Ohio Valley Football 2023

Valley High School

Lumberjacks Return Plenty Of Playmakers In 2023

By Tracy Watson; Video/Joe Lovell 4 min read
Photos by Kyle Lutz Cameron’s Michael Starcher runs the ball against Valley earlier this season. The senior has played at all but one position in high school.

PINE GROVE -- Excitement is in the air for Head Coach Logan Miller and his Valley football team as the Lumberjacks lost only five seniors off of last year's 6-4 squad and have plenty of playmakers returning.

Valley began 2022 with a 4-1 record before a schedule loaded with playoff teams in the second half took its toll and the 'Jacks limped home 2-3 down the stretch. All four of the losses came to teams that qualified for the West Virginia state playoffs.

"Our schedule got a lot tougher down the stretch last year, but I still felt like we had a good season leading into this year," Miller admitted.

With the brunt of last year's lost senior class being linemen, the Lumberjacks welcome back everyone in their backfield and all of their leading receivers.

Leading the way is multi-talented junior quarter Gavin Derby (5-10, 165), who will be entering his third year under center. Derby accounted for over 2,300 yards and 27 touchdowns as a sophomore last year. The speedy signal caller threw for 1,176 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 1,218 more with 15 TDs on the ground.

Coach Logan Miller on the upcoming season

Senior tailback Lane Dallison (5-9, 185) is coming off a junior campaign in which he ground out 796 yards and eight more scores. Junior Joey Barr (5-11, 160) will be the top backup at both quarterback and tailback. Freshman Colton Kinkaid (5-11, 140) could also be available at quarterback.

Barr is also the leading returning receiver for the 'Jacks and will receive plenty of help from senior Dallas Preat (6-2, 165) and juniors Landen Jerico (6,2, 185), Ethan Williams (5-9, 170) and Gabe Royer (5-10, 160).

There are three returning starters on the offensive front including juniors left tackle Aidan Daniels (5-11, 265), right tackle Ramey Harrison (6-0, 210) and left guard Owen Morgan (5-10, 275). The remaining starters will be juniors Kreed Scyoc (5-9, 210) at center and Cameron Derico (5-10, 220) at right guard.

Others who could see playing time on the offensive line are juniors Alan Cain (5-10, 255) and Zev Leary (5-10, 225) and sophomores Sam Brown (5-10, 235) and Ethan VanCamp (6-1, 230).

Preat will handle the punting duties while Derby will be the place kicker.

"We lost two starters and a part-timer on the offensive line, but we have some good kids to fill in those spots," Miller admitted. "And obviously we are loaded at the skill positions. We have some great kids in the backfield that bring back a lot of production and that extends out to our receivers.

"There is also a big junior class with kids that have waited their time, worked hard and they are looking good.

"Getting better every day is the biggest early season goal, but our main goal overall is the playoffs. We are hoping that our skill players can help get us there. There is a lot of experience to build off of and a lot of momentum going into this season. We are very excited."

Both defensive ends return on the other side of the football with Cain and Derico leading the way while Morgan and Daniels will be the starting tackles with VanCamp, Leary and Brown also available.

Jerico and Dallison are both back at linebacker with Williams on the outside and Derby and Harrison available.

The defensive backfield is intact with Royer and Preat at cornerback and Barr and Derby at safety. Kinkaid and freshman Ryder Gravette (5-10, 140) could also see time.

Miller will be assisted by Jeff Derby, Dave Palmer and Tanner Wright.

"With our schedule we should know exactly where we stand after the first three games," Miller commented. "We have a pair of three-hour trips to get things started at Tygarts Valley and Calhoun County and then a game at Clay-Battelle in week three. But I think our schedule fits us very nicely.

"Our thing is that we aren't looking for 10 cupcakes to beat up on and we are not looking for 10 teams to beat up on us, we want a competitive schedule. The only change is that we picked up Magnolia to fill in for Tyler Consolidated."

"Hopefully things will pan out and we can make a little noise in the playoffs this year. We have a lot of experience, but we are still young with a huge junior class. Everyone has bought into what we are trying to accomplish and this is a young, energetic group that we want to continue to build for the future."

Starting at /week.