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Two years removed from a State champion football team in either 11-Man or 8-Man football, the Twin Valley League had two teams lay claim to State Championships in 2016. Just like 2013, a TVL 11-Man and 8-Man team earned a State Championship as Troy won the Class 2-1A State title and Hanover won the 8-Man Division II crown after both finishing as State runner-up in the previous season. The 2017 season sets up to be another highly competitive season on the gridiron in the TVL at both levels, but plenty of the teams will be dealing with replacing what was a strong senior class all-around last year.

Last year was not your typical football season for the Centralia Panthers as there were plenty of struggles finishing with a losing record for the first time in a long while. Coach Larry Glatczak and the Panthers were dealt a though hand with injuries and pushing young guys into big spots last year. This year, that experience looks to pay off as the team brings back a core group of playmakers and athletes that look to get back to the level of consistency the Centralia program has been accustomed too. Winning goals also include a return to the playoffs after missing out last year for the first time in 20 years, and a return to the top of the TVL that they dominated for nearly a decade.

Valley Heights galloped to their best record since 2009 posting a 7-3 mark during the 2016 season and earned a trip to the 2-1A playoffs for the second time in the last three years. With the graduation of multiple key players and leaders, the team looks to new guys to step up their game.  While multiple guys come back with experience, there will be some new roles for players and finding leaders is key to success for the Mustangs. Staying healthy with low numbers and using the teams athleticism to make up for lack of size is also critical for the Mustangs as they look for back-to-back winning seasons for first time since 2008 and 2009.

Troy reached the pinnacle and completed a perfect season last year to capture the school's first football championship.  The Trojans, who have won 19 straight home games, also claimed their initial Twin Valley League title and won a district crown for the third straight season!  In four years, Coach Derek  Jasper is 40-8, including an eye-poping 10-3 mark in the playoffs.  On top of replacing 13 seniors, including nine starters on both sides of the ball, Jasper must replace Troy legend and defensive coordinator, Don Cash.  With only a few players back that have varsity experience, it looks to be a rebuilding year.  However, the JV went 4-2 last year and these athletes have the confidence, commitment and comprehension to continue the Trojan winning ways.  The question is how quickly they acclimate to the varsity level.   

Doniphan West started from scratch in 2016 with a new way of doing things, including a new coach and system.  After an 0-5 start and battling through some key injuries, the Mustangs went 2-2 down the stretch and nearly made the playoffs.  Coach Rob Randall starts his second season with 11 lettermen back, including seven upper-classmen that have started on varsity.  The entire team is more comfortable and confident in the expectations and looks to take a big step forward.  D-West has the luxury of a four-year starting quarterback and other key weapons, but must find new lineman and continue to deal with a lack of depth and numbers as well as showing more progress on defense.  

It’s been a strong start to the coaching campaign of Doug Thompson at Washington County, posting back-to-back winning seasons in his first two years with playoff appearances.  The Tigers just fell short of an appearance in the Sub-State round of 2-1A playoffs last year. This season sets up to be the toughest yet for Coach Thompson as he brings back only one starter on each side of the ball following the graduation of a strong senior class. The Tigers look to build upon the last two seasons success, but need all the young guys to step into their roles and adjust as Coach Thompson aims to fit the pieces of the puzzle into the right spot, and keep the team healthy with only 17 athletes out.

8-Man

After a pair State runner-up finishes the last two years, the Hanover Wildcats reached the mountain top last year winning the 8-Man Division II title, their first since 2009. The Wildcats have been a powerhouse 8-Man program and look to continue that this season even without key guys from the past few years successful teams, including replacing a State record holding quarterback in Will Bruna. The cupboard won’t be bare for Coach Matt Heuer and Hanover with four starters back on each side of the ball and plenty of hungry players eager to take advantage of their opportunity as they Wildcats will have plenty of depth and set up to be primed for another run a top the TVL and deep playoff run.

Clifton-Clyde Eagles flew back into the playoffs last year after a two-year hiatus from the postseason and registered an 8-2 mark on the year. Coach Russ Steinbrock brings back some nice pieces from last year’s team, but the dynamic playmaker (Caleb Charbonneau) has graduated and left a big void as he accounted for over 50 percent of the team’s offense output. The development of the young guys to give the team depth and impact on the field will be a big factor in the Eagles flight pattern through a tough seven team District and the TVL. 

The young Axtell Eagles learned on the fly last year as they had some of revamping to do but put together a solid season finishing 4-5 with four of the five losses to playoff teams. This season Coach Eric Detweiler brings back a strong core with plenty of experience picked up last year as six starters are back on each side of the ball. Coach Detweiler hopes the experience returning will make his young team primed to take the next step and compete for a top spot in the TVL and challenge for a playoff spot in highly competitive District.

Year one of 8-Man football for the Onaga Buffalos was interesting.  Before the season started a key player went down and was out for the season, and during the year, the team had some success, but struggled to find the win column finishing 2-7. The season did end in a crazy fashion with a State record 114-68 win over Valley Falls. With a strong senior class having graduated, Coach Travis Callaway has a whole new set of obstacles in front of him. Only three starters are back so the team looks to plenty of youngsters and inexperience players to step into roles, while also dealing with the overall low numbers for the program.

Frankfort Wildcats came up just a few plays shy of their first playoff berth since 2011, finishing the season for the third straight year at 5-4. The 2017 season represents a different set of challenges for Coach Nick Anderson and the Wildcats as 70 percent of the offensive production is gone and only three starters are back on each side of the ball. Wildcats have a young team but a squad full of young and hungry players eager to learn and keep Frankfort football going in the right direction.

The mark of 4-5 has been a regular occurrence for the Linn Bulldogs football team and that is where the team finished last year. Diving further into the 2016 season, it was full of ups and downs with how games played out including seven games decided by 40-plus points.  Entering 2017, Coach Jeremy Miller, who enters his sixth season with Linn, looks to develop consistency from game to game for the Bulldogs. A solid group is back in the fold with five starters on each side of the ball, but replacing a multi-year starting quarterback and few others will not be easy. Bulldogs will look to stay health with lack of depth and as they pursue developing consistency and look to finish above .500 for the first time since 2006.

Blue Valley Rams put together another 2-7 record but the team showed improvement. This year, four starters are back on each side of the ball and a solid contingency of athleticism with speed leads the charge for the Rams in 2017 as they look to improve. Replacing key playmakers from last year is key as the team combats their lack of size with some athleticism. Another key is finding some vocal leaders for the team in order for the Rams to find a level of consistency and compete in the TVL and Districts.

Last year marked the first full season of varsity football for the Wetmore Cardinals since 1987.  While the season had its share of struggles, the Cardinals have plenty to take away and build upon moving forward. Multiple starters are back and nine letter winners overall, giving the team a core group to build upon for the 2017 as Coach Rick Schnacker looks to help the Cardinals start their flight pattern upward as a program regularly competing for wins.