Thank you, Peyton Manning. Spring Valley football scores new gear from NFL great

Spring Valley’s football team received new equipement and a message from a former All-Pro quarterback Peyton Manning.

The Vikings were one of the 18 recipients of Riddell’s Smarter Football grants. Along with new equipment, former Broncos and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning delivered a personalized message to Spring Valley football team.

“I am proud to help Riddell shine a light on these outstanding football programs,” Manning said in a release. “From Apple Springs High School utilizing its ‘H-Awareness’ around heat and hydration, and USA Football’s Heads Up Football program, to the Madras High School White Buffaloes leveraging the values and lessons from football to be more productive members of society as part of the D.E.S.I.R.E. initiative, Smarter Football is stronger than ever. I hope we continue to see more teams follow the lead of this incredible collection of coaches, players, administrators and parents.”

Spring Valley coach Robin Bacon said the program’s grant was $10,000, which was used to purchase 45 pairs of new shoulder pads, 10 new helmets, a new helmet equipment kit and two tackling rings. He said the grant was much needed with the school being the only one in Richland Two still fielding freshman, JV and varsity football teams.

Spring Valley was one of 12 high schools to win the grant of more than 1,400 applicants.

According to the release from Riddell, it noted that Spring Valley’s coaching staff is committed to teaching their players smarter tackling and blocking fundamentals. They are continuously instructing their players to lead with their shoulders and not their heads when initiating contact with another player, according to the statement.

The company also was impressed with their community service in which players are regular visitors at elementary and middle school and talk about the dangers of alcohol. Off the field, the seniors on the team are regular visitors at the town’s elementary and middle schools where they talk to young students about the importance of education and the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

This story was originally published September 5, 2018 at 12:18 PM.