By William for http://www.mcpherson-county-ks.com

LINDSBORG – For the 2022 fall season, the Smoky Valley football team will be looking to build on the positives from the 2021 season that includes returning nine starters on both sides of the game.

Returning for his seventh season at the helm will be Tim Lambert who guided the Vikings to a 5-4 record overall last season while they finished 3-0 in league games.

Overall, Lambert has reached 205 career wins against just 100 losses with his record at Smoky Valley being 40-28 over his first six seasons.

“We will be returning nine starters on both offense and defense,” stated Coach Lambert when looking at the positive points for the upcoming season. “Overall, we should be bigger and stronger than a year ago while also having much more team speed. Many of our seniors have already played two full seasons at the varsity level and after going 3-6 and 5-4 the past two years, they have the potential and experience to be even better.”

Not all is positive though as Coach Lambert pointed out during his preseason reflections that, “We have a small junior class and have to work on finding much needed depth across the board.”

Returning starters to lead the I formation style offense will be:

  • Karson Pihl = senior quarterback, 6’0”, 165 lbs. = passed for 793 yards and 3 touchdowns.
  • Justice Autry = senior running back, 5’6”, 140 lbs. = 803 yards on 142 carries, 8 touchdowns.
  • Trystan Stambaugh = senior fullback, 6’3”, 225 lbs. = 648 yards on 147 carries, 8 touchdowns.
  • Kade Blanchat = senior running back, 6’4”, 190 lbs. = 389 yards on 78 carries; 157 yards on 12 pass receptions.
  • Braxton House = senior wide receiver, 6’0”, 165 lbs.
  • Austin Sharp = senior center, 5’11”, 205 lbs.
  • Justin Holt = senior lineman, 6’1”, 245 lbs.
  • Alex Grosland = senior lineman, 6’2”, 225 lbs.
  • Gus Griffith = senior lineman, 6’4”, 275 lbs.

Returning starters to lead the 4-3-4 style defense will be:

  • Austin Sharp = senior linebacker = 58 tackles.
  • Trystan Stambaugh = senior linebacker = 57 tackles.
  • Ethan Able = senior free safety = 45 tackles.
  • Nolan Dauer = senior cornerback = 44 tackles.
  • Kade Blanchat = senior strong safety = 43 tackles, 1 interception.
  • Justin Holt = senior defensive end = 41 tackles.
  • Max Bieker = senior cornerback = 39 tackles, 1 interception.
  • Vincent Pickering = senior defensive end = 37 tackles.
  • Gus Griffith = senior defensive tackle = 30 tackles.

The Vikings will open the 2022 season on Friday, September 2 when they play host to Halstead. Smoky Valley competes in Class 3A.

Full 2022 schedule:

  • Friday, September 2 – host Halstead, league game
  • Friday, September 9 – at Haven, league game
  • Friday, September 16 – host Larned, league game
  • Friday, September 23 – at Andale, district game
  • Friday, September 30 – host Cheney, district game
  • Friday, October 7 – at Pratt, league/district game
  • Friday, October 14 – at Hillsboro, league game
  • Friday, October 21 – host Nickerson, league/district game