By Baylen Hite
News Now Warsaw
Well this is weird isn’t it? Talking about a high school football game on a Saturday night? That’s the position that Death Valley football fans find themselves in tonight.
The Vikings will enter hostile territory with a target firmly planted on their back against the (4-3) John Glenn Falcons. It’s another matchup with a future conference foe that will be a crucial late season battle for Death Valley.
Let’s break down what it will take for the Vikings to come away with their eighth win of the season on the eve of the sectional draw.
Take Care of the Ball
When you come into a game expected to win, it is imperative to take care of the football. It’s especially important to do so against a defense like the Falcons that has intercepted opposing teams 14 times this season. The Falcons rank near the top in the state with 14 interceptions. Safety Chase Miller leads the team with six by himself. Valley isn’t a team that tends to air it out but they will have to be careful when moving the ball through the air.
John Glenn is a very opportunistic team. They’ve collected 3 or more interceptions in a game 3 times this season. Valley needs to limit the turnovers to keep momentum on their side for the biggest moments of the game.
Records are Deceiving
I would argue that John Glenn is the best 3-loss team in the state. The Falcons enter tonight’s matchup against opponents with a combined record of 22-2.
They’ve been beaten by an improved 4A South Bend Riley, Knox who just beat Triton to stay undefeated, and Laville who bounced back with another win last night over North Judson.
We have reached that point of the year where sometimes records indicate play and other times they just show how good teams really are.
In a first-time meeting you can’t underestimate an unfamiliar opponent
Control Special Teams
Julian McMahan is a kick return threat for the Falcons. He has returned two kicks for a touchdown this season. He raced 99 yards against Laville a week ago on the opening play to give Glenn an early lead.
The Vikings have done a great job so far this season against return threats. The Vikings haven’t allowed a special teams score yet this season but that could change if they can’t bundle up Mcmahan.
Special teams always seem to be the deciding factor in close matchups and Valley has to make sure they have the edge tonight.
News, Notes, and Scores from Week 8 (10/6)
Three Rivers Conference
- Peru (8-0) looks to be the favorite to close out the conference title in the TRC. They hold a two-game lead over the top two teams after winning the head-to-head matchups.
Cass 38 Manchester 7
Maconaquah 55 Wabash 13
Northfield 33 Whitko 0
Peru 54 North Miami 7
Rochester 41 Southwood 0
Northern Lakes Conference
- Mishawaka, Northridge, and Warsaw are all tied at the top with a (5-1) record. Mishawaka has beaten both Northridge and Warsaw in head to head matchups.
Warsaw 42 Goshen 7
Mishawaka 31 Concord 7
Northridge 40 Plymouth 14
Northwood 38 Wawasee 21
Hoosier North
- Knox is in control of the conference in their final season of competition before joining the Indiana Northern State Conference next season.
Knox 42 Triton 7
Laville 23 North Judson 20
Pioneer 46 Culver 8
Winamac 26 Caston 22
