have some playmakers, but it starts with our guys up front. The last couple of years we have been inexperienced (on the lines), and we finally have a year where we have three or four guys back with experience out of the five or six we have up front. That’s real exciting for us. We know we can run whatever offense we want, but we have to get people off the ball up front. If you can’t do that, then you’re in trouble. We have some good size and leadership there, so we hope we’re better.”

Thus, it’s back to the wishbone offense with quarterback options, fullback dives and halfback traps.

Vinton County returns just eight letterwinners from last year’s 4-6 squad, but returns five starters on both sides of the ball.

This year’s senior class sports 14, which includes two-way lineman Bubba Owings, center Tyler East and starting guards Adam Jarvis and Tyler Dutcher.

Anthony Bentley and Dakota Johnson will be two in the stable of halfbacks and Ryan Saya at fullback.

Bentley will be the starting safety and Brandon Clark at one cornerback, as Clark and Trent Thompson are working in a rotation at split end.

Thompson, freshman brother Luke Thompson and senior Calvin Beckley are among the linebackers in the Vikings’ 5-3 defensive set.

Beckley and junior Steven Thompson will spell at halfback as well.

“Our depth is really good this year,” said Yates. “I have six running backs that I don’t have a problem putting in the game right now. You’re not going to see the same two or three guys in there all the time. We’re three fullbacks deep and five or six halfbacks deep. You’ll see a combination of different guys.”

Tommy Hale takes over for Guthrie at defensive end, as Guthrie graduated first-team all-district at that position.

Guthrie made 55 tackles, forced three fumbles, collected nine-and-a-half sacks and recorded 14 quarterback hurries.

Yates also expanded on the Vikings’ junior class, “which isn’t large by any means, but are a great group of kids.”

Guthrie’s brother — Dylan — is among that group, and will be a starting two-way tackle.

“Dylan is six-foot-three, 285 pounds and is a great athlete,” said Yates.

But perhaps the best athlete on the squad is junior quarterback Andy Grillo, who succeeds Stewart and switches from wide receiver.

Grillo, an all-TVC and Honorable Mention all-district pick, is also a top special teams threat.

“Andy Grillo is back after being all-conference and all-district. He’s a great athlete and I think everyone in the area knows a little bit about him,” said Yates.

Everyone may know more about him as this season progresses.

The other juniors which Yates highlighted are linebacker Steven Thompson, guard Trent Mercer, tight end/defensive end Brandon Grigsby and fullbacks Tommy Bentley and Kyle Matteson.

“It’s been a pleasant surprise, some of the young guys that have stepped up and really contributed here,” said Yates. “Those are some names that I’ve mentioned there that probably no one has heard of, but you will hear of them once we get started in the season. We have some good athletes.”

Two sophomores are also expected to contribute heavily — cornerback Adam Ward and right tackle Brenden Shipman.

Yates also expressed his eagerness to see his newcomers.

He hopes some of the unknown names become household.

“What really excites me is some of the guys that are back out this year that are athletes that didn’t play last year for one reason or another,” said Yates. “We’re going to be one of those teams that people are going to say ‘Who is this guy?’ because we have some guys like that who can make some noise for us.”

Conversely, Yates hopes the Vikings’ overall lack of varsity experience “doesn’t come back to haunt us.”

“These kids have worked really hard and have had great attitudes,” he said. “We’re going to be young and inexperienced in a lot of areas, so we’re counting on hard work and teamwork to overcome some of those growing pains.”

The young Vikings do deal with a “more doable” schedule, despite the fact that strongholds Jackson and Waverly remain.

In Yates’ first two years, Vinton County played arguably its most difficult schedule in decades.

“We’re excited to have our schedule the way it is now,” said Yates. “On the outside looking in, our schedule seems a lot more doable than the previous couple of years. It’s been a very tough schedule the last couple of years, but people forget that. They look at our overall record and say we’re 4-6.”

Vinton County opens at Unioto on Friday, before welcoming Bloom-Carroll next week.

The Vikings’ first division game is at TVC-Ohio newcomer Athens, followed by the annual ‘backyard brawl’ at archrival Wellston.

In years past, the matchup with Wellston concluded the regular season, but Nelsonville-York — previously the TVC-Ohio opener — is now at the end of the Vikings’ slate.

Regardless of the order, though, Yates said games three, six and 10 are indeed the highlight tilts.

Vinton County has not defeated Jackson since 1997, and has not knocked off Nelsonville-York since its last league championship in 1999.

The Vikings have won three of the past four meetings with Wellston, though.

“Those are the three games that the kids really look forward to,” said Yates. “Jackson and Wellston are the big rivals, the kids live right next to and know each other. And traditionally, the Nelsonville-York game has always had a big impact on what the league standings turn out to be.”

And, while the official league standings may say otherwise, Yates said Nelsonville-York “on the field were co-champions the way I look at it.”

“Nelsonville-York is still the team to beat, but overall, I think our league will be much better this year than last year,” he said.

And this year, by going back to the Vinton County basics, hopes are high at VCHS that the Maroon and White will be more consistent — and winning at the same time.

“If you look at our games last year, we were in every single ballgame with the exception of the Gallipolis game. We were seven points away from being TVC champions. We have a chance to win if we just take care of the ball,” said Yates. “We’re hoping that just the overall leadership of this team, the way these kids carry themselves and what we’re trying to teach these guys in year three will overcome any and all of those mental errors. I know I’m looking for big things out of these guys.”

[formula97]

vc by 3 td's easy

[dilligaf]

Goodluck to vc

[VIKED_MAN]

VIKINGS

[X8XOHIOLEGENDX7X]

vc by atleast 4 touchdowns. i use to live within 5 mins of the sherman stadium or field and was gonna go watch them this year but after reading this glad i moved back lol..

[hawkeyepierce]

Check this out... http://www.svcsportszone.com/

This is a brand new site look for it to only get better.

[Billybobb]

VC but close.I hear VC has some problem areas to deal with.

[Fluoride]

Hawk,

What's with the Ross County crap? I thought you were loyal to the Vikes. Don't disappoint me like you have in the past.

[irongirl78]

Vikings by 3 TDs.
After loosing 15 starters what team wouldnt have a "few problems" to work out. The Vikes look good this year and I am excited to see them have a good season. Coach Yates, his staff and the team work thier butts off and deserve a Great Season.

Good Luck Vikes!!!!

[Ty Webb]

Hawk,

What's with the Ross County crap? I thought you were loyal to the Vikes. Don't disappoint me like you have in the past.

Wow.......that's gotta hurt Hawkeye!

A bit too much information, none-the-less.....feel free to share details Fluoride.

I'm really interested to see if VC gets off to a fast start tomorrow night.

[hawkeyepierce]

As far as I know I have NEVER disappointed a woman, especially a beautiful woman like yourself Fluoride.

The website is a BRAND new creation by two very good friends of mine and I was showing them some "love."

[NY BUCKS]

GO T V C

[PLEASANTFLYER]

unioto in a close one 8-6

[OSUNUT52]

Unioto 7 Vinton county 0 1st

[Ty Webb]

At the half.....Unioto 19.....Vinton County 13

[boilermaker]

Im Surprised , still a half to go for the Vikes

[ball hound]

19 all in the 4th