Valhalla Norsemen 34, Mt. Miguel 7
Dominant. What other word do you use to describe a team who has outscored its first three opponents 101-14? Until someone invents a word with a more fitting description of the Valhalla Norsemen this season, dominant it is. The Norsemen added yet another notch on their belt with a 34-7 win over the visiting Mt. Miguel Matadors Friday night.
No one will ever know what if, but losing star running back Shemar Greene to an ankle injury in the first half was not ideal for the Matador offense. The contest could have been closer with Greene coming out of the backfield (over 100 yards at the time of his injury), but none of those yards resulted in points. With an injured star and a 17-0 halftime deficit Mt. Miguel inched closer and closer to an 0-3 start to the 2016 season.
Valhalla built a double digit lead while losing a star of their own, quarterback Bryan Madriz. Madriz was sidelined by injury during the 2nd quarter while Valhalla held a 7-0 lead. The Norsemen lost no momentum as was it was still full steam ahead on offense when back up quarterback Dennis Dahlin took over at the hull.
At the 16-yard line Dennis Dahlin dropped back and found wide out Jacob Paape in the end-zone for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead. If you don’t have Paape on you fantasy football team you need to find him because not only does he catch touchdowns from any quarterback on the team, but he kicks field goals too. Not the run of the mill PAT’s or 20 yarders either, Paape booms kicks of 30+ yards regularly and connected on two attempts tonight to go with his two touchdowns. With Madriz’ legs and Paape’s hands and feet, Valhalla has all the right parts to make a deep run in the playoffs this year and give Helix a run at the division.
Game Notes: Bryan Madriz returned in 3rd quarter, 48-yard rushing TD in 4th.
Shemar Greene tried to return in 2nd half, left game again (Ankle)
Next week: Valhalla @ Mar Vista. Mt. Miguel @ West Hills
PREVIEW:
As the season goes on teams become more transparent and it has become clear the Mt. Miguel Matadors and Valhalla Norsemen are on much different paths. Valhalla is off to another 2-0 start while Mt. Miguel has yet to find their first win of the year. Friday will be the next opportunity for the Matadors to get that first W, but the Norsemen who are on the verge of breaking into the PPR top 9 will be no easy assignment.
For the Mt. Miguel Matadors it doesn’t matter how early in the season it is, they are well on their way to forming their identity as a team. Running the football is what the Matadors go to sleep at night dreaming about. In their first two games the Mt. Miguel run game has racked up 77 carries for a whopping 492 yards. Who wouldn’t run the ball with the likes of running back Shemar Greene and quarterback Benny Valadez lined up in the backfield? Both Valadez and Greene average over 5 yards per carry. After a tough loss to Poway last week the Matadors will look to get back to the form that almost saw them steal away a week 1 victory from Chula Vista.
Valhalla is represented by the number 7. No, not a Morgan Freeman Brad Pitt Movie. Its the number 7 as in the amount of points opponents have scored combined against the Norsemen defense this season. Valhalla’s run and pass game are on par with any team in the county, but let’s take a minute to talk about this defense. Behind guys like play-makers Connor Moser and Josh Mcnish-Heider Valhalla has suffocated its opponents resulting in a 67-7 scoring differential over the first two weeks of the season.
Match up of the week: Mt. Miguel defense vs. Valhalla run game
Senior Anthony Yarbrough is the leader and the presence of the Mt. Miguel defense, he leads the team in tackles and has 3 sacks in the first two games. Yarbrough and the rest of the Matador defense will have their toughest test of the early season this week though. If Mt. Miguel wants to stay in the game they must limit Jerome Johnson on the ground. Bryan Madriz will run and pass out of the backfield, but if the Matadors don’t focus on stopping Jerome Johnson the Matadors could be looking at an 0-3 start to their 2016 campaign.
