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By BUBBA KAPRAL
PINE GROVE -- The Lumberjacks will be wielding a much sharper axe this fall.
Injuries wreaked havoc with the Valley High football team last season. Head coach Logan Miller enters his second season brimming with optimism, and with good reason.
Last year's physical maladies have forged a much stronger and deeper team, one that has also invested much valuable time in the weightroom during the offseason.
The Lumberjacks -- boasting some dynamic skilled players to go with good bulk up front -- are primed for success this fall.
Valley has nine returning starters on each side of the ball while featuring a roster of 28. Making things a little sweeter is the Lumberjacks will play six games in Pine Grove.
"Things are looking promising," Miller said. "We have a lot of quality skilled people and we are big up front. The big key is staying healthy.
"Injuries in our first three games last year were devastating. But it gave a lot of other kids a chance. That has helped us this year. We are looking forward to this season. The kids have worked hard."
Tyler Kocher (6-foot-0, 210 pounds) directs the Valley offense. The multi-talented senior quarterback passed for 970 yards and 10 TDs a year ago. He added 550 rushing stripes. Kocher is one of the premier quarterbacks in the OVAC.
Levi Streets (6-1, 190) is the ideal complement to Kocher. Streets took advantage of the team's rash of injuries to become the bellwether of the ground game in mid-season. He rushed for 752 yards and five touchdowns.
Senior Travis Leek (5-9, 170) is a horse at fullback. Senior Austin Lowe (5-9, 184) will also see fullback time.
Supplying running back depth are junior Richard Leek (5-7, 150) and sophomore Thomas Yoho (5-7, 150).
Valley has a quality tight end in senior Peyton Bassett (6-2, 190). He provides Kocher a nice-sized target while providing Streets an efficient blocker.
A quintet of pass-catchers will compose the nucleus of a youthful receiving unit.
Sophomore Abe Satterfield (5-10, 185), junior Nicholas Leek (6-0, 155), promising freshman Gavin Streets (5-10, 150), sophomore David Sell (5-10, 180) and Jacob Anderson (5-9, 165) will also gain time at wideout.
Two other freshmen add extra depth -- Tommy Shannon (5-10, 140) and Triston Wilcox (5-5, 129).
The Lumberjacks' skill performers will have the luxury of operating behind a huge offensive line. All five starters check in at at least 200 pounds.
Sophomore George Brown (5-10, 240) will be the anchor at center. He will be flanked by guards senior Levi Rux (5-10, 245) and junior Colby Kinkade (5-10, 250).
The starting tackles will be junior Eathan Fluharty (5-10, 245) and sophomore Hunter Wood (5-10, 200).
The Lumberjacks have several quality linemen in reserve. Bidding for playing time are senior Brodie Scyoc (5-10, 240), junior Austin Barr (6-3, 170), senior Jordan Williams (6-2, 245), sophomore Haden Haught (5-10, 180), junior Austin Hall (5-10, 240) and senior Morgan Willoughby (6-1, 190).
Two freshmen add extra line depth. They are Logan Tennett (5-10, 180) and Wyatt Dallison (5-10, 210).
Valley will use a five-man look defensively.
Most of the bodies that man the offensive line will do double duty by holding down the defensive line spots.
The linebackers will be the heart of the stop troops. Lowe and Levi Streets offer tenacity and athleticism in the second level of the defense. Lowe recorded 80 tackles last fall.
Providing linebacker support will be Richard Leek, Travis Leek, Sell and Bassett.
Kocher will headline the Lumberjacks' secondary. Other cornerback hopefuls are Yoho, Satterfield, Shannon, Wilcox and Anderson.
Nicholas Leek or Gavin Streets will handle the safety responsibilities.
Bassett is the likely placekicker.
Miller's staff includes Chris Kocher, Jeff Derby, Colton Wright and David Palmer.