CHARLESTON, Tenn. – Now in their 12th year of playing high school football, Walker Valley has played 118 football games. Chances are, they’ve never entered a game with as much excitement and hype surrounding it as No. 119.
An unblemished start, with season-opening victories over District 6-AA members East Ridge, Hixson and Red Bank, marks the first time the program has started 3-0. They’ll travel to Benny Monroe Stadium on Friday to face their rival Cleveland. The game will also be the first in the district for Walker Valley, while the Raiders are 1-0 so far in District 5-AAA.
The historical start has given the Mustangs reason to be excited. Their opponent — who enters the game 2-2 — lends reason for the hype.
It’s a place that senior offensive lineman Alexander Hooper wasn’t sure the program would ever get to. They entered the year on a 16-game losing streak and had won only three of their prior 30 games after a playoff berth in 2008.
“I expected to be 3-0 to start the year, but the best part is how the fan base and student section have rallied behind us,” Hooper said. “The whole atmosphere has changed. Everybody is looking forward to our games. We’ve bonded as a school and it’s been special.”