Carlisle, Valley View still in hunt for title, playoff berth

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By Greg Billing, Staff Writer Updated 9:41 AM Friday, October 16, 2009

Count Carlisle High School, 6-1 and battling for its first playoff appearance since 2004, as one of the biggest surprises in the Southwestern Buckeye League.

Toss Valley View into that mix, too. The Spartans, with just two returning starters, find themselves in the hunt for the Southwestern Division title.

Those two teams meet tonight, Oct. 16, in a game that will have an impact on the Division IV, Region 16 computer points. Carlisle is No. 5 in the region, and Valley View is No. 6. The top eight advance to the postseason.

“We had two kids coming back this year. Two,” Valley View coach Jay Niswonger said. “A starter on offense, a starter on defense. That’s it. I don’t think a lot of people really thought we’d win any games.

“What our kids have accomplished right now, they go out each week and try to do the best they can do. That’s all we’re going to ask them to do.”

Niswonger said sophomore quarterback Patrick Boyle will get his first varsity start in place of junior Kyle Pohl, who suffered a concussion last week. The Spartans also will be without their starting fullback and two offensive linemen.

“There’s not a whole lot we can do to prepare him when you’ve only got three days,” Niswonger said of prepping Boyle, who starts for the JV. “We had triage at Sycamore Hospital. It was the Valley View wing in the ER.”

Among other storylines, Carlisle coach Billy Jewell graduated from Valley View in 1995 after transferring from Carlisle. Jewell also coached for Niswonger.

“All the guys that have been on my coaching staffs that go elsewhere, I wish them all the best,” Niswonger said. “I want them to do well because that says a lot about our program. He’s doing well.”

Extra points

• It’s little consolation but consider Bellbrook the best 1-6 team in the state. The Golden Eagles’ last four losses are by 3, 7, 7 and 1 points. The combined record of the past three teams to beat Bellbrook is 16-5.

• Milton-Union jumped back into the playoff chase with its 25-0 win over Brookville. But the Bulldogs, No. 7 in the D-IV, Region 16 rankings, won’t get much help in the closing weeks. Their next three opponents are a combined 2-19.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2400, ext. 6991, or gbilling@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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It's also worthy to note that Jordan Jacobs-Carlisle (named channel 7's athlete of the week) grew up in the VV school system. He played for VVHS until this school year. That speaks volumes for the Valley View program. That said, it's never a good idea to count the Spartans out. It's going to be quite a game.

VV Mom
1:29 PM, 10/16/2009

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