Springs Valley Community High School

The Patoka Lake Athletic Conference officially wrapped up its football season last week, announcing its all-conference team. Among the selections were seven Springs Valley Blackhawks: Konner Chase, Larron Childers, Xander Cook, Jonas Hammond, Kayce Jones, Teagun Rominger, and James Walls. Childers was a two-way force for the Blackhawks as a senior. Offensively he carried a heavy load, carrying the ball 105 times for 1,252 yards — an impressive 11.9 yards per carry — and 18 touchdowns. On the other side of the ball he had 106 tackles including a team-high 16.5 for a loss and five sacks. He also had eight quarterback hurries, forced a pair of fumbles, recovered a fumble, and blocked a punt. Chase also had a huge impact on both sides of the ball. The senior carried the ball 158 times for 1,123 yards and 14 touchdowns, also catching the ball twice for 45 yards. He also completed 11 passes during stints under center, gaining 178 yards and scoring four touchdowns through the air. Defensively he made 48 tackles — 3.5 for a loss — while also intercepting four passes, two for a touchdown, forcing a pair of fumbles, and recovering a fumble. Cook made 35 tackles — 9.5 for a loss — and had three sacks. He also recovered a fumble. Offensively he was a key blocker and caught one pass, a 10-yard touchdown. Hammond made 84 tackles from his position at linebacker, including nine for a loss and a sack, and recovered a fumble. He was also a key cog in an offensive line that paved the way for the Blackhawks to gain 3,545 yards on the ground: nearly 300 yards per game. Rominger was also an important member of that offensive line, even scoring a crucial touchdown against Eastern Greene on a fumble recovery in the end zone. Defensively he made 72 tackles and was one of only three Blackhawks to record at least 10 tackles for a loss. He also recovered a pair of fumbles. Walls was Springs Valley's primary target in the passing game. The junior caught 15 passes, racking up 305 yards and five touchdowns in the process. His longest reception was an explosive 91-yard catch-and-run against Crawford County. Defensively he made 26 tackles at safety, also intercepting a pass. He played a crucial role in the return game as well, gaining 204 yards on five kickoff returns and scoring a touchdown against Perry Central. Jones was the anchor of the Springs Valley defense. The junior defensive tackle made a monstrous 109 tackles with a team-high 16.5 tackles for a loss. He had a pair of sacks, three quarterback hurries, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, and blocked a field goal. Offensively he joined Hammond and Rominger on the line, creating holes for Springs Valley's stable of backs.