A-K Valley high school football Q&A with Valley’s Tyler Green

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, October 17, 2018 | 6:06 PM

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With the fourth-quarter clock ticking down, trailing by six points and the red bulbs of the stadium scoreboard glowing a bright fourth down and 9 yards to go, Valley’s dreams of staying in the hunt for a first postseason appearance in five seasons hung in the balance.

Quarterback Tyler Green broke the huddle, scanned the defense and then called for senior tight end Noah Hutcherson to run to the back corner of the end zone. The Summit Academy defense was playing the run.

“We called a double slant on the play side because it was open all night,” Valley assistant coach Joe Dolinski said. “On the back side, we work ‘Hutch’ down the middle. Tyler said the corner’s open, and he changed the route.”

Green not only changed the route but the season. In the face of defensive pressure, Green floated a perfect pass over the Knights defense to a wide open Hutcherson for a 17-yard touchdown to tie the game at 20-20 before Evan Andrews hauled in a two-point conversion pass from Green for a 22-20 come-from-behind win for Valley (3-5, 2-3).

“Tyler’s a pretty smart kid,” Dolinski said. “He understands defenses. He understands where to attack certain things and where the weaknesses are in certain coverages.”

Green finished the game 7 of 17 for 121 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. He put the Vikings on the board in the first quarter when he spotted senior wide receiver Malique Richardson for a 24-yard touchdown to tie the game at 6-6.

The win sets up a winner-take-all matchup against Class AA Allegheny Conference foe East Allegheny in two weeks, where the winner will go to the playoffs.

“What’s good about Tyler, he really doesn’t get rattled when things go good or when things get bad,” Dolinski said. “He’s a cool cat back there. It was a fun thing to watch for sure, and it’s a lot more fun to be on the winning side of that.”

What did you see when you broke the huddle to call an audible on your game-tying touchdown pass to Noah Hutcherson?

They had no deep safety and their corner had slid into the box. I pulled back Hutcherson and told him to run a post corner (route) and do it fast, and that’s what we did.

Did that touchdown save the season?

It definitely gave us a spark and the momentum for the two-point conversion. It will carry on to this Friday coming up (against Riverside).

How many times have you practiced that throw?

We have a post corner route, but we didn’t have it in any of our playcalling, so we just had to improv with it.

Are the Vikings beginning to peak as a team?

Yes. I noticed in the locker room and the energy is coming together. With all of these wins everybody is starting to come together.

What will be Valley’s approach to Friday’s nonconference game against Riverside?

Nobody wants to lose. We got some guys that are pretty banged up and they’re not going to push it so that they’re ready for the (final) conference game. We’re going in there with the mindset to win.

What are your thoughts on East Allegheny in two weeks, where the winner makes the playoffs?

I’m feeling pretty good about it. Watching them on film, they seem pretty much like us in ways.

Which position do you like more, quarterback or linebacker?

I played defense my whole life and in high school (I didn’t) up until this year. It’s always fun to do the hitting instead of getting hit.

What’s the strength of his year’s team?

It’s our seniors and the bond that we have. We’ve been playing since I’ve been 5.

What’s your best attribute as a quarterback?

I would like to say my downfield throw.

Who has the best hands on the team?

I’d have to give this one to Noah Hutcherson because he’s dropped the least passes this year.

Why do you wear the No. 1?

In 2011, I saw Cam Newton get drafted and he was a big dude, and I was playing quarterback and I figured I’d take the number.

What is your favorite pre-game meal?

I like chicken parmesan sandwich. My mom usually brings it to me.

Who is your favorite pro quarterback?

Cam Newton.

Do you have a nickname?

They call me “Boogie” or “Big Ty,” things like that.

Who has the best nickname on the team?

I have to say senior lineman Seandale Beckom-Barron. His nickname’s “Sweetness.” He’s just a big goofy kid.

Tags: Valley