By Don Ketchum

Videos go viral, and football teams go atomic. At least this one does.

Tonopah Valley High, which sits approximately 7 ½ miles from the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station west of Phoenix, is glowing with a 4-0 record and, as coach Ray Karvis hopes, more victories to come for him and his team.

Karvis, in his second year as head coach and third overall at the school after serving as an assistant coach and strength coach at Phoenix Christian, has got the protons, electrons and neutrons buzzing with energy.

“You have to attribute our success to the players for buying into the system, what we are trying to teach them,’’ Karvis said. “They know that it takes commitment, discipline and mental toughness.’’

The players became devotees to Karvis’ weightlifting program and he was able to monitor their speed and agility in the spring as the head boys’ track coach.

After the track season was over, the players went back into the weight room and things just took off from there.

Karvis also has been a strength coach at Southern Illinois University.

“Offense, defense and special teams are important, but the weight program can be just as important,’’ he said.

There were a few players who departed Tonopah Valley, a Division V school, for bigger schools closer to Phoenix. The players who stayed have developed a cohesive group, nicknamed the Phoenix.

Karvis said the program has 46 players in the program (varsity and other levels) in the 340-student school. Junior varsity games are early in the week and as an incentive, he allows the top two players from that game to dress out for home varsity games on Friday nights or travel if the game is on the road.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to play, but it gives them a taste of what the next level is like,’’ Karvis said.

Asked about his players’ reaction to some of their teammates leaving, Karvis said, “It didn’t faze ’em (holdovers). We don’t do anything fancy. We just try and play good, fundamental football.

“The kids want to be successful. The offensive and defensive lines are key for us. Our guys up front have good feet, and they know how to move.’’

The coaching staff is dedicated to the players, according to Karvis. He is the only one who teaches (biology) on campus. The others drive close to an hour to get to practice from their other jobs during the day.

“I can’t thank those guys enough,’’ Karvis said.

Part of Karvis’ method is to be positive and encouraging, not a coach who wants to constantly get in his players’ faces.

“Last year, we were 3-6. We had a lot of close games and every practice was positive,’’ he said. “That’s the way we are trying to make it this year.

“I like to say that kids have an emotional bank. You put positive deposits in there constantly, and when you need to make a withdrawal, show them some things that they might be doing wrong, you want them to rise to the challenge and learn from it, make them realize that what you are trying to show them is in their best interests.’’

The coach said he has a number of talented underclassmen, but says he relies a great deal on four senior co-captains.

They are running back Arturo Martinez, defensive lineman-linebacker Jeff Tilivala, lineman Alex Stanley and lineman Jordan Perry.

Karvis said the 5-foot-7, 155-pound Martinez “is tough as nails’’ and has deceptive speed. He rushed for 367 yards in a 51-35 victory at Phoenix Christian last week. Martinez and Tilivala earned postseason honors last year.

Stanley is a good student, and is on target to play in college at Pacific Lutheran in Seattle, Karvis said. Perry is a transfer from Goodyear Millennium. He joined the team about a third of the way through the season last year. He was a bit out of shape, Karvis said, but then started to pick up the pace by playing basketball, participating in track and field and especially in the weight room over the summer.

“He just kind of took off,’’ Karvis said.

The fun is just beginning. Three of Tonopah Valley’s wins have been on the road. This week and next, the Phoenix play at home against Phoenix Bourgade Catholic and Parker before returning to the road for games against Wickenburg and Buckeye. The team wraps up the regular season with home games against Yuma Catholic and Phoenix Westwind Prep.

“We have to stay the course, because things aren’t going to get any easier,’’ Karvis said.