High school notes: Top-ranked Meadowbrook resumes play

Top-ranked Meadowbrook, which had last week off, resumes play tomorrow night against Thomas Dale, also with a week's rest, in the teams' Central District opener.

Meadowbrook (3-0) attained the No. 1 ranking in The Times-Dispatch Top 10 Poll last week for the first time in school football history. The Monarchs won the state Division 5 championship in 2004 after finishing No. 5 in the final T-D Top 10 of that season.

Returning players from Meadowbrook and Thomas Dale won't forget last year's meeting. The Knights were 0-3. The Monarchs were 2-1, coming off a victory over Hermitage and ranked No. 3 in the T-D poll.

The Knights scored 19 points in the first half, then held on to win 19-16. Thomas Dale lost its next two games but finished the year with four straight victories. Meadowbrook went on to reach the Central Region, Division 6 championship game.

This year, Thomas Dale is 0-3 again, having lost one-point games to L.C. Bird, which currently is ranked No. 4, and Manchester and 42-21 to No. 2 Varina.

Indians showing weekly improvement

Getting better each week is a primary goal of every football team.

The Powhatan Indians are getting better each week, it's just that they are getting better later than coach Jim Woodson wanted.

The Indians had a nucleus of returning players, but Woodson has filled many holes with inexperienced underclassmen. Bad weather washed out Powhatan's second scrimmage, so when Powhatan lined up against Louisa in the season opener, "We weren't ready," Woodson said. "They [Louisa] had two scrimmages and a game under their belts and were far ahead of us. We were way behind in game speed and game situations."

Louisa won 21-0. The Indians bounced back, however, to defeat Caroline in the second game, and they nipped Monticello 19-18 last week. Monticello was the only team to beat Powhatan during the 2006 and 2007 regular seasons.

Beating Monticello was a good sign for the defense.

"We're not very big, but we are quick as cats," Woodson said. "We had to throw the young players into the fire. . . . We've got good team chemistry. We're just trying to get better."

Getting defensive: from 53 to 0

L.C. Bird's defense gave up 53 points to Clover Hill two weeks ago. The Skyhawks shut out then No. 6 Manchester last week.

The difference in the two games?

"The most important thing Coach [David] Bedwell told us last week [between games] was to use our eyes," middle linebacker Brad Conner said. "Use our eyes, get to the ball and we'll make plays. Basically, I had to read my keys, read the quarterback and halfback and watch where they go, fill my holes.

"Everybody's coming together as one and not as individuals. Everybody did their part. That's the way Bird football is played."

Amelia County spurred by winning

Amelia County (3-1) is off to its best start since the 2003 season when the Raiders went 3-1 in the James River District and 8-3 overall with an appearance in the Region B, Division 1 playoffs.

Since then, the Raiders have won two district games and nine games overall.

Player of the week Tyrell Banks, just a sophomore, runs behind a line that had but one returning starter this season.

The line "has worked hard to get better every week," first-year coach Troy Taylor (former assistant at Meadowbrook) said. "I'm real proud of our team for how it has overcome adversity. Two of our wins, we have had to come from behind. The kids didn't quit and kept playing, which is all we ask.

"We play Charles City (0-3) this week, and they have some of the best skill position kids we have seen this season."

Byron Jackson and Linel Booker are the Raiders' leading tacklers with 24 and 22 unassisted stops each. Jackson has three tackles for losses totaling 28 yards.

Raiders' Doggett piling up the tackles

Atlee linebacker Josh Doggett delivered one of the area's best performances last week in a loss to Douglas Freeman.

Doggett, a 6-0, 190-pound sophomore, is the Raiders' best linebacker since Ty LaFlame in the late 1990s.

Against the Rebels, Doggett was credited with 23 tackles, including four sacks, and eight assists. Doggett has 46 tackles, 18 assists and six sacks for the season, even though the Raiders are 0-3.

The Raiders are getting solid direction from quarterback Dylan Garthright, who has thrown for 315 yards and rushed for 130.

"Dylan and Josh are playing well this season," Atlee coach Roscoe Johnson said. "The team is improving every day with their leadership," -- Arthur Utley