Returning talent has Vikings primed for big year

 AVOCA -- No matter which position group you’re talking about - linemen, backs, offense, defense, receivers or the secondary - the AHSTW football team has experience and talent returning at every spot on the field.
 While graduation surely took away several terrific players from last year’s 8-2 playoff qualifier and Class 1-A, District 7 runner-up, the pieces are in place for another outstanding Viking season on the gridiron.
 Sixth-year AHSTW head coach Davis Pattee returns 16 letter winners and 13 seniors on his 40-player roster - down from last year’s 58 due to a small freshmen class - and brings back about eight players who started on at least one side of the ball.
 From 338-pound senior lineman AJ Sieh to senior quarterback/strong safety R.J. Harris and junior running back/linebacker Gabe Pauley, Coach Pattee has reasons to like what he sees as the Vikings prepare for Friday night’s 2017 season opener at Shenandoah.
 “We feel really good about our physical talent on the field,” Pattee said. “We feel like we can match up physically with most teams... It’s going to take attention to detail and being mentally disciplined, and if we can do that we feel good about where we’re at.”

2017 AHSTW Varsity Football Schedule
Aug. 25 - at Shenandoah, 7:00
Sept. 1 - at Lawton-Bronson, 7:00
Sept. 8 - Tri-Center, 7:00*
Sept. 15 - at ACGC, 7:00* (at Guthrie Center)
Sept. 22 - Treynor, 7:00* (Homecoming)
Sept. 29 - IKM-Manning, 7:00*
Oct. 6 - at OA-BCIG, 7:00*
Oct. 13 - Logan-Magnolia, 7:00*
Oct. 20 - at Missouri Valley, 7:00*
Home Games in Bold Type
* District Games
Class 1-A Playoff Dates: Oct. 27, Nov. 3, Nov. 11, Nov. 17.

2016 AHSTW Results
8-2 Overall, 6-1 in District 7 (2nd); Class 1-A Playoff Qualifier
8/26    AHSTW 13, Shenandoah 6 (ot)
9/2    AHSTW 28, Lawton-Brons. 0
9/9    AHSTW 40, Tri-Center 0*
9/16    AHSTW 55, ACGC 0*
9/23    AHSTW 49, Treynor 0*
9/30    AHSTW 27, IKM-Manning 16*
10/7    AHSTW 17, OA-BCIG 12*
10/14    Logan-Magn. 28, AHSTW 6*
10/21    AHSTW 37, Mo. Valley 15*
* District Games
Class 1-A Playoffs
10/28    Van Meter 21, AHSTW 14 (ot)