The Insider Magazine vol20#5 January 2018

INSIDER

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January 2018

www.HerdInsider.com

ANOTHER

VALLEY RUN Spring Valley ran straight to the WVSSAC state championship game for a second consecutive year.

Owen Porter ran to daylight in the 44-16 loss.

UP FRONT

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•When Marshall learned late on Sunday, December 4th, that it would be facing Colorado State in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl on December 16th, many Herd fans wondered if the bid was worth it. Their concerns ranged from losses in four of the last five regular season games, costs of travel for the team (mostly picked up by Conference USA), the mile-high altitude in Albuquerque, the short planning time for the trip and the likelihood that there would be few folks wearing Kelly Green in the stands at the University of New Mexico’s Dreamstyle Stadium.

•All of those concerns were legitimate, but totally unwarranted. Marshall’s athletic department staff, specifically Assistant Athletic Director for Football Operations Mark Gale and Associate Director of Athletics for Administration and Business David Steele, worked out the bowl travel, lodging and entertainment details in lightning-fast time, as the Herd and its travel party left for the southwest only ten days after the bowl bid was received.

•The team departed Tri-State Airport early on Wednesday, December 13th. There were actually two Sun Country charter flights leaving that morning, one carrying the team and coaching staff and the other containing athletic department staff, team medical and equipment personnel, family members and a number of boosters. The team was greeted by bowl officials and a tuneful mariachi Band.

compiled by Bill Cornwell THE INSIDER contributing writer

•After a three-hour flight to Albuquerque, the travelling party headed to the Herd’s home-away-from-home for the trip, the Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown . The hotel’s staff provided a great welcome for all, getting into the spirit by wearing Marshall gear all throughout the Herd’s visit. After the team settled in to their hotel rooms, it was off to the University of New Mexico for a bowl practice and a chance to get acclimated to the New Mexico climate and altitude.

•An observation about the folks in Albuquerque--they were glad the Herd had made the long trip west and showed that appreciation by smiles, words of welcome, questions and good wishes. The bowl is much appreciated in central New Mexico and is not an afterthought as others are.

•Later Wednesday, the team got to enjoy one of the “perks” of earning a bowl bid--a visit to the Gift Suite. The Gildan New Mexico Bowl staff outdid itself by offering the Herd and Colorado State Rams quality items, including clothing, backpacks, electronics and sun glasses. Players were limited to a maximum value of $550 for the items they picked and there was a close check of price tags as they left the gift suite. The take-away from this part of the bowl trip was that college football players can act like little kids at Christmas when faced with a stocked-up Gift Suite!

WHAT WE’VE GOT

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UP FRONT

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UP FRONT

4 Second Showdown

Contributing writer Bill Cornwell shares some of his experiences as a member of the traveling party for Marshall football. He’s also the PA voice at The Joan.

On the cover: Owen Porter ran for daylight as the Spring Valley Timberwolves made it to the WVSSAC state championship game for a second consecutive year in Wheeling.

555 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 (304) 523-8401

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HS FOOTBALL

THE HERD

Spring Valley made a second consecutive trip to the WVSSAC state championship game to face down Martinsburg for all the marbles.

Marshall went West and came back with another bowl trophy, after beating the Colorado State Rams in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.

cover and contents photos by Action Images

General Manager Mike Kirtner Contributor Bill Cornwell

BOWL CONTROL

This page: Spring Valley’s Owen Porter picked up the MVP award at the WVSSAC state championship game in November.

Creative Director Greg Perry Contributor James E. Casto

Associate GM Reeves Kirtner First Subscriber Geoff Sheils

Writer Dave Walsh Printing Printograph, Inc.

Web Operations Alex Hackney All contents ©2017 Kindred Communications

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The Second

The Spring Valley Timberwolves squared off against Martinsburg for the WVSSAC state championship title, a rematch of the 2016 game, in Wheeling.

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SHOWDOWN

All photos by Action Images (www.actionimages.us)

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hen it comes to talking about top Class AAA football programs in West Virginia, the present conversation starts with Martinsburg High School. The Mountain State powerhouse located in the Eastern Panhandle has won two straight championships and six overall since 2010.

It so happens the Bulldogs secured the last two crowns with lopsided wins over Spring Valley. Scores were 49-7 in 2016 and 44-16 in December when the Timberwolves actually held story by Dave Walsh THE INSIDER writer the halftime lead (16-14) at Wheeling Island Stadium.

Those outcomes didn’t suit coach Brad Dingess, but they demonstrated that the Wayne County school has emerged into one of western West Virginia’s forces and that the notoriety has spread across the state.

“When it comes to top programs, it solidifies our spot, puts us in the conversation,” Dingess said. “All-time ... not there.”

After several early playoff exits, Spring Valley arrived in 2016. The Timberwolves won the Mountain State Athletic Conference title for the first time, spent much of the season ranked No. 1 in Class AAA, took the No. 1 seed into the playoffs and actually got to practice on and after Thanksgiving for the first time in school history.

For an encore, Spring Valley went 8-2 in the regular season in 2017, entered the playoffs as the No. 4 seed and beat No. 1 Huntington in the semifinals at Bob Sang Stadium to earn a repeat trip to Wheeling. In that game, the defense limited Jadon Hayes, standout running back for the Highlanders, to 22 yards rushing.

Getting back to Wheeling didn’t come as a total shock to Dingess.

“We knew we had talent back,” Dingess said. “We lost a lot, but the kids taking their place were good football players. It was a matter of how quick would we grow up. Everything fell into place.”

Huntington posted a 14-0 win over Spring Valley in the season opener for the Timberwolves. Their other loss came in

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midseason at Hurricane (41-21).

“That was a wakeup call,” Dingess said. “We had beaten GW (George Washington) and South Charleston and didn’t feel good after the games. We were searching. Show up, play, think you’re going to win. Can’t do that. Hurricane was a lot better than us that night.”

After that, Dingess shelved the spread offense and reverted back to the power game led by quarterback Derek Johnson,

“WE’RE NOT THROWING OUT DREAMS, NO MORE WISHFUL THINKING. WE’VE GOT TO STAY THERE.” running back Owen Porter and a host of other backs. The Timberwolves won out, then blanked George Washington and Cabell Midland in their first two playoff games and then prevailed 10-7 at Huntington High in the highly-anticipated rematch. Along the way, they scored a big 35-28 win at Capital when they picked off four passes. “We tightened things up,” Dingess said. “The defense played well the rest of the way.”

Spring Valley enjoyed playoff success despite losing back Owen Chafin and linemen Zach Williamson and Damien Wilson to injuries along the way. Cody Stanley, who started the year as a tight end/defensive end, saw playoff action at defensive tackle

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and right guard. A devasting blow came in the third quarter against Martinsburg when Owen Porter, standout running back/linebacker, left with an elbow injury and didn’t return. He had amassed 155 yards rushing in the first half against a stout Martinsburg defense. The Timberwolves trailed 23-16 at the time. On the first play after his exit, the Bulldogs went at his replacement and scored.

Porter’s prowess led to him winning the 2017 Howley

Award, which goes to the top linebacker in West Virginia. The 6-2, 230-pound Marshall commit and three-year starter piled up 135 tackles, 32 for loss, 13.5 sacks and forced a fumble. The West Virginia Sports Writers Association votes on this award. Porter wore No. 43, but there came times when he put on No. 51 and moved to center/guard.

“Marshall got a dandy in him,” Dingess said. “He’s the real deal.”

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this.”

When the Timberwolves begin their bid to reach Wheeling for a third straight year, they’ll start the 2018 season against Class AA power Wayne at home.

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Looking ahead, Spring Valley has eight starters back who went both ways in 2017. One is two-way tackle Doug Nester, who’s given a verbal commitment to Ohio State. Another, Jake Cassidy, has made a verbal to Marshall. That outlook means indicates dropoff is not in the vocabulary for Dingess.

“We’re not throwing out dreams, no more wishful thinking,” Dingess said. “We’ve got to stay there. We know what to expect. We talk about it all the time. The kids know how to handle

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Cheering On The ‘Wolves…

Fans made the long drive to Wheeling to cheer on the Spring Valley Timberwolves in the WVSSAC championship game against Martinsburg. photo by Action Images

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In Total

BOWL CONTROL

Under coach Doc Holliday, Marshall has successfully established its bowl supremacy after beating Colorado State in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl in December.

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ecember 16, 2017 will go down as a special day for Marbounce back such as this didn’t seem possible. From the inside, shall University football. those vested players and coaches held a different view and made The underdog Thundering Herd got a spot on sure it played out. national television (ESPN) in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, “We had so much success the three years previous. A lot raced to a 31-14 lead over Colorado State, saw things went into that,” Marshall coach Doc story by Dave Walsh the Rams rally to within three (31-28) late in the Holliday said. “We had to get back to doing THE INSIDER writer fourth period, then got the needed stop and first what we do. Outworking people. Getting back down to secure a 31-28 win to complete an 8-5 season. to where there was nowhere to hide in the program. This was an Quite the turnaround from 2016 when Western Kentucky extremely tough bunch. We played extremely hard. We accomspanked Marshall, 60-6, in the season finale at home to put a plished that.” wrap on a 3-9 season and create calls from the Herd faithful Marshall players were all smiles as they held up New Mexico for changes in coaches, players, schemes, etc. On the outside, a Bowl trophy in a wild post-game celebration. That effort made

January 2018 / THE INSIDER /

Running back Tyler King broke loose during the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.

an impression on Herd fans/recruits. The trip home from Albuquerque was enjoyable. The Herd’s football buzz was back.

“To line up on a national stage was important,” Holliday said. “The perfect spot. A Saturday to open bowl week, national TV and win it the way we did. We played hard. I’ve had calls

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photographs by Tim Marsh/New Mexico Bowl

from all over the country. People talk about what great exposure we got. Recruits said the same things. That put the program out there. To play as well as we played and win is only going to help you.”

And believe it or not, that 8-5 finish means a tougher off-

16 / THE INSIDER / January 2018 season than the one the Herd experienced a year ago.

Thoughts are on 2018 and spring ball and the opener at Miami (Ohio).

“No rest,” Holliday said. “This offseason will be tougher than what we had a year ago. You don’t stay the same You either get better or get worse. It’s important we come back and start over. The 2017 season is behind us. In January it’s about 2018 and moving forward. It will be more difficult than a year ago.”

The first play of the 2017 opener againt Miami at home provided a glimpse of how things might go.

Keion Davis returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The former Mid-American Conference rival saw a final Hail Mary pass to the end zone go incomplete.

Let the excitement begin.

“Getting off to a fast start was important for us,” Holliday said. “That kickoff return gave us momentum. Anytime you open up and win that first game, it’s going to help you moving forward. From that point on the kids played with a lot of confidence.”

Marshall rolled to a 6-1 start (the loss came in Week 2 at North Carolina State) and 3-0 start in Conference USA’s East Division. On offense, not flashy by any means, but effective. Quarterback Chase Litton settled down, Tyre Brady turned into one of the best receivers in C-USA, a young offensive line (three freshmen and a sophomore) blossomed into a cohesive unit and Davis and Tyler King, a freshman, both wound up with more than 800 yards rushing. Both had long-distance TD continued on page 18

Marshall quarterback Chase Litton looked downfield over the CSU defense during the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.

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Chase Villers Ashland (KY) High School Basketball

photo courtesy of The (Huntington, WV) Herald-Dispatch

The Ashland (KY) Tomcats return three starters this 2017-18 basketball season, and chief among them is their returning guard from last year, Chase Villers. Coming off a year when he tallied 16.3 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game, the 6’1”guard looks to improve those numbers in 2017-18. Last year’s team went 13-19 overall, but did finish by winning 10 of their last 17 games with Villers at guard.

The Tomcats advanced to the 64th District championship game last year, losing to Boyd County by a slim 7-point margin. And, if Villers has his way, that outcome will be improved upon the next time around.

In the 2015-16 season, Villers made a name for himself while following in the footsteps of his older brother, Christian. The younger Villers nailed game-winning shots to beat Fairview and Elliott County that year, and just like that, Chase was on the local basketball radar in a big way. Chase averaged 8.6 points per game in that first season.

“It’s so awesome to be able to play with him,” Christian said of Chase in an Ashland Daily Independent article from February of 2016. “It’s special too because he’s someone you have to respect from the outside, and that really helps me out too, having someone out there that can penetrate. He really helps me, and vice versa.”

Even former Marshall University basketball coach Greg White commented on Villers.

“Chase is an outstanding point guard who has all the qualities you look for in a lead guard,” White said in a testimonial video on Youtube. “Great attitude, great appearance, and great grades. Total package.”

Considering White’s reputation as a coach and motivator, that is high praise, indeed.

Look for the Ashland Tomcats to make some noise as playoff time draws near, with Chase Villers leading the way in 2018.

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18 / THE INSIDER / January 2018 runs in the bowl game and Brady hauled in a 76-yard TD pass.

On defense, WHAT A TURNAROUND. A unit that proved quite porous in 2017 suddenly found itself at or near the top in all categories and stayed there.

Yet the unit had no first-team All-C-USA picks. Chase Hancock (from walk-on to team MVP), Malik Gant, Ryan Bee, Channing Hames and on down the line.

“Thought it was a crime,” Holliday said. “Bee, Gant, Hancock are first team in my mind. The defensive staff did a tremendous job getting players in the right places. They did a tremendous job in developing and coaching them. We never were out of a game.”

Special teams, led by kicking specialist Kaare Vedvil, enjoyed similar success from start to finish. Vedvik averaged 44 yards a punt and had 32 kickoffs reach or go through the end zone for touchbacks.

“At the end of the (last) year, we felt like we had some solid

players,” Holliday said. “No. 1, the strength staff did a tremendous job developing these kids.

Alex Mirabal (offensive line coach) did a tremendous job.

Had three freshmen play the entire year. Don’t forget (sophomore) Levi (Brown) Unbelievable.

Second in the country in sacks given up. They’re young, talented guys. They’re all back which is a positive.

“Kaare, for people who know him know what he’s all about.

Nobody works harder. That’s the reason he was our special teams player of the year. I thought he should’ve been all-conference.

Saturday (bowl game) no kickoffs were returned. Pretty solid.

Brady, what a debut. He misses the last two games and I thought he’d miss the ball. He was sick.

The way he played showed the kind of kid he is.”

After the fast start, the Herd endured a 1-4 mark down the stretch. Turnovers contributed to losses to FIU and league champiRunning back Keion Davis applied the stiff-arm to a Colorado on FAU (30-25). Those two teams State defender during the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.

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combined for 33 points off turnovers. UTSA got a field goal in the closing seconds to edge the Herd, 9-7. On Senior Day, a botched extra point late in the fourth period after a TD allowed Southern Miss to escape Joan C. Edwards Stadium with a 28-27 win.

“Against Southern Miss, we’re down four impact players and an extra point at the end makes the difference. Our kids battled,” Holliday said. “Overall we did a better job the first seven games of taking care of the football than we did the last five. We got back to that. At the bowl game, our kids reacted well, went to work and found a way to beat a good Colorado State team.

They had allowed eight sacks (season) and we get five in one game. We knew we couldn’t let their quarterback (Nick Stevens) just sit back there. We knew we’d have a hard time matching up with that Belitnikoff Award finalist (Michael Gallup) and the other skill guys they had. We had to make him uncomfortable.

We got pressure. The defense did a great job.”

On the clinching first down, senior tight end Ryan Yurachek took a short pass from Litton and rambled past the first down marker. The Herd offense then went into victory formation.

“No greater feeling than that,” Holliday said. “What that kid (Yurachek) meant to this program. He’s a really tremendous football player. What makes him special is he’s even a better person. He’ll be successful in life in whatever he does.”

Marshall extended its bowl win streak to six and is 5-0 under Holliday. The Herd’s overall bowl mark is 11-2. Marshall entered bowl season as the winningest team, by percentage among FBS teams.

“No. 1 we treat bowl games like spring practice. It’s work, not a vacation for us,” Holliday said. “Bowl games you remember are the ones you win. You’ve heard me say you’ve got your whole lives to screw around, but an opportunity to remember for a lifetime by winning a bowl. What we felt in that locker room after the game is a helluva lot more important than having one or two days of fun. We’re having fun now. Kids are home feeling good about themselves. That’s what matters.”

Despite all the positive vibes around Herd football now, Holliday still feels some disappointment. FAU and coach Lane Kiffin have something the Herd wants. A league championship.

“At the end of the day, the standards, expectations at Marshall is to win championships,” Holliday said. “That will never change. We were probably 8 points away from 11 wins. We’ve got to find a way to get those eight points back. When the guys get back, we go to work.”

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January 2018 / THE INSIDER /

Marshall extended its bowl winning streak to six, and is 5-0 under coach Doc Holliday.

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