TRIBUNE-REVIEW • SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2018 • 23
adno=6605003_v4 Valley ready for Allegheny Conference
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GOOD LUCK VALLEY!
the seniors if you get beat out by a freshman,
that’s the way it’s going to be.”
One player who has secured a helmet,
a number and a starting spot is 6-foot-2,
200-pound battering ram Deonte Ross.
Colosimo said it is no secret the Vikings’
offense will run through Ross.
Also, for the first time since he’s been a
coach at Valley, Colosimo will be calling
the plays on offense.
“I’m calling the offense this year, and
I’m old-fashioned,” Colosimo said. “I’m
running power-iso. Power, power and
more power, and that’s the way it’s going
to be. I think you win games by beating
people up, and that’s the way it’s going to
be called this year.”
The run-heavy offense is expected to
take the pressure off senior quarterback
Tyler Green, who said he’s OK with becoming
a game manager instead of a dual
threat quarterback like in years past.
Whether Colosimo chooses to use the
run to set up the pass or not, Valley has a
slewof optionswho are a threat to change
a game.
Senior wide receiver Malique Richardson
and junior Vaun Ross, Deonte’s
younger brother, are looking to scorch
opposing defenses. Colosimo gave high
praise to Vaun Ross, saying he could
possibly be one of the best players he’s
ever coached.
“We’re looking for Malique to step up
and also looking for Vaun Ross to show
what he can do,” Colosimo said. “(Ross)
has no idea of the talent level that he has.
He’s built for speed, and (Deonte) is built
to run you over.”
Valley’s depth this year is on both the
offensive and defensive lines. The Vikings
will play a 4-4 defense. Deonte Ross
and Hutcherson will fill the defensive
end positions. With Hutcherson’s speed
and Ross’ power, Colosimo is hoping the
tandem will cause problems for opposing
offenses.
“We’re going to blitz often, not to hide
people, but to make (our) speed make
them hurry their game,” Colosimo said.
The 6-foot, 220-pound Green will line
up at middle linebacker. Green will stand
alongside 6-1, 275-poundsenior linebacker
David Schuffert. Schuffert had a breakout
season last year in his first year playing
the position.
For a team that has had tough luck in
recent history by narrowly missing the
postseason, the Vikings will drop from
Class 3A to 2A. In Class 2A, 16 teamsmake
the postseason, as opposed to just eight in
3A. The Vikings’ chances of securing one
of the four playoff spots in the Allegheny
Conference is not out of reach.
“I think the drop (in classes) is good,”
Colosimo said.
In addition to last year’s WPIAL
Class 2A runner-up, Steel Valley, the Vikings
will play familiar foes in Apollo
Ridge and Shady Side Academy, along
with East Allegheny, Avonworth and
Summit Academy to round out the new
conference alignment. Valley will travel
to Imani Christian and Freedom and host
Riverside for its nonconference slate. The
Vikings also get the benefit of an attractive
home schedule that includes a pair
of Class 2A preseason favorites in Shady
Side Academy and Steel Valley.
“Right now,we’rewherewe’re supposed
to be, but we’re in a conference with Steel
Valley, East Allegheny, and there’s a lot of
good teams in there,” Colosimo said. “You
can’t have a bad game, or these teams will
eat you up.”
ALLEGHENY
VALLEY · FROM 22
TYLER GREEN
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