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Central District football previews

By Staff Reports
Published: September 3, 2009
Updated: September 3, 2009

In predicted order of finish

Thomas Dale

Coach: Vic Williams
2008 records: 6-1 Central, 6-4
Offense: Williams lost nine starters and figures it will take time to get the unit to gel. The line will be a good starting point, with all-district guard Greg Gallop (6-2, 306 pounds) and tackle Spencer Randolph (6-3, 298) leading the way. They'll be joined by center Josh Childress, guard Adam White, tackle Sam Hartman and tight end Mike Dudley. Airek Green is a prospect at running back with senior Demitrius Campbell at quarterback.
Defense: Should be stronger with core players back from a group that gave up the fewest points in the district. The Knights have two all-district players in nose tackle Brian Richardson and linebacker Drake Evans. Linebackers Vaughan Robinson, Ben Saunders and Mike Edmunds return along with strong safety Demetric Jackson. Sophomore cornerback Lorenzo Fields and 6-5 transfer end Devin Eppes will earn some notice.
Outlook: Despite a string of solid seasons, the Knights haven't been able to crack the Division 6 playoffs since 2002. Getting in pretty much requires a district title, something Dale is capable of taking if the offense comes around. Nondistrict schedule is brutal. The Knights open with Manchester, Varina and archrival L.C. Bird.

Dinwiddie

Coach: Billy Mills
2008 records: 7-0, 12-2
Offense: The Generals face no easy feat replacing several All-Metro players, including quarterback Adam Morgan, who threw for 3,499 yards and a state-record 48 TDs last year. But Mills has some playmakers returning. Junior Chris Hall, who's 6-4, 215, steps in at quarterback. Speedy wide receiver Quintaze Jackson had 51 catches for 827 yards. He runs the 40 in 4.41 seconds. Drakar Harvell will be counted on as another receiver.
Defense: Dinwiddie's sling-it-around offense got well-deserved billing, but the Generals were pretty good on defense, too, and have several standouts returning. Junior Corey Marshall (6-1, 250) is a terror on the line (70 solo tackles, 17 for loss) and was a second-team All-Metro pick. Linebackers Jason Ampy and Andre Thweatt always seem to be around the ball. Harvell had two interceptions in the state championship game.
Outlook: The defending Central Region, Division 5 champ and state runner-up no doubt took a recessionary-style hit to its stock of talent. While they probably won't average more than 40 points per game, the Generals still have enough in the bank to be a big factor in the Division 5 playoffs.

Meadowbrook

Coach: Troy Taylor
2008 records: 5-2, 9-3
Offense: Taylor's first edition has an excellent starting point. Sr. QB Andre Coble (1,553 yards, 16 TDs passing, 1,082 yards, 12 TDs rushing, 3 interceptions) was a first-team all-state choice as a utility player. Most of the skill players - RBs Mico Phillips and Akil Dorsey and WRs Devon Lloyd and Jacaurey Thomas - are juniors. The Monarchs must replace two All-Metro linemen but have Tevin Evans, Dominique Roane and Dequan Chatmon returning.
Defense: Replacing nine starters will be the biggest task. End Roane and safety Kevon Wright are the only returnees. Evans and Chatmon will hold down two line spots. L.A. Lawerence, A.J. Harris, Tevin Hanley, Jayson Taylor and Dorsey are the linebackers. La Darius Link and Thomas fill out the secondary.
Outlook : Taylor will try to carry on the tradition established by Bill Bowles. Meadowbrook won a Division 5 state title in 2004 when Taylor was an assistant and played in the Division 6 regional title game three of the past four years. With Coble, the Monarchs again should be a threat. A read will come early with Highland Springs and Hermitage up first.

Matoaca

Coach: Pat Manuel
2008 records: 4-3, 5-5
Offense: Line has some experience, but there's turnover in the skill positions. Center Jared Nussman, guards John Pond (6-2, 290) and Ronnie Ransome (6-1, 300), and tight end R.C. Coleman return, joined by Blake Barker and Desmond Smith. Senior Steele Driskill is the quarterback. Seniors Melvin Trotter and Ben Smith will handle the running game with sophomore JaQuante King and senior Jermaine Edwards the receivers.
Defense: The Warriors won't need much of a break-in period on this side of the ball. Manuel has seven starters among a senior-laden group, led by Trotter at linebacker. Chris Trower, Jaimen Newman and Desmond Smith return up front, backed by Dontae Thorne, Cole Williams and Anthony Thweatt. Driskill and Edwards will do double-duty in the secondary.
Outlook: The Warriors are something of an unknown on offense. Still, they're dangerous enough that one district coach picked them as the team to beat. Since advancing to the regional final in 2006, Matoaca has gone 6-4 and 5-5. A similar range seems likely this season considering the tough nondistrict schedule.

Petersburg

Coach: Mike Scott
2008 records: 2-5, 5-5
Offense: Going to Spain will be a preferred destination. Tackle Quinton Spain (6-5, 345 pounds) will command plenty of attention, along with QB Eric MaGruder. Demonte Gregory (165 pounds) and Josh Allen (240) give different looks in the backfield. Spain is the only senior on a line that includes Bryant Lundy, Ray Procise, Shawn Mason, Elvin Briggs and tight end Kevin Green.
Defense: Unit is replacing five starters and has several players going both ways, which means health and conditioning will be important. Briggs, Procise, Spain and Mason will handle the line of scrimmage. Jamaul Young, DiShawn Stewart and Lance Ford are the linebackers. MaGruder and Keith Johnson will be the corners, with Green and Carlos Turner at safety.
Outlook: Scott lost 23 seniors and said this will be a "lumps and bumps year." He believes he has some young talent, but it's hard to foresee the Crimson Wave unseating some of the teams in the upper tier of the district. Keep an eye on Spain, who has committed to West Virginia. He's scheduled to play in the Army All-America Bowl in January.

Hopewell

Coach: Marshall Parker
2008 records: 1-6, 2-8
Offense: Small, quick and inexperienced. Parker has only three seniors on this side of the ball, and the heaviest lineman is 230 pounds. Junior QB Jalen Reeves will hand off to juniors Devante Ennis and McKinley King. Center Gary Vaughan and tackle Keith Winfield return. They'll be flanked by Chris Holloway and Jeremy Dunbar.
Defense: See offense. Three sophomores and five juniors are expected to get the bulk of the playing time. Lamar Perry, Winfield and Holloway return up front, joined by Trandon Tyler and sophomore Reggie Jackson. Mike Mason is the only returning linebacker. He'll get help from sophomore Marcus Adams. Mike Smith, Shelik Spencer, King and Ennis are in the secondary.
Outlook: Parker, who guided the Blue Devils to a state title in 2003, may be nearing the end of a distinguished coaching career because of his job as activities director. After a down cycle, he believes this group has some potential, although lack of depth and experience may leave Hopewell a year away.

Prince George

Coach: Bruce Carroll
2008 records: 3-4, 4-6
Offense: Carroll has only two returnees, and one, Lawrence Taylor, is moving from running back to quarterback. He ran for 1,040 yards last season. The other starter is guard Thess Hubert. Mitra Cook and Tyrell Allen will be the backs with Cameron Thrift and Shakeel Weekes at wideout. Smallish line includes sophomores Travis Barglof and Joseph Pervall, junior Larry Harrington and senior Brandon Bailey.
Defense: The Royals will be playing the replacement game on this side as well. End Chris Taylor, safety Cody Wells and corners Allen and Weekes are the only returning starters. Dominique Washington, Will Jones and Anthony Grant will see action along the line. The linebacking spots will be manned by senior Kiydaar Baucom, sophomore Pervall and freshman Caleb Johnson.
Outlook: Carroll comes from Group A Windsor trying to turn around a program that hasn't been on the winning side of the ledger since 1998. He has a threat in Taylor and lot of players out, but the Royals are plugging in youth and inexperience, and that will be a tough combination to overcome.

Colonial Heights

Coach: Bert Krupp
2008 records: 0-7, 2-8
Offense: Unit averaged only 13.3 points last year but should get better with entire line intact. Center Jacob Whelan is back along with guards Mark Negron-Boyle and Jake Glenn, tackles Matt Mumford and Kyle Floyd, and tight end Greg Tyler. Sophomore Derek Mears takes over at quarterback. Tyler Drewes and Trevor Pilout return in the backfield.
Defense: The Colonials won't have many people running on and off the field during possession changes. Eight players are going both ways. Tyler, Whelan, Mumford and Negron-Boyle will be up front, backed by linebackers Travis Holzner, Brendon Hood and Dominique House. Calvin Rhodes and Christian Rodriguez will be the cornerbacks.
Outlook: The Colonials have experience, but making significant progress in the district will be tough. They haven't won more than two games in a season since going 7-4 in 2005. Staying healthy is a must. Colonial Heights has only 33 players.