LARGE JUNIOR CLASS TO LEAD VIKINGS

By William / www.mcpherson-county-ks.com

LINDSBORG – After a pair of 3-6 seasons, the Smoky Valley football team will be looking to turn the ship around while leaning on several juniors who gained much experience in 2020 as sophomores.

Coach Tim Lambert is back for season number seven looking to bounce back from a season ending loss to Riley County and finishing just 1-2 in league games.

A preview of the 2021 Smoky Valley football program:

THE COACH:

Viking head coach Tim Lambert begins his seventh season with a record of 35-24 over the previous six.

Lambert has an overall coaching mark of 200-96 in his career.

Assisting coach Lambert will be James Henderson, Chris McClure, Allen Meier, Chuck Peters, and Ben Elliott.

THE OUTLOOK FOR THE 2021 VIKINGS:

Smoky Valley will be trying hard to bounce back from a pair of down seasons where they finished 3-6 in each of the past two years.

On the upside, the Vikings will return six starters on both the offensive and defensive sides of the game as they continue to run an offense built around the I-formation while using a 4-3 defense to stop their opponents.

With a small senior class, Coach Lambert is looking for many of the juniors who gained a lot of experience as sophomores to provide some much-needed team leadership.

“We played many sophomores last year on both sides of the ball,” noted Coach Lambert. “They are bigger and stronger than a year ago, but we will still need to have some other younger classmen step up and fill some shoes of those seniors that graduated.”

RETURNING OFFENSIVE STARTERS:

Trystan Stambaugh = Junior Fullback, 6’ 3”, 225 lbs., 431 yards with 4 touchdowns in 2020.

Kade Blanchat = Junior Running Back, 6’ 3”, 185 lbs., 292 yards with 3 touchdowns in 2020.

Haven Lysell-Stewart = Senior Tight End, 6’ 4”, 215 lbs., 16 receptions for 171 yards in 2020.

Justin Holt = Junior Lineman, 6’ 1”, 225 lbs.

Justice Autry = Junior Running Back, 5’ 6”, 140 lbs., 162 yards with 1 touchdown in 2020.

Braxton House = Junior Wide Receiver, 6’, 165 lbs., 2 receptions in 2020.

RETURNING DEFENSIVE STARTERS:

Kade Blanchat = Junior Free Safety with 35 tackles & 5 pass deflections in 2020.

Trystan Stambaugh = Junior Defensive End with 28 tackles, 4 sacks & 10.5 tackles for losses in 2020.

Haven Lysell-Stewart = Senior Linebacker with 70 tackles & 15 tackles for losses in 2020.

Austin Sharp = Junior Linebacker, 6’, 210 lbs., with 50 tackles, 3 sacks & 8 tackles for losses in 2020.

Justin Holt = Junior Defensive End with 30 tackles & 7 tackles for losses in 2020.

Max Bieker = Junior Nose Guard

TEAM STRENGTHS:

  • The Vikings return 6 starters on both offense and defense.
  • The 2021 juniors played a lot of varsity ball as sophomores.
  • The Vikings should have more team speed in 2021.

TEAM CONCERNS:

  • The Vikings need to learn how to win after having two 3-6 seasons.
  • The Vikings need to find more depth.
  • The Vikings have a small senior class.

VIKINGS 2021 SCHEDULE:

September 3 = At Halstead, Central Kansas League Game

September 10 = At Haven, Central Kansas League Game

September 17 = Hillsboro at home, Central Kansas League Game

September 24 = At Colby, District Game

October 1 = Goodland at home, District Game

October 8 = Scott City at home, District Game

October 15 = At Southeast of Saline, District Game

October 22 = Russell at home, District Game

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