GRIDIRON 2009A preview of Northern Neck District football

Rappahannock Record

COVER SHOT

9

Essex returns skill players, should return to playoffs.

Lancaster is young up front, but has ability to score.

Colonial Beach joins the Northern Neck district

Young and hungry

Northumberland had winning season last year, hopes to continue.

Building on success

New kids on the block

Playoff bound

Looking to win

Corbin Love and the Lancaster Red Devils practice agility and quickness drills. BY LISA HINTON VALDRIGHI

CONTRIBUTORSLISA HINTON-VALDRIGHI STORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHSSARAH BOWIS&REID PIERCE ARMSTRONG PAGE DESIGNROBERT MASON JR. EDITORSARA AMISS AD MANAGER MARILYN BRYANT&JOANNA HATCH AD SALES

REID PIERCE ARMSTRONG EDITOR

AD MANAGER

11

Rappahannock is hoping to rebound from 0-4 dis-trict campaign.

INSIDEFOOTBALL

W&L has quarterback question, but should still be a district contender.

Who will lead?10

8

3

6

2 • Gridiron

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SEPTEMBER 4Essex at King WilliamKing George at Washington & LeeKing & Queen at West PointMiddlesex at Mathews

SEPTEMBER 11Lancaster at King & QueenColonial Beach at King GeorgeRappahannock at EssexMiddlesex at NorthumberlandWashington & Lee at Manassas ParkKing William at New KentNorthampton at West Point

SEPTEMBER 18Manassas Park at Colonial BeachRappahannock at LancasterNorthumberland at King & QueenCaroline at King WilliamMathews at FranklinWest Point at Charles City

SEPTEMBER 25Colonial Beach at George MasonNandua at EssexCharles City at LancasterNorthumberland at ArcadiaKing & Queen at Rappahannock Washington & Lee at MathewsKing William at Sussex Central Franklin at MiddlesexWest Point at Surry

OCTOBER 2King & Queen at Colonial Beach Sussex Central at EssexLancaster at Surry Windsor at NorthumberlandMiddlesex at Rappahannock Northampton at Washington & LeeKing William at NanduaMathews at ArcadiaFranklin at West Point

2009 NORTHERN NECK • TIDEWATER

SEASON SCHEDULEOCTOBER 9Surry at Colonial Beach Essex at NorthamptonLancaster at MiddlesexNorthumberland at MathewsRappahannock at Charles City Washington & Lee at King William King & Queen at Franklin

OCTOBER 16Colonial Beach at RappahannockNorthumberland at EssexWashington & Lee at Lancaster King & Queen at MathewsMiddlesex at West Point

OCTOBER 23Essex at Colonial Beach Lancaster at Rappahannock Northumberland at Washington & LeeWest Point at King & Queen Mathews at King William Northampton at Middlesex

OCTOBER 30Northumberland at Colonial Beach Essex at LancasterRappahannock at Washington & LeeMiddlesex at King William West Point at Mathews

NOVEMBER 6Colonial Beach at LancasterWashington & Lee at EssexRappahannock at NorthumberlandKing & Queen at MiddlesexKing William at West Point

NOVEMBER 13Colonial Beach at Washington & LeeEssex at Rappahannock Lancaster at NorthumberlandKing William at King & QueenMathews at Middlesex

Gridiron • 3

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4 • Gridiron

LHS RED DEVILS

POWERANYLSISLANCASTER RED DEVILSCoach Fred Birchett had a

rocky first season with the Lancaster Red Devils.

Despite a 5-5 overall record, the Devils finished 1-4 against Northern Neck District opponents.

With a year under his belt, he now knows his players and has spent the preseason “moving people around try-ing to fit the personnel to the scheme.”

Birchett returns most of his skill players, including senior quarterback Sedale Mullen and most of his rushers and receivers.

Lancaster has the talent to be in contention with Wash-ington & Lee and Essex for a post-season playoff berth.

“We have a great group of kids that are hungry and are trying very hard to get bet-ter,” said Birchett.

OFFENSEBirchett brings back

seven on offense including Mullen, who’ll suit up for his first full Northern Neck District season. Mullen was

a transfer last year and took the reigns as QB a couple games into the season.

He’ll be surrounded by returning junior rusher Tiko Henderson and junior newcomers Shaun Lee and Deante Jones.

When Mullen’s not hand-ing off or carrying the ball himself, he’ll have as his passing targets senior returner Kentel Noel and junior returner Joseph Betts.

“The ability to score is still there,” said Birchett. “But we have to do a better job of slowing down the other teams.”

Protecting Mullen and his rushers will be a line that includes only one start-ing returner in senior Ryan Joyner. Birchett lost three starters off the o-line.

Also starting up front at various times will be senior William Somers, juniors Even Antonio and William Hall, sophomore Samuel Somers and freshman Kai Antonio. Hall and E. Anto-nio are the big boys on the

line and pump up a rather trim front. Hall weighs in at 400 pounds and Antonio 241. The rest of the line av-erages around 170 pounds.

DEFENSEDepth, which is typically

a problem at Lancaster, is a weakness again. Birchett will start his five skill play-ers on both sides of the ball with Lee, Betts and Noel playing defensive back along with junior Johnmall Jenkins.

The linebacking corps includes two-way starter Henderson, senior Kendrick Diggs, junior Corbin Love and sophomore Tyrell Smith.

The defensive line includes senior Jake Chris-man, junior Alex Williams and sophomore Montez Thompson. Lancaster will open its season tomorrow night (Friday, September 11) at King & Queen and will play its home opener on Fri-day, September 18 against Rappahannock.

Coach Fred Birchett got his feet wet in the Northern Neck District last year and put to-gether a .500 season in his first year as head coach of the Red Devils. Lancaster took some hard knocks last season from district opponents but Birchett

has gotten to know his players, their skills and their weak-nesses. He’s expecting a better than 1-4 district effort from the Devils this year and so are most of the area coaches. District leaders are picking Lancaster to finish third.

COACH: Fred Birchett (2nd year, 5-5).

ASSISTANT COACHES: Irvin Nick-ens, Ashley Wilmore, Marcus Ferguson, Draper Washington, Damian Chrissy, Mal-colm Carter, Bobby Moore, Doug Wilt.

LAST YEAR: 1-4 district, 5-5 over-all.

BASIC OFFENSE: Spread formation.

BASIC DEFENSE: 4-3.

TOP RETURNERS: QB Sedale Mullen, WR/DB Joseph Betts, WR/DB Kentel Noel, RB/LB Tiko Hender-son, OL Ryan Joyner.

TOP NEWCOMERS: OL Kai Antonio, OL Samuel Somers, HB Deante Jones, LB Tyrell Smith.

GOT NEWS?Ed i to r@RRecord.com

Tuesdays a t noon

Gridiron • 5

Good Luck Area Teams

THE ROSTERJersey Name Grade Position2 Shaun Lee 11 RB/DB3 Joseph Betts 11 WR/DB4 Corbin Love 11 HB/LB7 Kendrick Diggs 12 RB/LB8 Sedale Mullen 12 QB/DB9 Brian Morris 12 RB/LB10 Brandon Morris 10 WR/DB12 Aaron Manning 10 WR/DB14 Kentel Noel 12 WR/DB16 Montez Thompson 10 QB/DL20 Stephen Ohree 12 WR/DB21 Tiko Henderson 11 RB/LB22 Terrance Taylor 12 WR/DB24 Leo Barber 12 WR/DB28 James Johnson 12 WR/DB30 Johnmall Jenkins 11 HB/DB32 Kelvin Mitchell 11 WR/DB38 Mike Navetta 11 WR/DB40 Terry Hardin 11 WR/DB41 Michael Nguyen 12 WR/DB50 Joel Hudnall 10 OL/LB52 Ryan Joyner 12 OL/DL55 Alex Williams 11 OL/DL56 Williams Somers 12 OL/DL58 Jake Chrisman 12 OL/DL60 William Hall 11 OL/DL64 Demario Sutton 12 OL/DL66 Kai Antonio 9 OL/DL70 Ryan Morgan 10 OL/DL73 Samuel Somers 10 OL/LB74 Tyrell Smith 10 OL/LB75 Evan Antonio 11 OL/DL80 Michael Coleman 10 WR/DB81 Deante Jones 11 HB/LB88 Dalton Moore 10 HB/LB

EVANANTONIO

OFFENSIVELINE

ALSO PLAYS: DEFENSIVE LINE

JERSEY NUMBER: #75

GRADE: JUNIOR

HEIGHT: 5’11”

WEIGHT: 241 LBS

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— coach Fred Birchett

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6 • Gridiron

POWERANYLSIS

NHS INDIANS

Northumberland’s weakness is showing.

According to coach John Poindexter, his team’s weak spot is no big secret to op-ponents.

“It’s blocking. There’s no need to sugar coat it. We’re gonna be horrible up front like we have been every year I’ve been here,” said Poindexter.

The third year coach has to his credit turning around a really ailing program at Northumberland and taking the Indians on a winning 6-4 campaign last season. Poin-dexter brings back many skill players from that squad and a couple of all-district safeties in brothers Alex and Kyle Hall.

But what he doesn’t have is experienced linemen.

“We’re not as big as we were and they’re young,” he said.

“They gotta learn it and learn quick. They can’t be scared and they have to play above their level.”

OFFENSEAlthough senior Tavious

Adams got most of the start time last year at quarterback, he’s being pushed for the spot by junior newcomer Travis Myers.

They each bring a different skill to the position, according to Poindexter.

“Tavious is more a true athlete, who can run it if he has to,” he said. “Travis can’t run it as well, but he can throw it.”

Targets will be returning re-ceivers Blake Smith and Kyle Elmore and newcomers Chris Waller and Daniel Boyd.

Toting the pigskin will be the Hall brothers, John Jones and Jordan Lee.

“Alex and his brother are both scrappy, little quick guys,” said Poindexter. “What we don’t have is a real power guy.”

The offensive line includes center Levi Payne, guards Nick Cockrell and Trey Henry. A host of tackles including Daryl

Peterson, Bradley Exline, Christian Kent and Beau Rose will rotate time. DEFENSE

Most of Poindexter’s of-fensive players will pull double duty on the defense including Payne, Adams and Myers. They’ll be a part of the linebacking corps along with Malik Shabazz and Stone Robinson. Henry will double as noseguard, while Peterson and Zach Donovan will play on the ends.

Downfield at free safety and strong safety, respectively, will be Kyle and Alex Hall. Pete Taylor and Ryan Suchan will be cornerbacks.

“We have some decent depth at some spots,” said Poindex-ter. “But up front, we’ve got zero. We go from guys with experience to jayvee guys.

“The key this year all around is leadership,” he said. “Leadership is big. We have to put people in the right spot to make the calls.”

Last year, coach John Poindexter put together Northumber-land’s first winning season in a long time. In his debut year, Poin-dexter went 1-9. Last year, his team went 6-4. Although he returns seven starters on offense and 10 on defense, Poindexter only has two returners on the o-line and he’ll need his newbies to improve quickly for any success this season. Most district coaches are picking Northumberland to finish in the number five spot.

COACH: John Poindexter (3rd year, 7-13.).

ASSISTANT COACHES: John Lee Lewis, Matt Magerko, Baron Spinner, Lewis Howard, Nick Hall, Brian Hahn, Jimmy Robinson, Mike Jef-fries.

LAST YEAR: 2-2 dis-trict, 6-4 overall.

BASIC OFFENSE: Spread formation.

BASIC DEFENSE: 3-4.

TOP RETURNERS: SLT/DB Kyle Hall, RB/DB Alex Hall, QB/LB Tavious Adams, OL/LB Levi Payne, DL David Jett.

TOP NEWCOMERS: LB Malik Shabazz, LB Travis Myers, T Daryl Peterson.

NORTHUMBERLAND INDIANS

Gridiron • 7

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Jersey Name Grade 11 Travis Myers 11 15 John Jones 1133 Malik Shabazz 11 1 Kyle Hall 12 2 Alex Hall 10 14 Jacob Jewell 1051 Levi Payne 10 7 Tavious Adams 12 75 Bradley Exline 1056 Trey Henry 11 66 Zach Donovan 11 22 Pete Taylor 12 77 Beau Rose 1021 Ryan Suchan 12

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8 • Gridiron

ESSEX TROJANSCOACH: Todd Jones (11th year, 97-31).

ASSISTANT COACHES: Gayle Belfield, Clifton Balderson, Ashley Wilmore, Gerard Reynolds,

Charlie Burrows, Kenny Newsome, Jamaar John-son, Lane Sanders, Maurice Gaines.

LAST YEAR: district, .

BASIC OFFENSE: Spread.

BASIC DEFENSE: 3-4.

TOP RETURNERS: QB Lyndon Garner, RB James Hence, RB/LB James Samu-el, OG Anthony Nelson, WR DeVante Baker, WR Cedric Thorne, DL James Byrd, LB

Josh Payne, DB TJ Blag-mon, LB Mike Hundley, DB Deon Hammond. TOP NEWCOMERS: WR John Ellis, DB Quame Green, LB Montel Sayles, DL Marcus Dabney, OT Walter Lee, DB Javonti Braxton.

Todd Jones just keeps reloading his arsenal at Essex High.

Region A’s perennial powerhouse made a return trip to the Group A playoffs last year, losing 45-40 to Gretna in the state semifinals. The Trojans had beaten district rival Washington & Lee, 34-13, in the Region A, Division 2 championship.

Jones returns many of his skill players from that 12-1 team including all-region players, quarterback Lyndon Garner, running back James Hence and wide receiver DeVante Baker. In fact, he returns six offensive starters and six defensive. And Jones enjoys a luxury most of his coaching opponents do not. He fills a 52-man roster and will only have one of those returners starting on both sides of the ball in decorated senior rusher and linebacker James Samuel.

The Trojans were scheduled to open their season a week earlier than most of the Northern Neck’s other teams, playing King William on Friday, September 4. Essex’s non-district schedule also includes Nandua, Northampton and Sussex. It’s a schedule most area coaches think the Trojans will have little trouble with. In fact, all the Northern Neck coaches have picked Essex to repeat at the district champion.

POWERANYLSIS

Jersey Name Grade1 Devante Baker 122 JaVante Braxton 123 Quame Green 114 Montel Sayles 115 TJ Blagmon 126 James Hence 117 John T Davis 118 Chris Baker 119 Josh Payne 1210 Angelo Taylor 1111 Clayton Payne 1212 Lyndon Garner 1214 Deon Hammond 1115 John Ellis 1220 Chuck Samuel 1222 Montel Taylor 1123 Andrew Hammond 1224 William Wright 1227 Cedric Thorne 1228 Roy Taylor 1230 Tyrell Ware 933 Walker Lawrence 1134 Oliver Harvey 1238 Wade Davenport 1140 Tyrone Ware 1142 Quinzell Brown 11

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Jersey Name Grade44 Rodney Jamison 1150 Patrick Pollard 1252 Dominique Hill 1253 Deon Darby 1154 Logan Shearwood 1255 Alvin Taylor 1160 Anthony Nelson 1261 Evan Ledgewood 1162 Tommy Coleman 1163 LeAndre Hundley 1166 Jermey Gibson 1167 Avante Johnson 1168 Danny Reynolds 1169 Michael Meagher 1070 Eugene Dandridge 1173 Clyde Reynolds 1274 Walter Lee 1175 George Brown 1176 Thomas Taylor 1277 Marcus Dabney 1178 James Byrd 1280 Steve Coles 1182 Mike Hundley 1286 Dylan Davenport 1188 Phillip Baker 1189 Isiah Morris 11

Gridiron • 9

RAPPAHANNOCK RAIDERS

Jersey Name Grade Position1 Jacob Dunaway 11 QB/DB7 Flannery Collins 10 QB/DB9 Ryan Yeatman 12 TE/DE10 Trinard Towles 12 RB/DB12 Patrick Bass 12 WR/DB20 Stewart Rice 11 WR/LB21 Danny Maupin 12 RB/DB22 Daniel Brown 12 WR/DB24 Delonte Johnson 11 RB/DB25 Buddy Gibbs 12 RB/DB29 Chris Gaines 11 WR/DE30 Keith Veney 11 RB/LB31 Tucker Yeatman 12 WR/DB32 Roger Jones 12 RB/DB33 Daniel Brooks 11 RB/LB42 Paul Sokol 12 WR/DB

THE R

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R Jersey Name Grade Position44 Troy Cowles 12 WR/DB49 Russell Scott 10 TE/DL50 James Scates 12 OG/DL51 Garrett Withers 12 OG/LB53 Bryant Moody 12 OC/DL55 Josh Hall 12 OG/LB60 Joshua Bell 10 OC/DL65 Divine Veney 11 OC/DL71 Rylee Dungan 12 OL/DL72 David Furrow 10 OT/DL73 Tyrel Hudgins 11 OG/DL78 Taylor Kinsey 12 OT/DL81 Shawn Willis 12 WR/DB82 Trevor Peyton 12 TE/DE84 Derrick Moore 10 WR/DB90 Tanner France 11 TE/DE

The Raiders are “looking to win district football games,” ac-cording to coach William West, whose team went 0-4 in the Northern Neck last season.

A big problem for Rappahannock early in the ‘08 campaign was injuries.

“So the most important goal right now is to get everybody healthy and keep them healthy,” said West.

The Raiders, picked my most area coaches to again finish fourth or fifth in the standings, graduated a lot of leadership, especially on the defensive side of the ball. West will look to veteran returners RJ Jones, Ja-cob Dunaway and Divine Veney

for his leadership. Jones will be running the ball, Dunaway will quarterback and Veney will an-chor the offensive and defensive lines.

Although the Raiders will have to be able to run the ball to be successful, they do plan to mix it up.

“We have to make the pass,” said West. “We have a couple of receivers that can do things with it if we can get the ball to them.

Rappahannock will open its season against Essex September 11.

“Essex was the top team in the region and one of the top teams in the state, so we have a big test right at the start.”

POWERANYLSISCOACH: William West (9th year).

ASSISTANT COACHES: Rick Harman, Steve Gourley, Troy Sumiel, Jimmy Sumi-el, Brandon Boston, Jimmy Carey.

LAST YEAR: 0-4 district, 3-7 overall.

BASIC OFFENSE: Multiple formations.

BASIC DEFENSE: 4-3.

TOP RETURNERS: QB/DB Jacob Dunaway, OL/DL Divine Veney, RB/DB RJ Jones, OG/LB Garrett With-ers, TE/DE Trevor Peyton.

TOP NEWCOMERS: OT/DL David Furrow, WR/DB Daniel Brown, WR/DB Derrick Moore, DE/DE Tanner France.

“The most important goal right now is to get everybody healthy and keep them healthy.”

— coach William West

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10 • Gridiron

WASHINGTON & LEE EAGLESCOACH: Malcolm Lewis (12th year, 94-44).

ASST. COACHES: Edgar Carey, Jake Spears, Dean Taylor, John Cottom, Ricky Fones, Chris Evans, Sheldon Bell.

LAST YEAR: 9-3 as Region A, Division 2

runner-up.

BASIC OFFENSE: Mutliple I.

BASIC DEFENSE: 4-0.

TOP RETURNERS: OL Donnie Wilson, OL Bub-bie Miles, OL Miguel Garcia, RB Jamar Tate,

WR Travis Seager, DL Adrian Bryant, DB Brian Burrell, OL Lane Alles.

TOP NEWCOMERS: QB T.J. Campbell, WR Charles Payne, WR Devontae Campbell, WR Danny Jones, FB Mitchell Hackett, DL Jamonte Gaskins, DL Gregory Bankhead.

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R Jersey Name Grade Position1 Bryan Burrell 11 RB/DB 2 DJ Brooks 12 WR/LB3 Brandon Ashton 11 RB/DB4 Danny Jones 12 WR/DB7 Jamar Tate 12 QB/LB8 Jermaine Rich 12 RB/LB10 Jaquan Burrell 11 RB/DB11 TJ Campbell 11 QB/DB15 Raymond Smith 11 WR/DB18 Derek Day 12 WR/DB22 Quran Campbell 11 FB/LB25 Earnest Reed 11 FB/LB27 Pip Bankhead 10 FB/DL

Jersey Name Grade Position28 Delonte Williams 12 WR/DB32 Jah Send Bean 11 RB/LB34 Charles Payne 12 WR/DB36 Mitchell Hackett 12 FB/LB40 Jamonte Gaskins 12 FB/DL42 Trent Jones 12 TE/LB50 Dreyfuss Wilson 12 OL/LB51 Miguel Garcia 12 OL/LB53 Donnie Wilson 12 OL/DL54 Dustin Owens 11 TE/LB55 Bubby Miles 12 OL/LB58 Steven Jones 12 OL/LB63 Austin Keffer 11 OL/DL66 Tony King 11 OL/DL

Jersey Name Grade Position68 Matt Chatham 11 OL/DL70 Raymond Johnson 10 OL/DL72 Adrien Bryant 12 FB/DL74 Tim Gordon 10 OL/DL75 Frank Jones 12 OL/DL77 Vinny Minor 11 OL/DL78 Laine Alles 12 OL/DL80 Travis Seager 11 WR/LB81 DJ Fauntleroy 12 WR/DB83 Earnest Hamilton 11 WR/DB86 Brandon Boswell 11 WR/LB87 Devontae Campbell 12 WR/DB88 Nathaniel Johnson 12 WR/DB89 Ranier Moore 11 WR/DB

POWERANYLSISThe big preseason news

at Washington & Lee is the injury of two-way standout DJ Brooks. A senior receiver and linebacker, Brooks is out indefinitely with a lacerated pancreas. He leaves a big void in the leadership position.

Another key concern for coach Malcolm Lewis and crew is the quarterback situa-tion. The offense has weapons in place, according to Lewis, but needs a QB to step up and take the reins. Lewis’ best two candidates are senior Jamar Tate and junior TJ Campbell. The typical quarterback-oriented offense W&L has

had in the past may change this year.

The running backs are solid producers and the defense is fast and scrappy. So even with the quarterback concerns, W&L should be a district contender again. They return six starters on offense and six on defense, many playing both ways.

They’ll look to avenge last year’s Region A, Division 2 championship loss, 34-13, to district rival Essex.

“I don’t know if we’re going 8-2 or 2-8, but I don’t care,” said Lewis. I really like these kids.”

“I’m big on chemistry and I really like the chemistry of this team.”

— Coach Malcolm Lewis

Gridiron • 11

COLONIAL BEACH DRIFTERSCOACH: Jeremy Jack (8th year, 53-24).

ASSISTANT COACHES: Scott Foster, Keith Dickerson, George Devers, Earl Payton, Jonathan Parker, Mike Beall.

LAST YEAR: 5-0 as the Tidewater District champion, 11-1 as Region

A, Division 1 runner-up.

BASIC OFFENSE: Single wing.

BASIC DEFENSE: 4-4.

TOP RETURNERS: QB/C Dylan Farinet, RB/C Travis Cundiff, OL/DL Jacob Hoffmaster.

TOP NEWCOMERS: RB/LB Aaron Dickerson, TE/LB Josh Sanford, TE/FR Randy Ruczynski.

POWERANYLSISSince making the move from

independent school competi-tion to the Virginia High School League, Colonial Beach has amassed a 21-4 record, making the Group A state semifinals two years ago and finishing as the Region A, Division 1 runner-up last year.

The Drifters went 5-0 to win the Tidewater District last season and this year will try their luck in the Northern Neck District.

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Jersey Name Grade Position1 Dion Gonzalez 9 RB/LB3 Josh Thomas 9 RB/LB4 Kiante Dickerson 10 QB/DB5 Sedrick Smith 10 RB/DB7 Paul Roberson 12 TE/LB10 Tim McDowney 9 RB/LB12 AlexGorfida 11 TE/DE16 Dylan Farinet 12 QB/DB19 BrandonPenfield 9 TE/DB20 Bernard Gibson 9 RB/DB21 Michael Jackson 11 RB/DB23 Damien Eiras 10 RB/DE24 Ethan Harbin 9 TE/DB25 Timmy Jackson 11 RB/LB26 Louis Jackson 12 QB/DB32 Travis Cundiff 12 RB/DB36 Randy Ruczynski 11 TE/DB44 Aaron Dickerson 11 RB/LB

Jersey Name Grade Position51 Zeke Pryor 11 OL/DL52 Mark Singleton 9 OL/DL53 Trenton Dickerson 10 OL/DL55 Aaron Fisher 9 OL/DL56 Taylor Thodos 11 OL/DL60 Tyler Vickery 10 OL/DL64 Jason Vickery 9 OL/DL68 Mickey Phillips 11 OL/DL69 Jacob Hoffmaster 11 OL/DL71 Xzavius Tate 9 OL/DL72 Robbie Sokol 11 OL/DL74 John Farley 10 OL/DL76 Jamie Little 10 OL/DL77 Steven Biggens 12 OL/DL83 Joe Slater 12 TE/DE84 Jimmie Foster 10 TE/DB85 Josh Sanford 10 TE/DE88 Travis Irvine 10 TE/DE

Coach Jeremy Jack, who starts his eighth season as head coach, brings back senior quarterback Dylan Farinet to orchestrate his offense. Farinet is on pace to become Colonial Beach’s first 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard passer. He hit the passing goal last year and just missed the rushing milestone. He’ll hand off most snaps to running back Travis Cundiff, who is expected to have another 1,000-yards plus season.

Both Farinet and Cundiff will start on defense as will many on CB’s limited roster. In fact, most of Jack’s offensive line will pull duty in the trenches on defense. Although inexperienced, the linemen are big, averaging about 243 pounds across the front. Returning tackle Jacob Hoffmas-ter will anchor as the only starter back on the line. He tips the scale at a hefty 310 pounds and stands at 6 feet.

Lack of experience and depth will be factor for CB when play-ing the Northern Neck’s top dogs — Essex and Washington & Lee.

Although the Drifters aren’t expected to dominate the North-ern Neck as they did the Tidewa-ter, most coaches still anticipate CB to be a big obstacle.

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