No. 7 West Des Moines Valley Replaces Key Positions, but Expects Post-Season Streak to Continue

West Des Moines Valley is looking to extend a streak that has taken the Tigers to postseason play for the past 21 year, the second-largest streak in Iowa high school football history.

The Tigers are replacing a quarterback, kicker and punter, but Coach Gary Swenson, now in his 19th year as head coach for the Tigers,  told the Des Moines Register the prospects for more postseason appearances this year are good.

“Our schedule’s as competitive as it’s ever been,” he told the newspaper. “We’re not complaining. We love it.”

The No. 7-ranked Tigers open at home Friday against Waukee. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium.

Among the players to watch is Tyus Mason, who returns to the Valley backfield after hip surgery in January. He’s aiming for a third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season, the newspaper said. In the past two years, mason rushed for 2,171 yards and scored 31 touchdowns.

College prospect Anthony Lewis, a receiver who moved to Iowa from Colorado, joins the Tiger roster. Returning this year are running back Drew Gray; tight end Sam Hartman; offensive linemen Brady Smith, Josh Brunk, Aaron Howard and John Raridon; defensive lineman Nate Spacek; linebacker Dakota Miller; and defensive backs Keller Prien and Connor Sorge.

Sorge is also on the Register’s players-to-watch list. He intercepted two passes last year, returning one for a touchdown.

Additional games on Valley’s schedule include Sept. 6 vs. Dowling Catholic at Drake Stadium; Sept. 13 vs. Southeast Polk; Sept. 20 vs. Ankeny Centennial; Sept. 27 at Indianola; Oct. 4 at Urbandale; Oct. 11 vs. Lincoln; Oct. 18 at Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson; Oct. 25 at Sioux City East.