Ark Valley News - 81 report to first football practice

Zach Williams runs toward the sideline as Dalton Cross blocks Zach Quandt during the first day of practice Aug. 14.

81 report to first football practice
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: August 24, 2017

A handful of students found out the hard way the price of being late to practice: 400 yards of start-and-stop running after an already tough set of wind sprints.

Welcome to Year Five of coach Caleb Smith's Valley Center High School football program.

Practice got underway Aug. 14, preparing for the 2017 season that starts with a home game Sept. 1.

"It was good," Smith said. "It is Year Five of the program, and we expect more out of the kids the first day of practice. We had good energy today, and I was happy with the turnout of guys we had."

A total of 81 players reported for the first day. That's down from the beginning of the 2016 campaign when 103 came out.

"It is lower than last year, but kind of what we expected this year," Smith said.

Though they lost a large and talented group of seniors from last year's squad, the Hornets come in with high expectations. After a 9-2 run last year, Valley Center was picked by league coaches to finish second in the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League II.

Smith doesn't put much stock in preseason picks.

"We were picked second-to-the-last last year and finished second," he said. "You don't put too much into the preseason polls. It was all based on last year. It's nice to be in a position where we're expected to be good. That hasn't happened in a while, but obviously, it's a new year and we'll have to live up to new expectations."

The Hornets are rebuilding with a handful of varsity-experienced players. Valley returns three starters on offense — quarterback Wyatt Lange, running back Caleb Rains and wide receiver Dalton Cross, all seniors — and four on defense — end Patrick Gillen and backs Cross, Tyler Boone and Kadin Pearson, all seniors. Though not many returners, most will be three- and four-year starters.

"We just don't have the numbers with experience," Smith said.

The Hornets are faced with remaking the entire offensive line. Coaches started the summer program thinking they would have returning center Payton Stoffel, but he suffered a knee injury that likely sidelined him for the entire season.

Larry Russell will split time with Rains at running back. Both will play defense as well. Zach Williams, junior receiver, is a newcomer to watch, Smith said.

Smith said seniors are taking a vocal leadership role with the team.

"They heard since last year what great leaders we had last year, which is true," Smith said. "But they're great leaders, too, and they're starting to own that and step up."

The Hornets were expected to practice with pads Aug. 16 and "go live" Aug. 18 and 19.

Smith said it is nice having the new turf on the practice fields behind the high school, a project that wrapped up in time for fall practices.

"We're very blessed to have something like this," he said. "Just from a safety standpoint, it's huge. It's right out our back door. … It's an unbelievable facility, and I really appreciate all the people who made it happen."