A defensive battle the past 2 seasons, plenty on the line in Valley-Deer Lakes matchup

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | 5:22 PM

Previous Next

Points were at a premium in the past two meetings between the Deer Lakes and Valley football teams.

The Vikings and Lancers combined for 15 total points as Deer Lakes won 7-2 last year and 6-0 the year before.

Vikings coach Mark Adams and Lancers coach Tim Burk expect a similarly competitive battle when the teams meet Friday night in a key Allegheny 6 matchup at Deer Lakes High School.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing how this game plays out,” Burk said.

“There might be some weather with some rain that factors into the schemes for both teams, but one thing is for sure: Valley is a good football team, and we have to be ready with our best game. Their defensive line likes to create havoc, and they have athletes all over the place who can make plays. Who knows? It might be a defensive struggle again. This is a big game for both teams’ goals of making the (WPIAL) playoffs.”

The top four teams in the Allegheny 6 standings after Week 9 games Oct. 26 will punch tickets to the Class 3A tournament.

Deer Lakes (4-2) is hoping to make history and qualify in back-to-back years for the first time. Valley (2-4) is hoping to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

“It should be a good matchup Friday,” Adams said. “I like where we’re at right now. Deer Lakes presents some tough challenges for us with a good quarterback and two strong receivers who can get open and stretch the field. They have a nice-size running back and a decent-size line. It could come down to our speed against their size.”

Deer Lakes seeks a rebound game after having its four-game winning streak snapped last Friday at the hands of Knoch in the conference opener for both teams.

The Lancers shut out Burrell in Week 1 and then rallied for three straight wins when their opponent scored first.

That trend came to a halt last week as Knoch led 14-0 in the first quarter and 28-7 at halftime en route to a 41-21 victory.

“This group is resilient,” Burk said. “It’s a group of leaders who will make sure the team is ready to go Friday. They understand they still have a chance to do well in the conference and make history. Going to the playoffs in back-to-back years is something that is so important to them.

“Sometimes, when you get punched in the nose a little bit, you have to refocus and take a step back to move two steps forward. That is the approach the kids have taken. We learned some things from the game with Knoch that should really help us moving forward.”

Derek Burk completed touchdowns to Zach Grant and Wayne Love, and Zier Williams ran in from 1 yard. Burk surpassed 1,000 yards passing for the season and owns 14 touchdowns.

For Williams, it was his sixth rushing touchdown. Love has five TD grabs.

Deer Lakes was whistled for 135 yards in penalties last week, and while Coach Burk questioned some of the infractions in the game, he hopes his team can be cleaner in the penalty department this week.

Valley is hoping to bounce back from a tough 42-12 loss to East Allegheny. The Wildcats led 36-0 before the Vikings scored two second-half touchdowns.

Darnell Coaston found the end zone on a 21-yard run in the fourth quarter, and Trevor Colbert followed with an 11-yard run.

“I don’t think we were locked in mentally as much as we needed to be,” Adams said.

“East Allegheny utilized some speed on the outside. Their quarterback is very shifty and does a great job in the system they run. Defensively, they switched some things up that we hadn’t seen, and it took some time to get adjusted.

“It comes down to minimizing the mistakes we are making, offensively and defensively. They are correctable things, and we need to get that done if we are to be successful on Friday. We spoke on those things and got the kids refocused. There are still great opportunities out there for them to go to the playoffs. It’s there for them.”

Valley senior quarterback Tristan Goodwin is a dual threat that both coaches say could be a key factor in the outcome of Friday’s game.

Goodwin ran the football early in the season, but he assumed the quarterback duties when junior Mason Simmons went down with a thumb injury against Mt. Pleasant in Week 3.

Adams said Simmons is working to get back in a couple of weeks. Goodwin continues to lead the offense.

“Tristan has that experience being a senior,” Adams said. “He understands the offense, and we like to utilize his arm and his legs. He has more that he can do. We have to trust he is intelligent to do more.”

Valley leads the all-time series 17-5. Two of the Deer Lakes’ wins — 2001 and 2003 — were forfeits because Valley used ineligible players discovered after the games were completed.

The Vikings won three in a row, including a 34-0 result in 2020, before the Lancers’ wins the past two seasons.

Rivalry matchup

Valley has won seven of the past 10 meetings, but Deer Lakes has claimed back-to-back victories in the series. Here’s a look at the past 10 meetings:

2022, Deer Lakes 7, Valley 2

2021, Deer Lakes 6, Valley 0

2020, Valley 34, Deer Lakes 0

2017, Valley 26, Deer Lakes 20

2016, Valley 41, Deer Lakes 34

2015, Deer Lakes 14, Valley 12

2014, Valley 34, Deer Lakes 7

2013, Valley 42, Deer Lakes 16

2012, Valley 14, Deer Lakes 7

2009, Valley 28, Deer Lakes 19

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Deer Lakes, Valley