PLEASANT VALLEY — With a season like Pleasant Valley had last year, it’s not unexpected to hear the head coach use the word "spoiled" after a “rough day” and a grueling practice. The Raiders amazed Calhoun County football fans — and maybe even some of their own — as they bested school records and went where no other Raiders had gone before in advancing to the second round of the playoffs.
But the way Raiders coach Jeff Davis used the word makes one think about more than just the season. It was how that season came to be.
“Last year kind of spoiled us because we had so much depth,” Davis said. “(At practice) we were able to go good on good last year.
“Right now, we’re not getting a good picture. We don’t know if we could stop somebody or not.”
The numbers are there at Pleasant Valley — 37, which isn’t shabby for a Class 3A squad in this state. But those aren’t the numbers that are concerning to Davis.
After losing a 17-man senior class, they follow with a 17-man senior class this year, but this year’s juniors barely number double digits. And from that same take, the numbers that see the field this year have changed as well.
Davis says where last year the Raiders utilized between 22 and 26 players, this year that number will be cut to a dozen to 16 different players that will touch the gridiron.
One of those players that returns from last season isn’t among Davis’ juniors or seniors, but will be somebody that will have a great deal to do with the offense. Sophomore Kyle Bean returns after rushing for more than 1,000 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns as only a freshman. And according to Davis, “he’s bigger, faster and stronger than he was last year.”
Bean should benefit from an offensive line that returns all but its center from last season.
“Compared to last year, this year we’ve got both talent and size,” said returner Sean McAllister, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior.
And while Bean may benefit, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone happier about the experienced line than Ben Haynes.
“It’s my first time to play quarterback since the seventh grade,” he said. “I’m liking that.”
Haynes will replace Chris Brittain, the Raiders’ all-County quarterback from a year ago.
Touchdown wars likely won’t be something the Raiders focus on at first — instead it will be holding other teams out of the end zone with what McAllister calls a very solid defense.
That group will be led by senior linebacker Jesse Benefield. Last year, he was around the ball on nearly every play, accounting for 147 tackles and eight caused fumbles.
A repeat performance of last season is no doubt expected from those in the stands. A move up to Class 3A may not prove to be the daunting task that some might think, however, Davis says there will be one thing staring the Raiders in the face all season — the injury bug.
“We’ve got to stay healthy,” he said. “That’s going to be the key to our success.”
