2014 Spring Valley Football Capsule
SPRING VALLEY
Head coach: Marcus Teal, fifth season (15-22)
2013 record: 3-7 (2-3 Northwest League, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): 24 (eight offense, five defense)
Base offensive set: Multiple
Base defensive set: 4-2
Top offensive players: QB/WR/ATH Christian Tasi (Sr.); OL Shiloh Fao (Sr.); TE Drazen Tojic (Sr.); WR Mycah Benoza (Sr.); ATH Antonio Wallace (So.)
Top defensive players: FS Michael Bianco (Sr.); DL Shiloh Fao (Sr.); LB Raheem Edmonds (Jr.); DL Drazen Tojic (Sr.); CB Antonio Wallace (So.)
Top special teams players: KR/PR Christian Tasi (Sr.); KR/PR Antonio Wallace (So.)
Top newcomers: DL/OL Keki Faatiliga (Fr.); OL/DL Nathan Hunt (So.)
Key losses: OL/LB Tyler Stevens; RB/LB Logan Cruz; OL/DL Matt Cataldi; OL/DL Dylan Clifton; K Joseph Padfield; P Paolo Ferrer
Outlook: Spring Valley had some success in Division I last season, earning the No. 4 seed in the Northwest League, before falling to Bishop Gorman, 56-0, in the Sunset Region quarterfinals.
The Grizzlies, now a I-A team, return eight starters on offense and will be looking to make a return trip to the playoffs.
Tasi, who led the team in scoring last season, returns to split time at quarterback and wide receiver. He will be helped out by Benoza, the team’s leading receiver a year ago.
Though it returns only five starters on defense, Spring Valley kept a solid secondary with safety Bianco and cornerback Antonio Wallace. Bianco led the team with 130 tackles, and Wallace finished with a team-leading three interceptions.
“The Grizz will be returning a team with varsity experience but not a lot of depth,” Teal said. “Playing in the Division I-A, the Grizz hope to compete for wins and return to being a playoff team.”
