Valley puts focus on a ‘winning mentality’

By: Jerin Steele
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 | 11:23 PM

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At the first meeting new Valley football coach Mark Adams had with his team, the theme of his message was change.

That goes beyond changing the win/loss column for the Vikings after a one-win season in 2022.

His goal is to get everything in sync from on-field performance, dedication in the classroom and the overall mindset of the program as a whole.

As a new season approaches, Adams has been pleased with the progress made over the spring and summer and is excited to see how that translates in games.

“The big thing now is that the record is clean,” Adams said. “We don’t concentrate on last year or the year before. We concentrate on the now. The now is that you’re a winner. That’s the mindset you have to focus in on.

“Everything we do leading up to the season and into the season has to be a winning mentality. How we train and conduct our business on and off the field. As coaches we have to constantly reinforce that message. I’m sure there’s a lot of people in the community that has said Valley hasn’t won, so I don’t want to play for that program. We have to be the team that says we’re going to change that and change it now. That doesn’t mean championships. That’s not something we say to them. It means having a winning mentality. That’s what we’re focused in on and it’s one step at a time.”

Adams is familiar with the program, serving as an assistant at Valley under Muzzy Colosimo from 2018-19. Adams replaces Dave Heavner, who parted ways with Valley, his alma mater, after one season.

One of the key returners for Valley this season is senior wide receiver Darnell Coaston.

Coaston showed big-play ability last year, including an impressive 23-yard touchdown against Burrell on a swing pass behind the line of scrimmage where he dodged defenders on his way to the end zone.

“He’s dangerous on the field,” Adams said. “I like his attitude and his leadership. That’s one of the things I talked with the seniors about is being leaders for those behind you. They’ll control the locker room, keep the team motivated and locked in during the course of the season. He’s a young man that’s really taken to that. He’s locked in and he’s a leader.”

Tristin Goodwin moves from quarterback to running back/outside linebacker. Mason Simmons, a junior, is slated to be the quarterback this fall.

“Mason hit a growth spurt,” Adams said. “He’s got a big arm, he’s intelligent and has picked up the offense quite well. We like where we’re at with him.”

Derek Hassim, Zayaan Ferron, Demetrius Ballard, Ryan Long, Dorian Briggs, Charles Perkins and Coury Pitts are others Adams expects to make an impact this fall.

One of Adams’ goals is to be fast and physical on defense. He doesn’t want to be passive on the defensive side of the ball and believes they have the team speed on defense to cause havoc.

“This is a great group of kids,” Adams said. “We have a great mix of wisdom and youth. There’s some kids that have been here and know what to expect and some other young ones that have joined in. It’s been fun. I really like this team.”

Valley is in an Class 3A Allegheny 6 Conference made up of mostly A-K Valley schools with East Allegheny, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Knoch and Shady Side Academy. The Vikings also have nonconference matchups with local teams Armstrong, Apollo-Ridge and Burrell.

“It takes me back to my years when I played at Leechburg when I played in the AIC,” Adams said about the conference. “All the teams we played were local and we knew everyone. There wasn’t anyone you didn’t know that you played on a Friday night. It made for classic matchups so to speak.

“That’s one thing I really like about this area is that we still have that ingredient. A lot of conferences nowadays have been split up so much that you’re traveling an hour and a half to play somebody. This conference you still have the local rivals, and I like that.”

Valley

Coach: Mark Adams

2022 record: 1-9, 0-5 in Class 3A Allegheny 6 Conference

All-time record: 267-270-9

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25 at Armstrong, 7

9.1 Apollo-Ridge, 7

9.8 at Burrell, 7

9.15 at Mt. Pleasant, 7

9.22 Uniontown, 7

9.29 East Allegheny*, 7

10.6 at Deer Lakes*, 7

10.13 Shady Side Academy*, 7

10.20 at Freeport*, 7

10.27 Knoch*, 7

*Conference game

FAST FACTS

• This is Mark Adams’ third head coaching job in the WPIAL. He also coached his alma mater, Leechburg, and Southmoreland. He was most recently an assistant at Ringgold.

• Valley has never won a WPIAL football championship.

• Valley will travel to Burrell for the annual Battle of the Bypass game Sept. 8. Burrell has won the last four in the series, including a 30-27 victory last year.

• Valley’s last playoff win was in 2005 against South Fayette.

ROSTER

Name Cl.

Demetrius Ballard, Sr.

Damien Black, Fr.

Dorian Briggs, Sr.

Anjay Chambers, Jr.

Darnell Coaston, Sr.

Roman D’Argon, Fr.

Joshua Dunlap, So.

Zayaan Ferron, Jr.

Levaunte Godfrey, Fr.

Tristin Goodwin, Sr.

Donavan Green, Fr.

Derek Hassim, Jr.

Austin Haus, Fr.

Jonah Hutcherson, Sr.

Brenden Jackson, Fr.

Lamar Jackson, Fr.

Na’Zere Johnson, Fr.

Ricky Johnson, Jr.

Ryan Knapp, Jr.

Skyler Lincoln, Fr.

Ryan Long, Sr.

Saleem McKay, So.

Stephen Metz, So.

Blake Miles, So.

Javon Norman, So.

Charles Perkins, Sr.

Coury Pitts, So.

Connor Sakala, So.

Wesley Schrock, Sr.

Mason Simmons, Jr.

Sincere Standord-Hill, Sr.

Brandon Stankiewicz, So.

Dontavious Thornton, Fr.

Joseph Vagnier, Sr.

Kenny Wallace, So.

Jaden Wall, So.

Sean Wilkerson, Fr.

Shane Wilkerson, Sr.

Christian Wilson, Fr.

Preston Wilson, Fr.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

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