Spring Valley’s Aden Jones threw for 1,007 yards in 2022.
Another season of change is on the menu for the Spring Valley Vikings heading into 2023. Head coach Nygel Pearson replaces Robin Bacon, who stepped down last November following a 5-6 campaign.
“It’s a chance to coach at a place that has such history like Spring Valley,” Pearson told The Columbia Star back in February. “Me being a South Carolina native, this gives me a chance to get back to South Carolina. I have a chance to strike some energy back into a pretty historic program.”
Pearson spent the last three seasons as head coach of North Rowan High School in North Carolina.
“The transition is going as well as it can at this point,” Pearson said of his short time at Spring Valley. “We spent 12 days during spring practice. We’ve been here during the last couple of weeks trying to get things ready to go.”
Pearson prefers a spread style of offense, with some 11 personnel, which brings more tight ends into the formation.
As Pearson installs his system, he will have Aden Jones, who threw for just over 1,000 yards in 2022.
While Pearson is glad to have a quarterback with experience, Jones will still have to learn a new system.
Pearson also inherits a veteran offensive line. Four of five starters return including Sir Stokes, Alan Hartwell, Robert McGriff, and Joel Amos.
Pearson believes the Vikings’ defensive line, which consists of Jonas Wilson, KJ Griffin, Khalil Allen, and David Alford, could be a strength of the team.
Will Smith and Devan Crumpton should anchor the secondary.
Pearson is not very familiar with the teams on Spring Valley’s schedule in 2023. The Region 3-5A portion will be especially difficult with Clover and Blythewood expected to be the favorites.
Predicting success for Spring Valley in 2023 is difficult. Value experience returns, but the players will need time to adjust to the new coaching staff.
Pearson wants his team to be competitive, and he hopes to put them in a position to win every game.
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