Photo Courtesy of Darci Walters
Week 5 Debrief: Vikings handle Culver Academy
By Baylen Hite | 107.3 WRSW
Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Tippecanoe Valley scores 50 points or more and Nate Parker collects 5 touchdowns. Does it sound familiar? Well that’s because it is, for the 2nd straight week the Vikings have beaten an opposing team in convincing fashion and Nate Parker scored 5 touchdowns.
With the win the Vikings captured their 3rd straight 5-0 start to a season. That’s only the 2nd time that’s been done in program history and the previous run was last completed in 1988.
This was a fun one for Death Valley Football lets break down what stood out in the 59-28 victory over Culver Academy.
Nate Parker…..
The senior has been the motor that has powered the Valley offense this season. Parker is first to credit his offensive line each game for his success. CMA was determined to try and keep the ball out of Parker’s hand but the Vikings found different ways to get the senior involved.
In total Nate put up 383 yards of offense. He ran for 214 yards on just 14 carries and 3 scores. Parker also caught an 81 yard touchdown pass, and threw for one as well on an 88 yard bomb to Wade Jones.
When the Eagles realized it was too late the TVHS coaching staff went to the wildcat to ensure Parker could touch the football.
As a fan of football it is sure fun to watch Nate go to work each Friday night. Over his last two games Nate has 586 yards of offense and 10 touchdowns!
Trying to predict what Nate will do each week is nearly impossible and trying to stop him each week an even tougher task.
Creative Play Calling
Culver Academy Challenged the Vikings early. TVHS trailed for the first time this season at a quarter break after one quarter against CMA down 7-6. This prompted the Vikings to mix it up on offense.
We saw the first trick play of the season where Nate Parker took Cody Eastgate’s pitch and waited until the secondary fell asleep. After stalling he found Wade Jones for an 88 yard strike and score.
Then their was the 2-point conversion that was a pitch straight from the playbook of former Colts head coach Frank Reich. Eastgate found Landon Durkes who was protected by a group of blockers out wide.
The most impressive play call though? It came with 31 seconds left in the half and Valley on their own 19 yard line. The Vikings lined up with 4 receivers stacked to the near side. Nate Parker was the bottom point of the diamond of players. Eastgate threw to Parker who was protected in the screen and 15 seconds later Valley had 6 more points.
I hope offensive coordinator Carl Weaver had as much fun calling this game as I had watching.
Rewriting History
The struggles against Culver Academy were well documented coming into the game. Valley hadn’t beaten the Eagles in over a decade, the last win came in 2010. As a program they were 4-16 heading into Friday night.
That didn’t matter for this group as they posted the most points ever in a game against the Eagles in the series. The Vikings who in the past had struggled keeping pace with CMA were the ones who were wearing their opponent down.
Valley will have a chance this week to break some more records. The Vikings welcome Jimtown to Smith-Bibler Memorial Field. All time the Jimmies are 6-0 against the Vikings.
ICYMI: Area Scores
Future Opponents
Week 6: Jimtown 35 Bremen 24
Week 7: West Lafayette 40 Rensselaer Central 6
Week 8: John Glenn 8 Knox 37
Three Rivers Conference
Peru 27 Maconaquah 26
Rochester 44 Cass 6
North Miami 24 Whitko 19
Northern Lakes Conference
Warsaw 45 Northwood 21
Concord 52 Wawasee 0
Northridge 46 Goshen 6
Mishawaka 42 Plymouth 6
