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Bureau Valley and Spring Valley Hall are two tradition-rich football tradition programs with much past gridiron glory between them.
Hall won two state championships with a state runner-up finish in seven seasons from 1995-2001 and stands 37-23 (.617) in postseason play.
Bureau Valley finished second in state in 2004 and first in 2005 with a semifinal berth the next year, good for a 26-2 three-year span, and owns a 17-9 (.653) playoff record.
Both teams are rebuilding with new coaching staffs (Hall in its first year, BV with its second) to get back to their past gridiron glory and will continue to make those steps when they meet Saturday at Nesti Stadium in Spring Valley. Kick off is 1 p.m.
Saturday’s matchup will also give an opportunity for both sides to lick wounds last week and get in the win column for the first time this season. Each is coming off lopsided defeats to high-ranked teams. Bureau Valley lost 42-0, to Newman, in its first game, while Hall bowed 49-3 to Princeton.
But both are ready to move forward.
“As young as we are, any game experience that has a lot of teachable moments is really good for us,” BV coach Mat Pistole said.
The Storm coach saw a lot of good things to take out of their season-opening loss, especially having just one turnover, an interception, after averaging over three in 2019.
“I was really happy with the way we took care of the ball offensively and how we tackled defensively,” said Pistole, noting that Newman didn’t have a longer run than 15 yards. “We were close to breaking a couple plays on offense and stopping some plays in the backfield defensively with a few tweaks and better execution, so we are definitely heading in the right direction.”
Mostly importantly, Pistole said his players have told him how much fun they had “being back on the field in the bolts (on their helmets) in front of fans. This is what it is all about.”
First-year Hall head coach Nick Guerrini, like Pistole, an alum at his school, was pleased how his young team stuck together and never gave up, even when they fell behind 35-0 at halftime to Princeton.
“We have a lot of young kids who could have took that game and got down on themselves and walked away from it. Not necessarily wanting to be back. I feel that second half something clicked in a lot of our team and they realized, ‘Yeah, this is going to be a tough season, but they all want to fight through it.
“Not necessarily a turning point for us, because we’re just kind of getting started, but I do think there’s a lot of positives coming out of it still.”
In an odd football season, postponed last fall due to the global pandemic, the schools on opposite ends of Bureau County, are both down on numbers this spring. Hall is down to 28 active players with the loss of senior Jack Savitch for the season, although his brother, junior Caleb, may return from a high ankle sprain Saturday. The Storm started with 38 kids, but now down to 35 due to injuries.
“A lot of similar stuff. New coaching staff the last two years. Trying to get their numbers back and trying to get reestablished. We’re a probably little bit fresher than they are being that they are in their second year of the new program,” Guerrini said.
Pistole said Hall is fast and has a lot of size up front, which is dangerous combination.
“We really have to play fundamentally sound defensively and keep them from getting big plays as they are capable of going the distance on every snap,” he said.
Guerrini said the Red Devils will have to be prepared for the Storm’s misdirection and counter.
“We have to make sure we don’t allow them to get outside on us. I think we’re prepared for it,” he said. “We’re looking forward to it. Another opportunity to get back on the field and continue to work each week. We have a lot of positivity going on with the group and we’re going to try to keep it there.”
Bureau Valley (0-1) at Hall (0-1)
Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday, Nesti Stadium
At a glance: Both coaches - BV’s Mat Pistole and Hall’s Nick Guerrini - are proud alumni of their respective schools and played key roles in successful football campaigns. ... The Bureau County rivals met for the first time in five years in 2019 in Manlius with the Red Devils winning 47-12. One of BV’s two wins in the all-time series came in the playoffs (2004 second round, 35-14). ... Hall is now allowing two tickets for each visiting player and five per Hall player, cheerleader and dancer as well as a student section. ... The game will be streamed on Hall’s YouTube channel.
Last week: BV lost to Newman 42-0; Hall lost to Princeton 49-3.
Last meeting: Hall 47-12 (2019).
All-time series: Hall 5-2.
Radio: WAJK 99.3 FM.