West Valley High School - Aurora Yearbook (Fairbanks, AK)

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l5OC3TBlALL WVHS ,a, t opponent O I Eielson L20 28 Palmer 15 14 Lathrop 29 361 Wasilla il O 42 North Pole 16 16 Kenai 33 cwtsi l cL-si from --- ' ' ,1- phant Tyrone Thomas signals another alley touchdown against North Pole. f i ' nn- 1 5 Q-vwsnniayqn -1 1,-Q -.t,,.t,M ,A 'x 's Ng? 'v Z I .fe 'wt P'x. Chuck Gold and the rest of the Wolfpack team concentrate intently on the action. ig Ii Q Ax .H , Voluptuous, hairy-legged cheerleaders form a human pyramid at the Homecoming pep assembly. A if E tif .wg 9 , t tis 1 K ,fl N 'TEN A 5 A Q . - 5,21 Q WV:.kf, K J R . Q t .1 W A ..,. .. sv' Wolfpack players Dave Gonzales, Ben Blackburn, and Mike Cacairi revel in their recent victory. FOOTBALL 159

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This year's West Valley Wolfpack football team finished with a misleading 3- 3 record. They were an exciting team that improved as the year progressed. They featured a high-powered offense that included break-away runners like Seniors Ben Blackburn and Brad Adams. Junior lefthander Dan McNelly and Senior Tyrone Thomas proved to be a winning combination when the pass was needed. The defense, like the rest of the team, was small, but quick and full of punishing hitters. The defensive line was anchored by Trent McNelly. Linebackers Scott Winner, Wayne Sharp, and Jeff Studer kept opposing runners in check. Mary Perry became a major deterrent to would- be passers. The Wolfpack games were well played. The team reflected the sound coaching it received from rookie Coach Chuck Gold, an expro from the Oakland Raiders. Football in Alaska takes a special breed of player. Teams here battle not only other teams, but also the elements, from the dry dusty heat of the summer, to the snowy cold of late fall practices. Despite all of this, our team still gave their utmost in their quest for victory. With blockers Scott Winner and Ben Blackbrun leading the way, Brad Adams charges around the right end. 158 FOOTBALL WEST GRIDDERSg MORE THAN A MATCH FOR THEIR FOES 'ss . , 11 K 'L Lrgl i - ,K X ykf. - -if . , .,... ...... ..,, Ns Qgsm' it

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Blasting holes in opposing lines, dragging down quarterbacks trying to pass, and scoring many touchdowns were only part of the JV football team's goals. They also needed to build better skills and gain valuable experience to prepare them for the future Wolfpack Varsity football teams. The West Valley JV football team did just that. Behind the strong arm of Trent Carbaugh and the good hard running of Maurice Gamble, the JV developed into a functional and well operating team en route to a 2-3 record. Both the offense and defense played well, proving that West Valley was a team to be reckoned with. Says Bobby Coleman, one of the teams wide receivers: Next year the JV will be more experienced, so we should do better in the win-loss column. There were a lot of first year men this year, so we didn't have much experience playing as a team. Next year we will definitely do much better. The JV football team was a source of pride for West. The time, effort, and hardship that they put into representing West Valley on the gridiron proved that West Valley was still the one. West players swarm the Lathrop kicker in their efforts to block his kick. GAINING VALUABLE EXPER- IENCE, THE JV PREPARED TO JOIN NEXT YEAR'S VARSITY The Wolfpack defenders carefully eye the Lathrop formation. This sure-handed West Valley receiver ls Chris Rawlins. 160 JV FOOTBALL .rv FOOTBALL iiii A isasrs. 12 . 'i lfl tii 8 J ' i 20 Elelson 26 18 Lathrop 17 40 Kenai 24 22 KW-23 ll--3l IT-07