2023 Season Preview: Spring Valley Vikings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a season of change for Spring Valley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The program not only has a new head coach in Nygel Pearson but looks to implement more of a spread offense with returning quarterback <strong>Aden Jones.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior threw for 1,074 yards and seven touchdowns last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Aden has been our offense since the beginning, mid-May, so he's still learning some nuances of what we do,” Pearson said. “So we're going to get there. It's a learning curve for him and for the rest of the offense. We'll get there.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offense will have to rely on new pass catchers with the graduation of Class 5A All-State selections <strong>Kendall Williams</strong> at defensive back and <strong>Jordan Chestnut</strong> at tight end. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574044' first='Kellen' last='Dimes']</strong> is one the promising replacements at wide receiver. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings will have an experienced offensive line with four returning starters - <strong>Sir Stokes</strong>,<strong> Joel Amos</strong>,<strong> Robert McGriff </strong>and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='404456' first='Alan' last='Hartwell'] </strong>- which should help in the offensive transition to the spread.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On defense, Pearson said defensive lineman <strong>David Alford</strong> (pictured left) has become a "leader of action." He earned Best Defensive Player honors at the Aun and McKay Kickoff Classic at Fairfield Central and leads a group which includes <strong>Jonas Wilson, KJ Griffin and Khalil Allen</strong> lining upfront. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The secondary with<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='267471' first='Devan' last='Crumpton']</strong> and <strong>Will Smith</strong> also returns with experience. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off a 5-6 season in former head coach Robin Bacon's final season, Pearson admits his team is not where it needs to be going into the season-opener against Westwood. At the same time, he's hoping to see improvement as the season progresses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aden Jones</strong> QB, 2025 – The junior will be relied upon to carry the new offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>David Alford </strong>DL, 2024 – He posted 46 tackles and three sacks last season as a defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267471' first='Devan' last='Crumpton']</strong> DB 2024 – A hard-hitter whose closing speed on defending passes makes him a difficult matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aden Jones </strong>QB, 2025 – At 5-foot-10 and 143 pounds, the junior quarterback is on the small side of the position. On film, he compensates with a quick release in finding open receivers and uses his mobility more to buy time to make a pass. He does have the capability to make running plays and is willing to stay in the pocket when heavily pressured. Shows good accuracy throwing long passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16224435/63877f91dfe29a0a5498f84a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d91ad3da70f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jordan Chestnut </strong>DB – A Class 5A All-State selection who collected six interceptions and 74 tackles last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kendall Williams </strong>TE – The Gardner-Webb freshman had 18 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns as a senior for Spring Valley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473010' first='Michael' last='Boulware']</strong> LB – The son of the former NFL linebacker by the same name has moved on to Gray Collegiate Academy.<br><br><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574044' first='Kellen' last='Dimes'] </strong>WR 2025 – He had 34 tackles, eight pass breakups and two blocked field goals last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->