High School Notes: Titans’ Hoepner made the right call

James River senior Nick Austin is the two-time defending Central Region individual champion.

Late in Cosby's Dominion District football game against Monacan on Friday night, Titans quarterback Fuller Hoepner called his own number on third and 7 instead of passing or handing off to running back Terry Williams.

Hoepner, a 6-0, 185-pound junior, ran the quarterback draw and picked up 16 yards to the Monacan 1-yard line and set up Williams' game-clinching TD.

"Fuller's the type of quarterback we want," Cosby coach Pete Mutascio said. "He can throw the ball. He can run the ball. He just adds something. If you're going to key on Terry, which a lot of teams do because he is such a good back, Fuller's able to take some of the load for us."

Linebacker to QB

Middle linebackers have played quarterback before, but the scenario doesn't happen often.

Monacan coach Danny Parsons needed a QB to replace the injured Mike Williams and turned to Logan Staib (6-0, 195, junior).

"He's a tough kid. He started at middle linebacker the first three games," Parsons said. "He's a good-sized kid and runs our offense well."

After Cosby took the 17-6 lead, Staib engineered a 71-yard drive that took just five plays to complete. Staib completed a 31-yard pass to Franklin Boyd, a 33-yarder to Garett Patterson and a 10-yard TD throw to Boyd. Staib then ran for the two-point conversion, knocking down a couple of Cosby tacklers in the process.

Staib and the Chiefs will have their hands full with No. 5 Clover Hill tomorrow.

Rapids, Wildcats seek golf crown

Jefferson-Lakeside Country Club and River's Bend Golf Course are the venues for the two-round Central Region golf tournament.

Eight teams and 24 individuals not from those teams will tee it up Monday at Lakeside and wind up Tuesday at River's Bend.

The top two teams and the top six individuals not on either of the teams advance to the state Group AAA tournament Oct. 20-21 at Independence Golf Club in Midlothian.

Based on the regular season, James River of the Dominion District and Deep Run of the Colonial District are the favorites in the team competition. James River senior Nick Austin is the two-time defending region individual champion. He has given a verbal commitment to the University of Richmond. The Rapids, who have received stellar play all season from district tournament medalist Michael McLean, never have been to the state tournament as a team.

Deep Run is shooting for its sixth consecutive trip to the state event. The Wildcats won three straight titles (2003-05) and were runners-up in 2006.

LaReau serving some, but that's it for now

Chaney LaReau's name showed up in the highlights of Deep Run's girls volleyball victory over on John Marshall Tuesday night.

The Wildcats are happy to see LaReau on the floor while she recuperates from a torn anterior cruciate ligament that effectively ended her season before it began.

"Chaney is just serving [only in less-competitive matches] at the present time. Her rehab is going well, and her physical therapist has her doing far more than I anticipated," Deep Run coach Terra Balla said. "At this point, I still do not anticipate Chaney playing during the season. After serving, she is under strict instructions to step into a defensive spot, but she is only allowed to pass free balls. No going to the floor and digging."

The Wildcats shut out the Justices in the first game of the match. Callie Armistead served the first 11 points, then LaReau served the rest of the game.

Deep Run healthier

At about the halfway point, Deep Run, the two-time reigning state Group AAA champion, is the healthiest its been all season.

The Wildcats are 7-5 overall with four of the losses -- Hanover, Loudoun Valley, Forest Park and Cave Spring -- coming while either front-line giant Meghann Forshey or Mallory Woolridge or both have been out with injuries.

"I am excited that for the first time all season, I was able to practice with all of my players on Monday," Balla said. "Mallory and Meghann are back, so fingers crossed we will now be able to move forward and stay healthy."

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