By Kyle Parmley
PINSON – Do not tell Pinson Valley head coach Matt Glover that his team shut out Oneonta 42-0 last year.
“We’ve got a good Oneonta team next week,” Glover said following his team’s victory over Hartselle last Friday night.
The respect for the next opponent starts at the top of the Pinson Valley program, in hopes that the Indians will be properly prepared to travel to take on Oneonta this week. The Indians come off a solid 28-13 win over a well-coached Hartselle squad in the season opener.
The Redskins are a perennial contender in Class 4A, and have a good chance to make a run once again. Senior quarterback Ko Powell led the program to a state title in 2013 as a sophomore. Oneonta faced Class 5A Guntersville last week in a fall jamboree game, as Guntersville won 41-17.
However, Pinson Valley simply has more manpower, being a Class 6A program. In last year’s contest, quarterback Errius Collins (now a starting receiver for the Indians) scored three touchdowns. All three were of the rushing variety, the longest a 51-yard scamper.
Running back Nick Gibson accounted for Pinson Valley’s other three scores. Gibson signed with Mississippi State in February, leaving the position to Torrey Hendrix, who burst onto the scene last week with a big game. He opened the season with 150 all-purpose yards against Hartselle, with a highlight 61-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to give his team control.
Pinson Valley’s defensive unit will have a difficult time duplicating the success it had against Oneonta last season. The Indians held the Redskins to a mere two first downs and 21 total yards of offense.
The Indian offense racked up over 300 yards in last year’s game, and should be able to have a similar performance this week. Look for Pinson Valley to cruise to a 2-0 start.