BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
Answering the same question has proved annoying to Bernie Barre, Wyoming's veteran football coach.
"People keep asking how I'm going to convince the players they can win," Barre said. "This shouldn't be a problem because they've been loose all year and confident in their ability to play with any Division IV team."
Tonight at Hamilton, Wyoming meets two-time defending state champion Valley View for the Division IV regional championship. The Spartans have won 84 of 85 games, including the last 39.
"Valley View does many of the same things as in the past," Barre said. "They are a run-and-shoot offensive team. When a team can run the option and also throw, it presents defensive problems."
Although Valley View defeated Ironton 50-20, the Spartans held only a 22-20 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
"Valley View started a senior at quarterback (Bryan Newell) but in the fourth quarter when they scored four times, a sophomore (Dustin Strayer) was in there," Barre said.
"The sophomore seemed to run the option much better but he can also throw the ball. It was a gutsy move because the senior had led them to 24 consecutive victories."
Ryan Boyer and Jason Rieger are Valley View's leading rushers along with Jared Fore, also the top receiver.
"I talked with Mike Yeagle and he told me that Ironton is as good a football team he's played since taking over at Beechwood (Ky.)," Barre said.
"Mike wanted to know what we plan to do if Ironton was as good a team as he thought and Valley View beat them so easily."
Wyoming and Valley View have met twice (1994 and '96) in the Division IV playoffs with the Spartans winning both games.
"In 1996, they beat us 34-14 when Richard (Hall) was a sophomore," Barre said. "We weren't good enough last time and this will be our best chance."
The Spartans' biggest advantage may be depth. They don't have anyone playing both ways, while the Cowboys have seven players on the field for every play.
"In 1994, we were up by seven points at halftime but lost 49-33," Barre said. "Everyone said that we wore down but I felt we were still fresh at the end. It was turnovers that hurt us.
Senior tailback Hall is Wyoming's major offensive weapon, scoring 43 touchdowns while rushing for 2,361 yards this season. However, the passing of quarterback Kyle Lewis may be the key to opening it up for Hall.
The winner advances to the Division IV state semifinals against an opponent to be named Sunday by the OHSAA.
