Week 1 preview: Both Valley, Wawasee debuting new starting quarterbacks

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Wawasee at Tippecanoe Valley, 7 p.m.

Both the Wawasee and Tippecanoe Valley football teams will be debuting new starting quarterbacks when they meet at Smith-Bibler Memorial Stadium Home of Death Valley Football Friday.

However, it would appear that Wawasee would have more clarity at the position coming into the game.

Wawasee is expected to start Jaxon Brown to replace the graduated Lucas Ringler.

Valley coach Stephen Moriarty is deciding between Nate Parker, Cody Eastgate and Marcus Jansma to replace the graduated Branson McBrier.

Meanwhile, despite the losses of Braden Shepherd, Jamasyn Virgil and Hunter Eherenman to graduation, players like Karl Parker, Dalton Alber and Wade Jones have experience running the ball.

Jones could have a bigger impact at safety, where he led the state and set a school single-season record with 11 interceptions last season.

Valley beat Wawasee 42-7 last year, triggering a 1-9 season for the Warriors and sending Valley off to what would eventually be their first undefeated regular season since 1981.

Wawasee has not had a winning season since 2014.

Valley has won seven straight regular season home games. This marks the first time Wawasee has ever traveled to Valley for a game.