(Westside) A couple of 8-Player, District 8 teams still looking to get on track will face off Friday evening. Ar-We-Va and Exira-EHK are scheduled to get together in Week 6.
Ar-We-Va coach Chris Petersen admits both teams have experienced some growing pains. The lone win between them was the Rocket’s 50-38 decision last week over Boyer Valley. “We’ve kind of both taken our lumps this year with some losses to very good teams.” He says, “We know we are going to have to execute and play some good football because they have some talented kids and they will be well coached.”
Ar-We-Va broke in a new quarterback last and it came with great success. Will Ragaller passed for 171 yards and two scores while rushing for 277 yards and four touchdowns. “We moved him from running back to quarterback. That was a good move for him.” Petersen says, “We’re trying to get the ball into his hands as much as possible. Then we moved Cooper Kock to receiver and he was our leading receiver with 150 yards and two touchdowns. So we made some changes and that seems to have helped.” Ragaller also leads Ar-We-Va’s defense with 55 tackles, 4 sacks, and 16 tackles for loss.
Coach Petersen is the nephew of Exira-EHK coach Tom Petersen and two of his cousins (Tyler and Trey) start for the Spartans. “I don’t suppose we can do like the back yard and I can go out and tackle them.” Petersen laughs, “It’s always fun to play when we play. It adds a little bit to family get togethers later in the year.”
Trey Petersen and Tyler Petersen are two of many offensive threats for Exira-EHK. “Obviously Trey will move a little bit quicker than Tyler will so we’ll have to be able to contain him if he wants to scramble. Tyler Kingery is their leading receiver and has three touchdowns so those kids, along with a couple of others on the edges are catching balls with Hunter Andersen and Dane Paulsen.”
Last week Ar-We-Va outscored Boyer Valley 22-8 in the 4th quarter to erase a 30-28 deficit and notch their first win of the year. Exira-EHK holds a four game winning streak in this series.
