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Getting to Know the 2015 Valley Tigers

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Last year, Dominique Dafney (24) was Rocky Lombardi’s go-to receiver. Who will become Valley’s top receiver in 2015? (Andrea Melendez/Des Moines Register)

By Romelle Slaughter

Last season, there were many questions about the Valley Tigers.  As the season went on, Coach Gary Swenson started receiving the answers to his questions. It’s safe to say that after the Tigers 10-2 campaign in 2014, Swenson has no questions to ponder about.

Behind an offensive line anchored by Division I prospect OL John Rairdon, OL Sam Rodgers and TE John Gliniecki, junior quarterback Rocky Lombardi is more than ready to lead the Tigers into the 2015 season. Lombardi emerged as one of the top signal callers in 4A as a sophomore. Lombardi completed nearly 58% of his passes (122-211, 2097 yds, 21 TD’s 7 INT’s).

Jevon Mason will be the featured running back for the Tigers, replacing Drew Gray. The sophomore Mason rushed 404 yards and 4 touchdowns as a freshman last season. TE John Gliniecki is the Tigers’ returning receiver and the most seasoned. He pulled down 10 catches for 271 yards in 2014. Gliniecki will be asked to step in to replace Dominique Dafney, Austin Hronich, and Blake Salsbury, who have graduated. 

Linebackers Nick Yencer and Ben Campos will lead a stingy defense with ball-hawking DBs Turner Scott and Noah Barr who combined for 5 interceptions.

Valley Stats

2014 record: 10-2 overall, 5-0 conference

Head Coach: Gary Swenson, 21st season, 196-43 

Returning Offensive Starters

John Raridon OL

Rocky Lombardi QB

John Gliniecki TE

Sam Rogers OL

Returning Defensive Starters

Nick Yencer LB,  

Ben Campos LB,  

Turner Scott DB  

Zach Deeming DL

Noah Barr DB

Total Returning Letterwinners: 18

Offensive scheme: Pro style offense

Defensive scheme: Under front defense, version of a 5-2

Coaching staff: Dave Cochran, Ryan Cooley, Randy Ripperger, Travis Young

Facts and info: Valley’s two losses were to Waukee. The Tigers lost to Waukee in Week 1 and in the quarterfinal round of the 2014 playoffs. 

2015 Schedule

Aug. 28 Waukee (CISN)

Sept. 04 @ Iowa City West

Sept. 11 Southeast Polk (CISN)

Sept. 18 @ Dowling Catholic (Drake Stadium) (CISN)

Sept. 25 Des Moines, Hoover (CISN)

Oct. 2 Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln (CISN)

Oct. 9 @ Sioux City, West

Oct. 16 Ankeny Centennial (CISN)

Oct. 23 @ Des Moines Lincoln

Valley Breezes Past Sioux City West 76-6

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The West Des Moines Valley Tigers do not believe in taking an opponent for granted. They should know…everyone wants to take their best shot at them.

The Tigers (6-1 overall, 3-0 district) carried that mindset onto the field against Sioux City West and cruised to a 76-6 win over the winless Wolverines (0-7, 0-3) Friday evening.

Valley went three-and-out on their first possession. It was the only time they would punt in the game. On West’s first drive, Valley’s Zach Grasso stepped in front of a Ricardo Quintana pass and rumbles in for a 46 yard touchdown with 9:38 left in the first quarter.

Valley would score on their next eight drives before the first half was over. Drew Gray took a Rocky Lombardi hand-off for a 22 yard score to make it 14-0. Gray would add two more touchdowns (from 3 and 6 yards) on the next two drives, and then Rocky Lombardi (5-11-0 111 yds, 2 touchdowns) threw a 44-yard strike to Austin Hronich to push the lead to 35-0 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, fullback Blake Salsbury got into the act with two scores of his own, a one yard dive into the end zone at 10:32 of the second quarter, and an 11 yard scamper four minutes later. Lombardi would connect with Dominique Dafney for a 27 yard touchdown and Javon Mason would tack on one final touchdown from 10 yards to make it a 62-0 lead at the half.

Drew Gray would finish with 12 carries for 90 yards, while Dafney had 5 receptions for 67 yards.

The lone bright spot for the Wolverines took place with 1:31 left in the third quarter when Noah McWell threw a 17 yard pass to Richardo Quintana for a touchdown. The extra point was blocked. It was the sixth touchdown of the season for West.

McWell, who started at running back but also plays quarterback, was 12-16 for 108 yards, while Quintana was 7-12 for 17 yards.  West was unable to gain traction in the ground game, totaling 22 yards on 32 rushing attempts. Jalen Roseland hauled in eight catches for 82 yards, most of it against the Valley defensive reserves.

Next week, Valley will head to Ankeny to take on the Centennial Jaguars (6-1, 3-0), while West will host Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln (3-4, 1-2) in a Thursday night contest.

A Rivalry Renewed: Dowling vs. Valley

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Valley_Tigers_logo dsm-dowling-ia

When two teams meet in a rivalry, it’s more than “a game.” It’s families, friends, neighborhoods, and a community divided…in the name of loyalty, tradition, and support.

On Friday, one rivalry will be renewed, with bigger stakes than city pride.

The #8 Valley Tigers and the #1 Dowling Catholic Maroons will lock horns for the 65th time as our CISN CenturyLink Game of the Week. And for the Tigers, it is Homecoming.

After a season-opening loss, Valley has rebounded with two resounding wins. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi, running back Drew Gray and Dominique Dafney provided the triple punch for the Tigers on offense. Last week against Southeast Polk, Lombardi was 14-19 for 266 yards passing for three touchdowns, all of them to Dafney. Gray pummeled the Rams’ defense for 161 yards on 23 carries. Valley’s defense surrendered 38 rushing yards to SE Polk in a 42-14 win.

Dowling turned their #1 vs #2 showdown against Waukee last week into a rout. Quarterback Ryan Boyle accounted for 5 of the Maroons’ touchdowns and the defense shut down a Waukee offense to a mind boggling 32 yards, 15 of those from coming from All-State running back Trevor Allen. Boyle passed for 169 yards and rushed for 152 as Dowling bolted to a 28-0 first quarter lead en route to a 45-14 win.

Can Valley do what no one hasn’t done since 2012 and take down the undefeated Maroons? Can the Tigers avenge the semi-final playoff loss in the UNI-Dome to end last season?

Who: #1 Dowling Catholic (3-0) at #8 WDM Valley (2-1)

Where: Valley Stadium, West Des Moines, Iowa

When: Friday, September 19th, 7:30pm kickoff

The Facts: Dowling routed Waukee, 45-14 last week. Valley defeated SE Polk, 42-14. Dowling leads the series, 38-26, including playoffs since it became an annual rivalry in 1968.

Things to watch:

  • Battle of the trenches: Valley’s offensive line vs. Dowling’s defensive line
  • Will Dowling’s defense shut down Valley’s Lombardi, Gray, and Dafney?
  • Will Ryan Boyle put on another super-human like performance?
  • How will Valley’s 7 Sophs perform in their first rivalry game?
  • Can the Maroons improve upon a stellar 1st Quarter of last week?

Dowling Catholic – Projected Lineups

Offensive starters – QB Ryan Boyle; TB Isaiah Patton, FB Gray Gochenour; SE Eric Fardal; FL Charlie Schulte; C Cole Wymore, G Joe Brett and Kevin Vaughn-Carber, T Elijah Swehla and Conner McPhee, TE Ben McNeal

Defensive starters – FS Nick Wilson, CB Dante Campero and Michael Zachary, LB Kevin McMurray, Jordan Theis, Rodney Harris, and Gray Gochenour; DE Max Morris and Jo Jo Jok; T Ross Carpenter; NG Quinn Sonntag,

Special Teams- P/K Nick McLellan, Holder Frankie Mauro, LS Quinn Sonntag, PR Michael Zachary, KR Joe Gorsche

Valley – Project Starting Lineups

Offensive starters – QB Rocky Lombardi, RB Drew Gray and Blake Salsbury, WR Dominique Dafney and Austin Hronich, TE John Gliniecki, T Cody Genzen and Sam Rogers, G John Rairdon and Zachary Matt, C Brady Smith

Defensive starters – NG Trey Walsh, DT Dan McCoy and Zach Downs, DE Austin Turner, CB Matt Vertin and Turner Scott, LB Nick Yencer, Mason Berg and Ben Campos, S Gabe Honnold and Keller Prien

Special Teams – P Zach Downs, K Cole Hahn

The live pregame show will begin at 7pm, with kickoff to follow on Central Iowa Sports Network (centraliowasportsnetwork.com).

Join Paul Yeager, Keith Borness for the call of the game. Jim Kirby will cover the Dowling sideline and Jesse Gavin will be on the Valley side of the field. Follow us on Twitter @CISportsNet for in-game updates.

Our Audio Game of the Week, presented by Scheels, will have Ankeny Centennial (3-0) hosting Southeast Polk (0-3), with Dar Danielson with the play-by-play.  As an added bonus, our partners at High School Cube will have the live online stream of other area games of interest. The featured game will be Johnston and Waukee. Plus we’ll be offering links to games in eastern Iowa as well through QC Sports Net.

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