YOUNGSTOWN, OH-Valley Christian High School’s football season has taken a turn for the better this year, with the team boasting an impressive 4-1 record thanks to the remarkable leadership and dedication of senior player Alfred Coward. Fresh off a commanding win against East Palestine, Coward opens up about what sets this team apart and his unyielding drive to succeed.

Coward, who has been a key player for Valley Christian throughout his high school career, speaks highly of his teammates’ passion and conviction. “You can be the biggest, the strongest, the fastest, but if you don’t have that will, it doesn’t matter,” Coward emphasizes, pointing out that sheer physical capability isn’t enough without the heart to back it up.

Last season’s end was a bitter pill to swallow for Coward and his teammates, as they concluded with a 4-6 record, falling short of playoff inclusion. “It was very bitter,” Coward admits. “The whole summer, the whole offseason, I was just waiting to come back with a different type of ferociousness.”

Coward’s offseason was marked by relentless dedication. From walking five miles to the gym to working out every day, he left no stone unturned in his preparation. “It was a grind, for sure,” he says. “But it didn’t feel like a grind because I knew it was going to help me get to my goal.”

That goal is to play college football, an ambition that drives Coward daily. “You can’t simulate that energy in the stadium,” he says of the college game atmosphere. “It’s a passion, and that passion is never going to fade.”

When asked to pitch himself to any college coach in America, Coward’s response reflects his determination: “The conviction I have, the grit I would bring to the field, it will never waver.”

One striking moment in the season was during a game against Leetonia, where Coward’s late-game interception nearly turned into a touchdown. “I read the quarterback, saw the ball coming, and thought, ‘That’s me,'” he recounts. Despite being tackled at the 1-yard line, his subsequent transition to quarterback to score the touchdown is a testament to his versatility and resolve.

Coward’s inspiration comes from his late grandfather, Alfred Coward, whom he proudly carries as his namesake. “He was a man of conviction, and once he put his mind to something, he went all the way.”

Among his teammates, Jackson Bragg stands out as someone who pushes Coward to be better. Their friendly rivalry on the field is a driving force. “He’s going to let you know if you miss a tackle,” Coward laughs. “I gotta win. I gotta beat him.”

With his heart ablaze and eyes set on future goals, Alfred Coward continues to lead Valley Christian with the same ferociousness and dedication he has shown throughout his football journey.

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