Indian Valley football returns loaded roster for another state title push

When you look at the preseason information provided by Indian Valley football coach Matt Lancaster, your first inclination is to say, “Didn’t they win the state championship last year?”

They did. The Braves rolled to the Division IV title.

So the next thing you’re inclined to say is, “Don’t they have a lot of guys back?” They do. Most of them, in fact.

Yes, Lancaster’s crew had some serious graduation hits. Let’s get to that first.

David Striker was a first-team All-Ohio offensive lineman last season. He also had 14 tackles and will be missed on both sides of the ball.

Eric Golder also was a first-teamer on the all-state team, making it as a defensive back. He made 72 tackles, including two sacks, picked off four passes and returned two for touchdowns. Golder scored 11 offensive touchdowns as well, piling up more than 700 all-purpose yards.

Jaxon Burcher received an all-state honorable mention as an end, totaling more than 300 yards of offense and three TDs and also piled up 113 tackles; Hunter Peterman earned an All-Ohio honorable mention on the offensive line, where he was a two-year starter, and also chipped in 48 tackles, eight for losses, and five sacks; while speedy wide receiver/outside linebacker Owen Fockler was an all-district honorable mention recipient.

You don’t just move on without guys like that. It’s where Braves like juniors Reese St. Clair (WR/LB), Garin O’Connor (OL/DL), Kellen Couts (TE/DE) and Logan Burrier (WR/LB); and sophomores Bradley Barr (FB/LB) and Brett O’Connor (FB/LB) are going to have to step up.

“While we graduated only a small group of seniors from last year’s 16-0 state championship team, that small group had players that made huge contributions to our team for multiple years, including 5 players that were multiple-year starters,” Lancaster said in preseason remarks. “We expect our young men to step up and fill the void left by those who have graduated and seize the opportunities they will have while being selfless and doing what is best for the team.”

Of course, nobody’s crying any tears for the Braves. They have more coming back than most teams.

That starts with senior Grady Kinsey, a first-team All-Ohio running back last season when he amassed 3,278 yards and 50 touchdowns on the ground, averaging 11 yards per carry. He also made 78 tackles. His yardage total was the fifth-best in state history and his TD total the sixth-best, just two off the record, according to OHSAA records.

Quarterback Ryker Williams was a second-team All-Ohio quarterback last year as a sophomore who also was named East District Player of the Year. Williams last year ran for 1,435 yards and 14 touchdowns, and passed for another 1,008 yards and 11 additional touchdowns. He also notched 72 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and a dozen sacks from this defensive end spot.

Senior Brogan O’Connor and junior Brogan Wilson were second-team all-district offensive linemen. Both will be back on both sides of the ball this season.

Junior Titan Peterman, an all-district honorable mention choice as a two-way lineman, returns up the middle, and junior Carsen Hostetler, also an all-district honorable mention recipient, comes back after making 75 tackles, picking off three passes and recovering three fumbles.

Others include seniors Rowan Piccin (WR/DB), Kyler Vosick (RB/CB), Koy Haney (G) and Cadyn Riggs (NT); and juniors Carson Hostetler (CB/WR) and Colt James (WR/DB), all key contributors a year ago.

“One of the strengths of our team is the invaluable playoff experience our players have earned over the last couple of seasons,” Lancaster said. “We hope that experience will play a part in creating a successful season in 2025. We have many returning starters and several others that received playing time due to injury. 

"We have great numbers again this year and a number of underclassmen who are competing for time. This has made practices competitive and we feel we have a number of kids who can contribute on Friday nights.”