High school football: Valley View Spartans preview

The following is a high school football preview. The preseason begins Thursday, Aug. 1. Most teams will play Week 1 games on Friday, Aug. 30.

High school: Valley View Spartans, public.

Location: Germantown, Montgomery County.

Division/Region: D-IV, Region 16; same as last season.

Affiliation: Southwestern Buckeye League, Southwestern Division.

Head coach: Bob Skidmore, fourth season as the Spartans head coach (27-7 overall record) and 33rd year with the program.

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Assistant coaches: Butch Stidham, DC/DB; Matt King, special teams/LB/strength and conditioning;

Jarrod Henry, DL; William Longman, LB; Andy Keating, QB; Chad Cradlebaugh, RB/WR; Joel Phillips, WR; Brock Bolen, RB.

2018 record: 6-4, 4-2 SWBL Southwestern.

2018 highlights: Recovered from a 1-2 start by sweeping Milton-Union (36-19), Eaton (22-0) and Brookville (24-0) in Weeks 8-10. Midseason losses to unbeaten Bellbrook (28-21) and Franklin (31-10) prevented Valley View from qualifying for the playoffs. That snapped a streak of two straight playoff seasons by the Spartans. Still, with 19 postseason teams and all since 1992, Valley View ranks among the area leaders in all-time playoff teams.

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Returning senior QB Cade Cradlebaugh had 1,165 yards passing (12 touchdowns, 6 INTs) and also led the Spartans in rushing (657 yards, nine TDs). He was lights out in Week 1, putting 170 yards rushing (three TDs) and 120 yards passing (two TDs) in a 50-26 win at Wilmington.

5 key returners:

• Justin Bromagen, 6-5, 285, sr., OL/DL; verbally committed to Illinois State.

• Cade Cradlebaugh, 6-2, 215, sr., QB/DB; first team All-SWBL QB.

• Noah Harrisson, 6-0, 200, sr., OL/DL; first team All-Area DL.

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• Max Smith, 6-1, 215, sr., TE/LB; second team All-SWBL LB.

• Dylan Branham, 5-9, 185, sr., RB/S.

What to know: Bromagen is a massive two-way reason for Spartans' optimism. Cradlebaugh will be counted on to carry on a breakout junior season.

At this point, Valley View football is all about deep postseasons. That’s a well-earned tribute to Spartans football and Skidmore has been there for it all, including 29 seasons as an assistant before succeeding Kris Ketron in 2016.

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One of the few area teams that doesn’t have a schedule change from last season; even the order is the same. Just the locations are reversed.

It’s the third season for Valley View to open with Wilmington and the Spartans are seeking a sweep.

It’s also the third year for a great series with Midwest Athletic Conference rep Fort Recovery. Spartans were defeated 27-23 in Week 2 and handled Recovery 24-21 in Week 2 of the 2017 season. Prior to that, Valley View had a four-year, Week 2 series with MAC member Versailles.

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Once again, Valley View’s schedule is backloaded with Bellbrook (Week 6), Franklin (Week 7) and Brookville (Week 10). A sweep of those three games likely would ensure the Spartans making the playoffs.

Schedule, all at 7 p.m.

Week 1: Fri., Aug. 30, Wilmington

Week 2: Fri., Sept. 6, Fort Recovery

Week 3: Fri., Sept. 13, at Middletown Madison

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Week 4: Fri., Sept. 20, Oakwood

Week 5: Fri., Sept. 27, at Monroe

Week 6: Fri., Oct. 4, at Bellbrook

Week 7: Fri., Oct. 11, Franklin

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Week 8: Fri., Oct. 18, at Milton-Union

Week 9: Fri., Oct. 25, at Eaton

Week 10: Fri., Nov. 1, Brookville

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