Football Schedule: New Coach to Lead Vianney

The Athletics Department marked the official start of its 2011-2012 sporting year by releasing the 2011 varsity football schedule.

The first day of fall practice for the Golden Griffins is set for Monday. This will also mark the official beginning of a new era for Vianney football with new head coach Mike Diffley leading the team through its first set of drills and two-a-day workouts.

Diffley, a 17-year coaching veteran whose resume includes a seven-year stint as offensive coordinator at Chaminade College Prep and a five-year run as Vianney’s defensive coordinator, took over the head job in April. Former Griffins coach Gene Gladstone announced his retirement last March.

Vianney last won the Metro Catholic Conference in 2005, and has finished last in the league every year since.

The schedule makers certainly didn’t cut Diffley any breaks in his first year.

In the Griffins' home opener, the team takes on Ritenour High on Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. The Huskies defeated Vianney, 34-15, in the season opener last year. They bring back one of the area’s top defensive players in recent University of Missouri commit Edmund Ray, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound behemoth defensive lineman who had 74 tackles and eight QB sacks last season.

In 2011, Vianney will play five teams that made the playoffs last year.

That is half of their schedule, which also includes a midseason stretch through the MCC. This includes games at Chaminade on Sept. 9, at home against De Smet and star receiver Durron Neal (Oklahoma recruit) on Sept. 16, at home against SLUH on Sept. 23 and, finally, a game at CBC on Sept. 30. CBC features top-QB prospect Dalton Demos.

The district playoffs for Vianney will feature one home game and two road games. The Senior Night district playoff opener will be Friday, Oct. 14 at home against rival and 2010 district champion at 7 p.m. See .

Vianney will close out its regular season with road Viagames at Parkway West on Oct. 21, and at Washington (Mo.) on Oct. 28.

The other home game this season for the Griffins will be Friday, Oct. 7 when Vianney hosts Francis Howell Central at 7 p.m.

2011 Vianney Golden Griffins Football Schedule

8.26: vs. Ritenour, 7 p.m.
9.2:   at Northwest, 7 p.m.
9.9:   at Chaminade, 7 p.m.
9.16: vs. DeSmet, 7 p.m.
9.23: vs. SLUH, 7 p.m.
9.30: at CBC, 7 p.m.
10.7: vs. Francis Howell Central, 7 p.m.
10.14: vs. Kirkwood, 7 p.m.
10.21: at Parkway West, 7 p.m.
10.28: at Washington, 7 p.m.