A new season, a new mindset: VHS Rams prepare for season
The read about the Aug. 22 game click here https://thelafayettesun.com/news/hot-start-propels-valley-to-week-one-win-over-glenwood
BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
FOR THE LAFAYETTE SUN
VALLEY — When looking back on the 2024 season, Valley High School head football coach Adam Hunter sees opportunity everywhere.
Overview
The 21-20 loss to Glenwood School that saw the Rams up 20-0 at halftime stands out in particular, and the overtime losses to Elmore County High School and Holtville High School cost VHS a second-straight playoff berth.
In the end, those three results stood between the Rams likely hosting a first-round playoff game with an 8-2 record instead of sitting at home at 5-5 as they did last November.
With the 2025 season just around the corner, Hunter and his squad have put that disappointment behind them with 25 summer practices that saw very few players miss a session. That renewed work ethic is the result of two words that have defined this offseason: finish and leadership.
Despite losing top contributors Antwan Greenwood, Tilyn Carrell and Galvin Goss to graduation, the conversations surrounding finishing games and developing leadership skills have already translated to results on the practice field.
“These guys have worked hard,” Hunter said. “I’m really excited about this season, just about the gel that this team’s got about them. They really love to work. They come in every day, ready, fired up, ready to go. They want to get on that field, and they want to compete. I’ve come up to the field house, they call me, text me and say, ‘Coach, can we come up to the field and work?’ And I think we’ve got more guys now than in the 18 years that I’ve been here that have stepped up and gotten extra work on their own. So that’s a testament to this team.”
Perhaps more important than those additional work sessions necessary for developing the skills and stamina required to power through difficult games, however, has been the emergence of positive vocal leaders.
At times last year, the Rams weren’t ready to finish games and got complacent when ahead. There was also not as high a level of team chemistry as there was in previous years. Some players focused solely on their own goals instead of on maximizing their skillset for the entire team’s success.
According to junior offensive lineman Jax Miller, the emergence of players confident enough in themselves to demand more from their teammates is the single largest contrast between last year’s team and this year’s team.
“The biggest difference between this year and last year is, like Nikelen [Linson] said, the leadership,” Miller said. “I think last year we really struggled with leadership, and in those overtime losses, I think that’s where we lost. We didn’t have much leadership. Our workouts this year are way more intense. We have a lot of guys who’ll pick you up and will move on to the next play. We have a lot of guys rotating in, and I just think we have a lot more leadership. I think that’s what’s going to help us throughout the season.”
For this year’s team, the leadership will be young, if not experienced, particularly on the defensive side of the ball where two juniors will lead the charge.
Offense
Last year, the Rams relied heavily on their ground game and accumulated more than 250 rushing yards in six games. In fact, they made up more than 80 % of VHS’ total offensive yards and at least 95% of total offensive yards in three separate games.
However, it is unlikely the Rams will enjoy that same prolific output on the ground this year. They must replace their top two leading rushers, Carrell and Goss, who combined to rush for 2,150 yards and 23 touchdowns on 239 total carries before both graduating this past May.
It will most likely fall to junior Aidan Welch to shoulder that burden as the next man up on the running back depth chart. While he featured at cornerback last season and only ran for five yards on three carries last season, Welch possesses a 5-foot-9, 165-pound frame that is difficult to tackle, a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and surprising strength for his size.
While numerous questions swirl around the running back position, VHS has much more certainty behind center as senior Caden Foreman returns at quarterback.
In the final three games of the season last year, Foreman threw for 372 yards and five TDs. Steady improvement in each of those outings and a solid offseason have given Hunter and his staff reason to believe that he can take another step forward in his development this year.
In addition to replacing their leading rushers, the Rams must revamp their entire starting receiving corps. Luckily, Aaden Johnson, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior who transferred from Beauregard High School this past offseason, arrived just in time and figures to lead the unit.
While not yet heavily recruited, Johnson is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball. That playmaking ability particularly showed up in his four-catch, 122-yard performance against Anniston High School last year, which included a 96-yard game-winning touchdown reception.
Up front, VHS must replace several starters on the offensive line after left tackle Tyreon Lynch and left guard Gabe Gilbert graduated. The good news for the Rams is that they also return several starters who will soften the blow their departures cause.
The 6-foot-2, 300-pound Miller will be the focal point of the offensive line as he will likely rotate between tackle, guard and center. Senior Zach Finch, a massive 6-foot, 320-pound guard, and junior center Logan Seymour also come back to anchor the trenches.
Defense
The defense is much more experienced in comparison and will look to cause chaos with three down linemen and four linebackers, which allows for exotic blitz packages.
When looking at the defensive line, there is no doubt about it: the Rams have some particularly big shoes to fill up front after losing Greenwood and his team-leading seven sacks to graduation.
Senior Antwan Hatchett, a 6-foot, 215-pound defensive end who ended last season with 57 total tackles and three sacks, will be called upon to fill the void that Greenwood’s departure leaves. Finch also figures to be an important piece to the puzzle with his imposing size and experience.
The linebacking corps looks to be the strength of the entire team this season. Leading tackler Nikelen Linson, along with Mason Yarbrough, both return at inside linebacker. The two juniors combined for 145 tackles last year as sophomores and will look to build upon promising starts to their high school career.
Junior outside linebacker Brandon McCullough, who recorded 37 total tackles and a sack as a sophomore, also anchors the unit and will look to cause havoc off the edge.
In the secondary, junior safety Cole House, the son of defensive coordinator William House, will be counted on to lead the entire unit. As a sophomore, House recorded 58 total tackles — the fifth most on the team — and will look to record his first varsity interception this year as one of the team’s top pass defenders.
Welch, despite being the heir apparent at running back, should also factor in at some point after receiving extensive playing time at cornerback last year.
Special teams
The bad news for the Rams is that every single one of their punt and kick returners from last season graduated. Despite there being no clear-cut replacement, Johnson has the shiftiness and ball skills necessary to make an impact on special teams.
In the specialist positions, VHS has more clarity as they return junior Santiago Diaz at kicker and senior Xander Newton at punter. Based on publicly available game film, it appears Diaz will handle placekicking duties on extra points and field goals, while Newton will primarily lead the charge on punts and kickoffs.
Either way, the Rams have a potent one-two punch, which is relatively rare at the 5A level.
Final analysis
After coming within an overtime loss to Holtville of making the playoffs last year, the Rams find themselves with a golden opportunity this year. While they remain in a tough division, newcomers and returning starters alike give VHS a noticeably talented roster for the 5A level.
A schedule that features home games against juggernauts Central of Clay County High School and Russell County High School also gives the Rams the possibility of making home-field advantage a crucial factor.
If a veteran-laden defense can give the offense time at the beginning of the season to develop the chemistry required to be a playoff team, there is a very good chance the Rams will exorcise their demons and again play in November.
The crucial question remains replacing lost production at the running back position. While Hunter wants to open up the offense much more when compared to last season, a viable ground game is necessary to keep the defense honest.
If VHS can find a potent one-two punch behind Foreman, this should be a playoff-contending team with the potential to make it to the second or third round of the playoffs. At the very least, finding a way to come out on top in close games will be a definite improvement.
2024 Record (5-5, 3-3):
- Aug. 23 at Glenwood L 21-20
- Aug. 30 vs. Smiths Station W 36-9
- Sept. 6 at Central Clay County* L 48-0
- Sept. 20 vs. Marbury* W 28-7
- Sept. 27 at Russell County L 45-27
- Oct. 4 at Sylacauga* W 26-7
- Oct. 11 vs. Elmore County* L 20-14 (OT)
- Oct. 18 at Holtville* L 27-21 (OT)
- Oct. 25 vs. Beauregard* W 28-0
- Oct. 31 vs. Dadeville W 23-3.
2025 Schedule
- Aug. 22 vs. Glenwood W 20-14
- Aug. 29 at Smiths Station
- Sept. 5 vs. Central Clay County*
- Sept. 12 at Marbury*
- Sept. 26 vs. Russell County
- Oct. 3 vs. Sylacauga*
- Oct. 10 at Elmore County*
- Oct. 17 vs. Holtville*
- Oct. 24 at Beauregard*
- Oct. 30 at Dadeville
* 5A Region 4 game
** Playoff game
