VIPERS DROP AA SEMI-FINAL GAME LAST YEAR,

COULD STRUGGLE AT AAA LEVEL IN 2008

Team Preview by: David Sire

DAVIS COUNTY – I am predicting the Vipers to finish #9 this year in the RMFL AAA division. However, of all the teams, I think this team has the best chance to prove me wrong and finish high enough to make the playoffs. The Vipers had an outstanding season last year going undefeated in the tough AA Mountain Division. They dropped a heart breaking 34-28 semi-final championship game to the Phoenix last year to end their season. Last year Josh Christensen finished 2^nd in rushing in the AA with Devon Holbrook finishing 4^th. Josh also led the AA in scoring. The Vipers finished with the #1 ranked O-line. Bryce Kennington finished as the #2 ranked kicker. Josh Sides finished #2 in sacks and Nash Montoya was the runaway leader in punt returns. As a team, the Vipers finished the AA last year as the #2 offensive and defensive teams. So why would anyone pick them to finish #9? First and foremost, both Josh & Mike Christensen (two of the best football players to ever wear Viper uniforms) will be HUGE losses for the Vipers this year. Josh has officially retired and Mike has taken a job in Okinawa. Secondly, no team has had much success in the AAA without a decent passing attack. The addition of Aaron Dickler (Bethel College) at wide receiver should help. It remains to be seen if losing Chuck Hall off the O-line will have much impact. They are still undecided at who will be the starting quarterback. Thirdly, I think the move to AAA is more difficult than most people think. And lastly, there seems to be some unrest in the Vipers camp. All these taken together make me think it will be a long season for the Vipers with then finishing in the #9 position.

On offense, the Vipers are still undecided on Stephen Waelty or Colby Cook as their starting quarterback. The Vipers still return a great running back in Devin Holbrook. This is once place where the Vipers have bad news, good news. As mentioned earlier, the bad news is they are losing Josh Christensen at running back. The good news is they still have Devin Holbrook. A situation many teams would be envious of. Filling out the backfield will be Rashad Kennedy at fullback. The O-line will be small by AAA standards. They will be starting Joe Wiseman (285 lbs), Kelly Kariger (265 lbs), Adam Whitaker (250 lbs), Kurt Horspool, and Dave Hemmers (255 lbs). Against bigger, stronger, and faster D-lines in the AAA, these players will have to provide yeoman efforts if the Vipers are to have a passing attack and in opening holes for their running backs. Jesse West will start at tight end and be joined by wide receivers Nash Montoya and newcomer Aaron Dickler. Colton Cook will be handling the kicking duties.

On defense, the Vipers will also be small on the D-line by AAA standards starting Josh Sides (250 lbs), Josh Slater (245 lbs), Kevin Mead (220 lbs), and Troy Peterson (190 lbs) / Chase Belnap (274 lbs). I think the D-line will struggle against many of the bigger AAA O-lines. It will be up to the linebackers to take up the slack. The linebacker core will feature Kevin Slater, Matt Christensen, and Jeff Hancock. Being tested by their opponents passing attack will be a secondary of Matt Peterson, Brandon Hunt, Chris Norton, and Andy Schindler.

All in all, it will be a challenging season for the Vipers. They open the season against one of the better passing teams in the Heat, a team that averaged over 17 yards per pass completion. They play the Wolverines, Da Bears, and the Shock in consecutive weeks. On May 17, they get the opportunity to avenge last year’s only loss when the travel to Missoula to meet the Phoenix.

OVERALL RANKING: 9^th