2026 Preview: Spring Valley Vikings

In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions throughout July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe">Simply head to our subscription page</a> and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.   Spring Valley's football program never really settled into a cruising pace last year to begin the Norman Washington era.   His hire was approved in mid-March, meaning the Vikings were starting over while other teams were getting fully dialed into their spring sessions.   That meant Spring Valley had to rush a bit, then had to change gears after getting into the win column for the first time in three years, only to spin its wheels during a brutal region road.   The damage? A 2-9 season that was the Vikings' best since 2022, but also one that taught them some important lessons about how to build on that rather than regressing back to those winless years. One of the keys is their chemistry, which has improved now that much of the new has become routine.   "Last year, it wasn't as great as it is this year," [player_tooltip player_id='1693513' first='Kavion' last='Dawson'] said at the final Prep RedZone Media Days stop at Westwood. "We were just trying to get used to (Washington), get used to new playbooks and stuff, so we started off behind at the start of the season. I feel like we're prepared this year."   Scoring points was a problem last year for Spring Valley, which posted only 63 of them across 11 games. Four starters return on that side of the ball, and they're working toward achieving balance in another new system.   "Offense, we're still building," said quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='2212448' first='Elijah' last='Williams'] after his freshman season was cut well short due to injury. "We just got a new offensive coordinator (Ryan Young). We had some strengths last year. Running the ball, we had a lot of strength there. But we're still building on our passing game and stuff that will help us in the playoffs and in the region."   Williams will have some familiar faces to work with, like a pair of rising seniors in running back [player_tooltip player_id='1816235' first='Zion' last='Bennett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1823801' first='Ethan' last='Portee-Broadwater'] at receiver. Dawson will have his opportunities to contribute on offense, and the offensive line will be led by a couple of rising juniors in Jackson Jones and [player_tooltip player_id='1818462' first='Damien' last='Navarre'] up front.   Dawson will be one of the leaders on defense, which also returns four starters, from his defensive back position, and in year two with the same playbook the Vikings feel like they can hone in on the finer details heading into this season rather than spending valuable time learning new alignments.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822025' first='Zachary' last='Williams'] will join Dawson in the secondary, with [player_tooltip player_id='1818472' first='Marcus' last='Bellinger'] holding things down in front of them from his linebacker spot. In [player_tooltip player_id='1817131' first='Joshua' last='Mickey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1818464' first='Jeremiah' last='Williams'] the Vikings feel like they have a couple of tone-setters on the defensive line, and they have the benefit of knowing they'll have them both for another season after this one.   "We've got a good defense that I feel like can get off the field at any moment of the game, no matter where we're at," Dawson said.   The Vikings have spent this offseason taking all of the losses and hardships they suffered and using them as fuel, working out harder, conditioning harder and dialing in all of the little things to get better as a team to attack this season.   They'll have more non-region games to get ready for the playoff chase this year, as the new IV-5A schedule will have just four opponents on it - Blythewood, Gray Collegiate, Ridge View and Sumter - after playing six league games a year ago.   Those aren't all just tune-ups before then, though. Spring Valley has its eyes set on a rivalry game straight out of the gate, with the Aug. 21 season opener at Richland Northeast giving the Vikings a chance to set the tone immediately.   "We're not to be overlooked," Portee-Broadwater said. "Everybody's counted us out, but we're not to be overlooked. We're still in the game."   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1816235' first='Zion' last='Bennett'] RB, 2027 - Bennett has been a mainstay in the Vikings' backfield, and the 5-foot-11, 170-pounder has both the strength to break tackles and the speed to turn that contact into a huge gain. He's also a threat coming out of the backfield as a receiver.   [player_tooltip player_id='1693513' first='Kavion' last='Dawson'] ATH, 2028 - Simply put, Dawson is a playmaker. At 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, he's a good tackler at strong safety who can get into the backfield and is also a ball hawk in the secondary. On offense, the Vikings can line him up in the backfield (watch out for him as a blocker) or out wide to take advantage of his athleticism in space.   [player_tooltip player_id='2212448' first='Elijah' last='Williams'] QB, 2029 (pictured) - Williams had his sophomore season cut short due to injury, but he's showed during the offseason that he's ready to expand on the promise he showed a year ago. He's got a big frame at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds and a big arm, which he used to impress during the Prep RedZone Exposure Series in Columbia.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822025' first='Zachary' last='Williams'] DB, 2027 - The 5-foot-10 Williams is a high-IQ player in the secondary, bursting onto the scene with a six-interception sophomore season before offenses caught on and were a little more careful with the ball around him last year.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1823801' first='Ethan' last='Portee-Broadwater'] WR/TE, 2027 - The first things we notice about Portee-Broadwater are his vision and field awareness. The Vikings will and should want to take advantage of his size, especially this season with Williams launching the ball downfield, and on those deep balls we're impressed by how Portee-Broadwater tracks the ball in the air to haul in the contested catch. Whether it's a deep bomb, a screen or something in between, Portee-Broadwater has proven to be tough to bring down once the ball is in his hands.    BIGGEST LOSSES   Bryson Hugee DL - Hugee was an All-Region V-5A selection last year as a senior with 63 tackles (13 for loss), 11 sacks and two interceptions.   Dylan Redden LB - Redden was also recognized one of the Midlands' best defensive players, finishing his senior season with 37 tackles (five for loss), for sacks, three interceptions and one touchdown return.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='1818462' first='Damien' last='Navarre'] OL/DL, 2028 - Navarre is slated to be a leader on both lines for the Vikings, with the 5-foot-11, 260-pounder bringing strength beyond his size to the center and defensive tackle positions.   [player_tooltip player_id='1817131' first='Joshua' last='Mickey'] DL/LB, 2028 - The 6-foot, 225-pounder has had a productive offseason that has included a Division I offer from Florida International.    In Williams, Spring Valley has a playmaker it can line up in a variety of positions. He can play the more "traditional" tight end role, as he has the size and strength to hold off an edge rusher or create holes in the run game. From there the Vikings can also send him down the middle on a passing play for a huge mismatch against a linebacker, or they can line him up out wide to utilize his size advantage.   And that's only on offense. Those same physical gifts come in awfully handy on the defensive side of the ball, as does his understanding of blocking schemes that he's learned by being such a vital part of them.

In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions throughout July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season. Simply head to our subscription page and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.