Richmond Times-Dispatch: Place an Ad | Subscribe | Manage Account | Advertise With Us

Colonial District preview

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

Hermitage

Coach: Patrick Kane
2008 records: 7-0 Colonial, 8-3
Offense: Inexperience is the key word. Nine starters have departed. RB Easton Gordon (5-9, 170, Sr.) and center Josh Dolin (5-11, 235, Sr.) are the only holdovers. Gordon should be one of the region's top running backs. Brendon Riddick (5-11, 175, Jr.) takes over at QB. He has a superb target in Derrick Britt (5-9, 170, Sr.). The line has good size with all the projected starters weighing 230 or more. Three of them are juniors.
Defense: Six starters departed, but returning LBs Curtis Grant (6-3, 225, Jr.) and Daryl Howell (6-1, 235, Sr.) are two of the best players in the state. Grant was first-team All-Metro and has numerous Division I offers. The secondary is experienced with Brandon Rogers (5-10, 170, Jr., CB) and safeties Justin Gist (5-9, 165, Jr.) and Britt. The line has first-year starters. Daniel Lawson (6-3, 265, Sr., DE) and Jamal Samuels (5-10, 285, Sr., T) provide plenty of size.
Outlook : The most important holes to fill may be place kicker and punter. The kicking game always has been a strength, but this year there are question marks. Despite the inexperience, Hermitage is still the team to beat in the district. Teams better do it now because next year looks very promising. The first four games - Lee-Davis, Meadowbrook, Varina and Deep Run - could determine whether the Panthers make the playoffs.

Deep Run

Coach: Greg Kendall
2008 records: 6-1, 9-1
Offense: Significant holes have been left by the graduation of Antone Exum, Jordan Love, Jake Snyder and Brad Larkin. The competition at QB is among senior Kenny Williams, junior Nick Vignone, who had a stellar junior varsity season, and junior transfer Weldon Vaughn. RB Dallas Simmons (180, Jr.) is star material. University of Virginia-bound OG Connor Davis is the lone lineman with experience.
Defense: Those significant losses on offense carried over to the defense. Davis will play nose tackle, and Simmons doubles at cornerback. Youth is plentiful, and depth will be, too, because nearly every position is a two-man battle for starting spots.
Outlook: The Wildcats missed the playoffs last year because they lost at the wrong time. They will have a new look this season because so many terrific players graduated, but the running/passing balance on offense may be even better, and the defense will be aggressive and physical no matter who's in the lineup. The Wildcats will know where they stand after playing Hanover and Hermitage in weeks three and four.

Patrick Henry

Coach: Ray Long Jr.
2008 records: 4-3, 6-4
Offense: The unit has a few returning players, but the skill positions are fraught with inexperience. Jayrin Waller (5-10, 160, Jr.) steps into the QB shoes vacated by three-year starter Brandon Cash. RB Brandon Wong (5-11, 185, Sr.) and WR Clay Schools (5-8, 150, Sr.) have game experience. Justin Manuel (6-1, 250, Sr. G) and Mike Woodburn (6-2, 240, Sr., T) return on the line. Hayden Dyer (6-0, 165, Sr.), a college prospect, will handle place kicking and punting duties.
Defense: PH's defense will have more new faces than the offense. Manuel is the lone lineman not starting for the first time. Carter Neal (6-0, 200, Sr.) is the leader at LB now that Adrian Cavanaugh has graduated. DeVante' Derricott (5-11, 180, So.) is the youngest member of the secondary but is the only one with experience.
Outlook: The Patriots took a major hit from graduation, but as usual, they will find a way to be in the hunt for a Division 5 playoff berth. The competition gets tougher every year, though. Winning seven games has become a must. Will the Patriots be able to do that?

Douglas Freeman

Coach: Bob Brinkley
2008 records: 4-3, 7-4
Offense: Nine starters departed, including All-Metro WR Monty Smalley, means lots of holes to fill. Mac Hudgins (5-11, 165, Jr.) is projected in the QB slot. He can hand off to experienced backs Alvin Butler (5-8, 165, Sr.) and Baker Love (6-1, 174, Sr.) or throw to senior wideouts Eric Addison (6-1, 185) and Kyle Witty (6-1, 178). Center Thomas Hughett (6-4, 229, Sr.) is the only returning lineman.
Defense: Five players return but three of them, Taurean Adams (5-10, 167, Sr., CB), Love (S) and Blake Louthan (5-10, 153, Sr., S) are in the secondary. DE Mike Unholz (6-0, 227, Sr.) is a college prospect (as is Love). Returning player Peter Sutphin (5-11, 195, Jr.) leads the LB corps. He lines up with Addison and Alex Davis (5-11, 187, Jr.).
Outlook : The Rebels hammered rival Mills Godwin and made the Division 5 playoffs last year. They are looking to get back even with an offense that has to develop. Freeman plays three of its toughest games (Deep Run, Hermitage and Patrick Henry) in a four-week span in October.

J.R. Tucker

Coach: Matt Crenshaw
2008 records: 3-4, 3-7
Offense: The Tigers have the district's leading rusher, Jacob Bennett (5-11, 205, Sr.), among seven returnees. He rushed for 1,100 yards, averaged 5.7 yards per carry and scored 12 TDs. His twin, Jared Bennett (6-0, 185, Sr.), runs the show at QB. WR Zac Towner returns as a starter along with linemen Ross Petrella (6-0, 240, Sr., C), Vasilli Nikoforos (5-11, 210, Sr., G) and Nic Fuerte (6-1, 230, Jr., G).
Defense: The line, linebackers and secondary have experienced players. DE Parker Cherlin (6-3, 230, Jr.) is a player to watch. The DE opposite Cherlin, Philip Burford (6-2, 225, Jr.), also returns. Robert Cheesman (5-7, 185, Sr.) plays bigger than his size at LB. Jacob Bennett also plays LB. Montre Carr (5-7, 175, Jr.) and Jared Bennett are key players in the secondary.
Outlook: Coach Matt Crenshaw was the offensive coordinator last year when the Tigers made great strides in becoming more competitive. They are in position to build on that foundation, but need the Bennetts to have good seasons, and the defense hold down opposing offenses.

Mills Godwin

Coach: Will Kitchen
2008 records: 2-5, 3-7
Offense: Many new faces with limited experience will populate the unit this season. Among them is first-year QB David Esposito (5-10, 170, Jr.). He can throw to capable and experienced WRs Tyler Lane (5-8, 155, Sr.) and Eric Eanes (6-1, 160, Sr.). Tom Solak (6-1, 185, Jr.) joins returning RB Derrick Whitaker (6-2, 205, Jr.) in the backfield. OG Jason Shaber (5-9, 230, Sr.) is the only lineman with starting experience.
Defense: Experience is more abundant on defense although size could be a factor. Jordan Kocen (6-1, 240, Sr., T.) is the largest starter. George Moore (5-9, 190, Sr.) and David Caravati (6-0, 190, Sr.) are solid contributors at LB. The entire secondary - CBs Lane and Zack Sadovszky (5-8, 150, Sr.) and safeties Eanes and Kevin Wood (6-1, 190, Sr.) - are past starters. Scott Davis (6-4, 210, Jr.) will handle the place kicking and punting duties.
Outlook: The Eagles experienced one of their worst seasons last year. Many new faces are seniors starting for the first time. Getting back to .500 would be a good season.

John Marshall

Coach: Marvin Bridges
2008 records: 2-5, 3-7
Offense: New quarterback Malcolm Bell (6-0, 180, So.) is surrounded by veterans Frank Bullock (5-10, 180, Sr.) and Josiah Shelton (6-0, 195, Sr.) at RB and Charles Shelton (5-11, 180, Sr.) and Akeem Brown (6-0, 190, Sr.) at WR. The line, which averages 258 pounds per player, consists of four seniors, Josh McClure, Brandon Davis, Mike Hudson (6-5, 270) and Ramon Bragg and sophomore Dejuan White (6-2, 270).
Defense: The Justices' defense is strong, quick and has depth. Davis (6-0, 250) and Dwayne Robinson (6-2, 350, Jr.) are the mainstays on the line. Josiah Shelton is paired with Tavarius Thompson (6-0, 210, Sr.) and Artis Street (6-0, 235, Sr.) at LB. Charles Shelton leads an experienced secondary.
Outlook: Size and experience go a long way, and the Justices have that on paper. They have to translate that to the field, though, to be the sleeper team in the district.

Thomas Jefferson

Coach: Claude Hataway Jr.
2008 records: 0-7, 0-10
Offense: QB Marvin Robinson ) is a good building block. He'll throw to returning junior WRs Torian Bland and Darius Simpson and TE Diante Tweedy, a senior. Sophomore RB Guy Roane is back as the primary ballcarrier. The line is young with juniors Brandon Christian, Joseph Gray and Kyln Hines. OG Clifford Hargrove is the only line returnee.
Defense: Seven starters are back, but lack of depth is a concern. LB/OG Fraquan McNeil, a senior; Bland, Simpson, Hargrove and Tweedy are two-way starters. LB Corey Darby provides more starter experience.
Outlook: Winning is tough for TJ, which is the smallest school in the Central Region. The Vikings scored only 33 points last year and gave up a whopping 481, nearly 100 more than George Wythe, the region's other winless team last season.