By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information
With a 21-game unbeaten streak on the line, the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals can hardly be accused of easing into the 2015 season.
They put the streak and their preseason No. 2 NJCAA ranking at peril Saturday against No. 5-ranked Nassau Community College in the fourth annual Battle In The Valley at Bruce Field. Game time is 7 p.m.
The Cardinals and Nassau were two of three NJCAA teams finishing unbeaten last season. Ninth-year coach Brad Smiley’s Cardinals went 12-0, the third such season in school history, and the Lions went 10-0.
“2015 is a new year with new players,” said Smiley, who was named National JUCO Coach of the Year in 2014 by American Football Monthly. “Last year was great and a lot of fun, but it will have zero bearing on what happens in 2015.”
Smiley was also named the SWJCFC Coach of the Year for a second straight year.
Returning to lead the Cardinals’ high-octane offense is Jerrod Evans (6-4, 230), who started in their two playoff wins last year (55-35 vs. Kilgore and 73-46 vs. Tyler). All Evans did in the two wins was account for 14 touchdowns, throwing for 11, six of which were against Kilgore to tie a school record held by Kyle Postma (earlier in the season against Navarro) and Eddie Valdez (1967).
For the season, Evans was 70-of-107 passing for 1,001 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was named National Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Kilgore in his first start of the season.
“This is the first time in three years we’ve had a starter back at the position,” Smiley said. “Although he only started two games, they were arguably our biggest games of the season.”
Other offensive starters returning are George Roberts (6-7, 330) and T.J. Henson (6-4, 305) on the offensive line and receivers Alex Pina-Rhoden (6-2, 185), Emmanuel Harris (5-10, 185) and Andre Wilson (5-10, 165).
Pina-Rhoden, Harris and Wilson combined for 66 receptions, 923 yards and eight touchdowns last year).
Transfers expected to make impacts on the offensive side of the ball are Christian Beard (OL, 6-4, 285, Arkansas State), Zach White (OL, 6-2, 310, Navy Prep), Derrick Willies (WR, 6-4, 205, Iowa) and Nick Jones (TE, 6-4, 255, Louisiana-Monroe).
Defensively, though just five starters return, playmakers and potential playmakers are aplenty.
Expected to lead the defense are returning starters Mar’Quaveon Jones (6-1, 215) and Jacorey Whitaker (6-0, 200) at linebacker, Ugonna Nwarie (6-1, 245) and J.T. Williams (6-2, 295) on the line and Jamal Jones (5-10, 195) in the secondary.
Desmond Branch (DL, 6-3, 270, New Mexico), Lloyd Tubman (DL, 6-5, 250, Kentucky) and Terry Ausborne Jr. (DB, 5-11, 175, Abilene Christian) are transfers expected to be among key contributors to the defensive side of the ledgers.
The Cardinals also return the nation’s top kicker from a year ago in Leo Peralta (5-8, 175). As a freshman, he set the NJCAA record for PATs in a season with 95 and led the nation in scoring with 128 points. He also hit 11 of 16 field goal attempts.
Also returning is deep snapper Austin Alfaro (5-10, 255), who was flawless last season.
Nassau will be led by quarterback Ben Holmes, the 2014 NEFC Offensive Player of the Yea and linebacker selection Walter Cooper. Also expected to play key roles for the Lions are Malcolm Pridgeon (OL), and Tyrell Chavis (DL).
Nassau coach Joe Osovet was named the 2014 USA JUCO Football Coach of the Year by USA College Football and the Metropolitan New York
Football Writers. He is the inaugural recipient of the award, which cognizes the outstanding community college coach in Eastern football.
“The key to our season, like it is every year, is the ability for our young men to come together and put the team first, doing whatever it takes to help the team win,” Smiley said. “Like our guys have done a great job of the last few years. They’ve got to check their egos at the door and learn what it takes to be a great teammate.”
Saturday’s game will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
The game is sponsored by Virtual Communication Specialists.
BATTLE IN THE VALLEY RESULTS
2012 – Iowa Western 44, TVCC 20
2013 – Iowa Western 24, TVCC 17
2014 – TVCC 73, College of DuPage 14