Parkview has a new head coach in Paul Hansen who takes over for Anthony Hays who is now at Branson. Hansen comes to Parkview from the college ranks at Southwest Assemblies of God University. He has experience in the Ozark Conference from a four-year stint as offensive coordinator at Hillcrest.
Hansen has a lot to like in his first season back at Parkview with 16 total starters back with many of them returning to offense.
Two quarterbacks in senior Mario Sanchez and sophomore Trevor Boice are competing to run Hansen’s spread offense. Sanchez threw for 661 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for another 330 yards and four touchdowns last year. Boice had 263 yards passing and 221 yards rushing as a freshman in a more limited role.
“All summer we have allowed our quarterbacks to alternate series to get a lot of reps in. Right now both Trevor Boice and Mario Sanchez are competing well for the starting position,” Hansen said.
Whoever takes the snaps will have a strong weapon in the backfield with junior Blake Delacruz. Delacruz rushed for 846 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore.
The Vikings have an experienced offensive line with starters Jeffrey Styles, Ben Grandon and Ethan Day all back. Seth White will also be a key cog on the line.
Gage Clark, Tyrone Newborn, Noah Buckley and Jevin Huddleston will all be factors at receiver. Clark led all Parkview receivers last season with 38 catches for 478 yards and five touchdowns.
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All that experience returning has made the switch to Hansen’s spread offense a little easier.
“This is probably the fifth time that I have installed this kind of offense, so I am kind of used to it,” Hansen said. “Every time I learn something different of how to explain something because everyone learns differently. I am pleased with how everyone is catching onto it. It really is a new language with the verbiage.”
Defensively, the Vikings will run a 4-3 anchored by Scotty Baker and Aerion Hawkins at linebacker.
Warren Atkins returns to the secondary after starting every game at safety as a junior. He tallied 46 tackles last season.
Kayden Morton returns to lead the defensive line after a 78-tackle season as junior. He is the team’s leading returning tackler.
Damarcus Mason will also be a factor in the secondary as he switches from offense at wide receiver to corner back this season.
Hansen will look to improve on Parkview’s two-win season a year ago as the Vikings try to climb back up the Ozark Conference standings.
“This conference is tough,” Hansen said. “There is a lot of great coaches and teams in this conference. If we could somehow be named with those top-tier teams it would make me really happy.”
Parkview opens its season on Aug. 18 against Kickapoo.
