Penns Valley: A new focus

Rams hoping experience will chase away bad memories

Guy Cipriano

- gciprian@centredaily.com

SPRING MILLS — Penns Valley has plenty of seniors again.

CDT file photo/Christopher Weddle

Penns Valley’s Kody Bjalme (21), who led the county in rushing last season with 830 yards, will be part of a veteran Rams backfield this season. Penns Valley is hoping that it gains some ground with experience this season after going 1-9 in 2008.

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The phrase has a nice ring considering what the Rams endured last fall. Let one of those seniors explain:

“We have a sign in the weight room that says 1-9 is not acceptable,” senior Bryan Lee said.

The Rams only triumph came in Week 4, when they defeated Lewistown 40-13. The other nine Fridays proved difficult to handle.

Inexperience was a major source of Penns Valley’s problems. The Rams spent the entire season trying to replace 22 seniors who led the program to an 8-3 mark and District 6 Class AA playoff spot in 2007.

Lee remembers the playoff season well because he played running back as a sophomore. A stifling defense and protective offense defined the squad current seniors strive to emulate.

“We have a lot more focus back on doing things the right away,” Lee said. “The small things count. Every rep has to be done the perfect way, so it can translate into the game. More seniors have stepped up.”

The Rams return five offensive and eight defensive starters. The Rams returned just one defensive and three offensive starters last season.

Coach Martin Tobias called an experienced roster “a real plus.”

“With the experience, comes confidence,” he said. “With the confidence, comes good, quality leadership. I think we are seeing that from our seniors.”

Early losses to eventual district champion Central and Bald Eagle Area by a combined four points rattled last year’s team. Later in the season, Penns Valley dropped a four-point decision to Philipsburg- Osceola. Every loss, regardless of the score, was remembered during the off-season.

“It left a sour taste in your mouth,” senior Tibben Zerby said.

Losing represented an unfamiliar feeling for the current seniors. The group went 3-4 as seventh-graders before posting winning records in eighth and ninth grades. The Rams also compiled a winning junior varsity season in 2007.

Some key players, including a backfield consisting of Zerby at quarterback and Lee and Kody Bjalme at running back and fullback Corey Sweeley have played together since seventh grade. Tobias said chemistry, which he hopes yields depth, resides within the backfield.

Bjalme led the county with 830 yards on 143 carries in 2008 while Lee gained 196 yards on 36 carries. Sweeley and senior Bill Fegley both played fullback last season.

The presence of experienced runners and blockers should help Zerby and fellow senior quarterback Matt Helm. Zerby completed 14 of 33 passes as he shared time with Kyle Hockenberry last season.

“The experience helps a lot,” Zerby said. “I know how kids will react to what I say. If I’m negative, they are negative. If I’m upbeat and show that we can do this, they will think the same thing. I have seen game speed already. It helps me make the right decisions.”

The return of 6-foot-3 junior wide receiver Kevin Montminy could give the quarterbacks a deep threat. Montminy, who also plays basketball and baseball, returned to football last year and averaged 16 yards per reception. Senior wide receiver Drew Zettle and senior tight end Kyle Nolf are two other experienced receivers.

Eddie Flick returns for a third year as an offensive line starter after moving from tackle to guard last year. Junior Dustin Henry also returns up front, with seniors Storm Schellhammer, Forest Bonjo, Eli Covalt and Neal Thompson and junior Elliot Dillon competing to fill the other three spots.

The defense replaces fewer starters. Flick, Henry and Nolf return on the line. The Rams also have three secondary starters back in Helm, Zettle and Zerby while Lee and Bjalme return at linebacker.

Lee said the Rams are trying to adopt the defensive philosophies displayed by ‘07 team, which allowed 6.1 points per game. The defense started last year strong, holding Central to just 13 points in the opener. But Penns Valley allowed more than 40 points during late-season losses to Clearfield, Tyrone and Central Mountain.

“Last year wasn’t acceptable with the amount of points that we gave up,” Lee said. “You can’t win many games when you are giving up 40 points and we understand that. The coaches told us what needed to be done. In 2007, we played hard and we played as a team, not as individuals.”

The defense faces some big tests, beginning Friday when Central visits Spring Mills. The Scarlet Dragons are one of seven 2008 playoff qualifiers on the schedule.

Still, Tobias said players took the necessary steps to make this a better fall.

“They have been very motivated throughout the summer and beginning of camp,” Tobias said. “They have really risen to the occasion and risen to the challenge. They want to improve upon last year.”