Indian Valley reached the pinnacle of high school football last year, winning the Division IV state championship. 

The Braves have their sights set high this year, but they know that title put a giant bullseye on their backs. 

And, while they have a number of key returners from that 16-0 team, the Braves will have to fight their way through a brutal schedule to get back to the top of the mountain. 

“They can talk about it (the title) down the road, or at their reunions,” veteran head coach Matt Lancaster said. “You can never take that away, but we’re going to have a target on our backs this year, as we should.” 

The Braves, however, have the weapons to be a dangerous team again. 

Start with senior Grady Kinsey, a 5-9, 200-pound wrecking ball of a tailback. A Mr. Football finalist, Kinsey ran for over 2,300 yards in the regular season and finished the campaign with 3,278 yards and 50 touchdowns. He will play football in college for Air Force. 

“He’s a special kid,” Lancaster said of Kinsey. “When you’re from a small school and a small town, you’ve got to have a special player and he’s that special player. Obviously we’ve got a lot of guys around him, but he’s such a team kid. 

“His academics and leadership … he does everything right and he’s such a team player. He’s the best kid we’ve ever had and we’ve had some good ones.” 

Another standout in the Braves’ backfield will be quarterback Ryker Williams. 

A 6-foot junior, Williams ran for 1,435 yards and 14 touchhdowns last year, while passing for 1,008 yards and 11 scores. 

Other returning starters include seniors Rowan Piccin (WR/DB), Brogan O’Connor (G/DE), Kyler Vosick (RB/CB), Koy Haney (G), Caydn Riggs (NG), juniors Brogan Wilson (T/DT), Titan Peterman (C/DE), Carsen Hostetler (CB/WR) and Colt James (WR/DB). 

That’s not to say the team didn’t lose anybody. Do-it-all, multiple-position player Jaxon Burcher graduated, as did Eric Golder, David Striker and Hunter Peterman. 

Indian Valley will face an updated schedule this year. 

The Braves play their first two games on the road, taking on Green and Steubenville to open the season. That’s followed by two out-of-state opponents at home in Roosevelt (D.C.) and Expression Prep from West Virginia.

“Our opener is tough – at Division I Green – and then we play Big Red in Week 2,” Lancaster noted. “We’ve got a Division I team coming in from Washington DC and then another big school from West Virginia. And then we have league play. There’s not a night off. 

“It’s a Catch-22,” Lancaster continued. “Win or lose, those games are going to make you better. You’re going to know what kind of kids you have and what kind of team you have.” 

The Braves won a number of close games last year, but played with a young defense that has had plenty of time to grow. Lancaster pointed out that the extended playoff run gave his defense not just six extra games, but six extra weeks of practice. 

“With so many guys back on that side of the ball, we think our defense is gonna be better,” he said. “We’ve still got some question marks to be answered, but we’ve excited about our defense.” 

Others expected to play key roles for the team include juniors Reese St. Clair, Garin O’Connor, Kennen Couts, Logan Burrier, and sophomores Bradley Barr and Brett O’Connor. 

Lancaster and his team have adopted the motto of “Stay Hungry” for the upcoming season. 

“We know that past achievements do not guarantee future success,” he said. “We expect our young men to step up and fill the void by those who have graduated and seize the opportunities they will have while being selfless and doing what is best for the team.” 

THE SEASON 

Aug. 22 AT Green 

Aug. 29 AT Steubenville 

Sept. 5 Roosevelt (D.C.) 

Sept. 12 Expression (W.V.) 

Sept. 19 AT Buckeye Trail 

Sept. 26 AT Sandy Valley 

Oct. 3 Garaway 

Oct. 10 Ridgewood 

Oct. 17 AT Tusky Valley

Oct. 24 Claymont