Niswonger Notches Win 200
Germantown, OH (September 20, 2003) Nothing compares to it. Not the 540 yards of offense or the meager 82 yards given up by the defense. Not even Brock Bolen's 246 yard performance or breaking his own scoring record.
For the moment nothing compares to the 200th victory for Coach Jay Niswonger in his 19 year career with a 69-0 spanking of the Brookville Blue Devils.
Coach Niswonger began his coaching career at Watkins Memorial, in Pataskala, OH. That was followed by Clinton-Massie and then on to Carlisle. In 1984 Coach Niswonger become the head coach at Valley View. The Spartans went 6-3-1 that year.
The next year Valley View dropped to 4-6 and then back to 6-4 in 1986. Starting in 1987, 1988, and 1989 the Spartans for the first time, became challengers for the league crown. After a frustrating 1990 season of 5-5, Coach Niswonger made a commitment to a straight two-platoon system. The results have been unbelievable. In 1991 the Spartans came up one game short of the SWBL crown.
However from 1992-2002 the Spartans have taken the field 146 times and came away victorious 135. The overall record in the last eleven years of 135-10 (.931) includes an outstanding record of 25-8 (.757) in State Championship games. In those eleven seasons, the Spartans have won eleven SWBL Championships, participated in the State Playoffs eleven seasons, won eight Regional Championships, have been State Semi-Finalists seven times and won three State Championships.
Next:: 201
With eight starters returning on both offense and defense from last season's playoff team, excitement has been high for the Village of West Milton. The Bulldogs are currently 4-1 with victories in their last four starts against, Miami East (1-4), Northridge (1-4), Brookville (1-4), and Madison (1-4). They suffered their only loss in week one against Tippecanoe (4-1) 28-7.
The QB position is shared with pocket-passer Ben Ginn and the more mobile Justin Huff. The entire OL is back, as is RB Travis Anders. Anders and Huff do double-duty as DB on the other side of the ball. Move-in Matt Moss (6-22, 220) adds power at fullback. Moss scored two TDs in last weeks 27-13 win over Middletown Madison.
The defensive line returns three starters and four at LB, including leading tackler Andrew Circle (OL/ILB) and 100-plus tackler Tim Dues (OL/ILB). This double duty by key starters will noticeably be the deciding factor in the Spartans almost certain victory.
It's a long drive to Miami County but this will be the Spartans best matchup since week 2 when Valley View defeated a much bigger Troy squad. It's also the first game in inter-divisional play.
We'd be foolish to think this anything but a Spartan win. Will it be the high scoring affair of the previous five games? One would tend to think in that direction. The Spartan defense has been cyclical throughout the entire 48 minutes, with brief lapses of discipline. Their biggest plus is the ability to step it up three levels when absolutely necessary, forcing fumbles, sacks, and interceptions. The Bulldogs will wear down too soon to make a difference.
Again, like the homers that we are, will take the Spartans, 52-12.
