Football Preview 2014 by Daily Press Media Group

2 DAILY PRESS Sunday, August 24, 2014

Who has that champion’s look in 2014?

Properly disguised and timed, a reverse ranks among football’s coolest plays. Stout defenses appear clueless, while their sage coordinators spike headsets in frustration. Reversals of team fortunes can be equally unexpected and, depending on your allegiance, entertaining. Nothing showcases sports’ wondrous improbability like a squad going from worstto-first, or thereabouts. Such rebounds are hardly rare — college football 2013 is Exhibit A — making Vegas flush and its patrons bust. So David Teel as our annual preseason section examines the prerequisites, subtle and otherwise, for building a championship program, good luck forecasting who’s on the brink of a breakthrough. Oh, we can give it a shot with our local teams, attempting to apply logic to the frequently illogical. But odds are, we’ll miss as many as we hit. With 20 public high schools in our coverage wheelhouse, it’s best to defer detailed analysis to comrades Johnson and O’Brien, but for reasons rooted in zoning and tradition, prep competition usually produces more perennials than college. So a November or December that finds the likes of Phoebus, Hampton, Poquoson and Lafayette still in pads is hardly surprising, though the Virginia High School League’s constant meddling in conference alignment threatens to create commonwealthwide chaos. For cautionary college tales, travel back to 2012, when Auburn, Missouri and Duke were a combined 5-19 in league play. Last year they went 20-4, each winning its division, and Auburn reaching the national championship game before coughing up a fourth-quarter lead against Florida State.

Granted, those were extremes, especially 16 years from1992-2007 under Taylor, earning a pair of Division II playoff bids and five Auburn, which went from 3-9 to12-2. And in the FCS. The Pirates haven’t made the extremes have been scarce among our area playoffs since and were a combined 7-15 the teams, thanks in large measure to quality, last two years. long-tenured coaches such as Virginia Old Dominion’s sample size is much Tech’s Frank Beamer, William and Mary’s smaller — football was reincarnated on Jimmye Laycock, Christopher Newport’s Matt Kelchner, Virginia’s George Welsh and Hampton Boulevard in 2009 — but the Monarchs’ victories totals Hampton’s Joe Taylor — have ranged from eight to11 the latter two are out of Oh, we can give it a in Bobby Wilder’s five coaching, and the proshot with our local seasons. grams they built have So who’s best positioned never been the same. teams, attempting to to seize a conference troBeamer’s biggest leap phy in 2014? came from1992 to ’93, apply logic to the With nine USA South when his Hokies imfrequently illogical. But titles in13 years and beauproved from 2-8-1to 9-3. That started Tech’s curodds are, we’ll miss as coup veterans back from an 8-2 squad that finished rent streak of 21consecumany as we hit. third last year, CNU heads tive bowl seasons, during the list. Moreover, the which its steepest decline Captains’ league has far was from11-3 and 7-1in the less depth than the ColoniACC in 2011to 7-6 and 4-4 al Athletic Association, where William and the following year. Mary, most recently the kingpin in 2010, Working at an institution with more figures to be competitive again, but where exacting academic standards and fewer 2013 playoff finalist Towson and semifinalresources than most, if not all, its conferist New Hampshire loom, not to mention ence rivals, Laycock has been prone to past national champions James Madison, wilder swings. His Tribe’s 2004 run to the Delaware, Villanova and Richmond. Football Championship Subdivision naIndeed, if you want to see Laycock break tional semifinals and an11-3 record was out in hives, just mention last year’s15-9 loss sandwiched by seasons of 5-5 and 5-6. Just to Towson, where had one of several plays last year, William and Mary finished 7-5 gone the other way, the Tribe wins and after 2-9 the season prior. makes the playoffs. The only coach in CNU football’s13 seaODU cannon-balled into the CAA, tying sons, Kelchner has been admirably consisfor second place in its 2011conference detent, the Captains’ records ranging from 5-5 but. Rendered ineligible for the title a year to 9-3. Similarly, Welsh guided Virginia to13 straight seasons with at least seven victories later — league officials were steamed over the school’s move to Conference USA — the from1987-99, but neither of the Cavaliers’ Monarchs fashioned the CAA’s best record, subsequent coaches, Al Groh and Mike declared themselves unofficial champs and London, has approached that standard — London’s four teams have gone 4-8, 8-5, 4-8, earned an at-large playoff bid. A similar splash in C-USA and the Bowl 2-10. Subdivision this season, or any time soon, Hampton enjoyed15 winning seasons in

What does it take to be a successful program? What’s the criteria and who sets it? And, where do our local college and high school teams fall in the mix? Those are the questions we attempt to answer in our 2014 football preview section. We talked to coaches and administrators and took a look back at historically strong programs in the state to lay the groundwork. Building a team that will contend for a championship — at any level — starts with a foundation of support from the school. From there, you have to have coaches, talented players, facilities and funds to complete the framework. Will we have a championship team this year? Your guess is as good as ours. — Andi Petrini, Sports Editor

Teel can be reached by phone at 757-247- 4636 or by email at dteel@dailypress.com. For more from Teel, read his blog at dailypress.com/teeltime and follow him on Twitter @DavidTeelatDP.

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would surprise. Unexpected offseason attrition depleted the receiving corps so critical to ODU’s spread offense, while the program’s perennial defensive issues were painfully reinforced in last year’s finale, an 80-20 demolition at North Carolina. Virginia’s two ACC championships came under Welsh in1989 and ’95, but the Cavaliers played for the league’s Coastal Division title in 2007 and ’11, losing to Virginia Tech on both occasions. London appears to have significantly upgraded the program’s talent, especially on defense, but without noticeable progress in 2014, against a thorny schedule, his future is tenuous. Meanwhile, absent Florida State, Clemson and Louisville, Virginia Tech’s ACC schedule this season is manageable, which could help the Hokies return to the league title game for the first time since 2011. Entering his 28th season coaching his alma mater, the 67-year-old Beamer has begun to assemble the horses needed to return Tech to the top10, but will they produce before he retires? Since Hampton’s most recent MEAC championship, in 2006, five schools have won or shared the conference title, including Norfolk State in 2011. Such parity and volatility offer encouragement to new Pirates coach Connell Maynor, who, fresh off a 45-6 run at Winston-Salem State, scoffed at a poll that picked Hampton to finish seventh this season. “There aren’t six teams better than we are,” he told Comrade Fairbank. Gotta love preseason optimism. But now it’s game week. Time to play.

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UP WITH PEOPLE

PATH TO TITLES STARTS WITH ADMINISTRATORS, COACHES, PLAYERS By Dave Fairbank

dfairbank@dailypress.com

hey’ve won championships and playoff games and major bowls. They’ve started from scratch and elevated existing programs to new heights. They’ve done it with offense, with defense and with special teams. Successful college football programs abound in the commonwealth, at every level. Virginia Tech and Virginia have won ACC titles. William and Mary has won conference titles and playoff games. Richmond and James Madison have national championship trophies. Old Dominion’s start-up program made immediate noise in the Football Championship Subdivision before jumping up a level. Hampton was the class of the MEAC in the late 1990s and mid-2000s. Christopher Newport won out of the chute in Division III and has become almost a postseason fixture. Ask some of the men who run those programs the components of championship-caliber teams, and you don’t get different answers so much as variations on a theme. People. The right people. Administrators that occupy big offices. Coaches in meeting rooms and on the field. Players at key positions willing to work. Certainly, facilities and structural upgrades matter, but people provide the foundation. “I ranked them very distinctly when I got here, and I think that probably 90 percent still applies,” said CNU’s Matt Kelchner, who has taken the Captains to nine NCAA tournaments since he started the program in 2001. “The No. 1 key ingredient is administrative and leadership support. Still the most important thing. I don’t care if it’s D-I or D-III, high school or peewee. The leadership has to embrace it. If they don’t, you’re going to be fighting a major uphill battle.” Administrative support convinced new HU coach Connell Maynor to jump from a very successful gig at Winston-Salem State, where he was embraced by his bosses and took the Rams to the brink of

DAVID KNACHEL/VIRGINIA TECH FILE PHOTO

Behind Michael Vick (7), Virginia Tech’s 1999 team reached the national title game, falling to Florida State after an 11-0 regular season.

a Division II national championship. “It starts up top,” Maynor said. “Administration and athletic program and the coaches have to be on the same page with what you want to do. Here, we’re on the same page and that’s why I’m here. Dr. (William) Harvey wants to win. He wants to compete for and win a national championship. I want to win at the highest level, which is a national championship and MEAC championship. “If your head football coach wants to win a championship, but your president doesn’t really care and your athletic department isn’t going to fully invest in you … you’re not on the same page. You’re not going to be able to build a championship program.” Jimmye Laycock enters his 35th season at William and Mary, where he has worked for three athletic directors and five presidents. “It’s extremely, extremely important,” he said. “If you’re not having the support from the people above you, I think you can only

do so well. I see places where they change coaches because they’re not being successful, instead of looking at areas where they could provide more support. “You’re going to go through some tough times and you have to know people are going to hang with you, no matter if you’re having tough times or good times. You don’t want people jumping on the bandwagon when things are going well and then when you hit tough times, they forget about you. You have to know people are going to stay with you and support you.” Frank Beamer knows a thing or two about administrative support. He returned to his alma mater, Virginia Tech, as head coach in 1987. Saddled with the effects of NCAA sanctions and scholarship reductions due to transgressions under former coach Bill Dooley, Beamer and the program had a tough time gaining traction. The Hokies limped to a 2-8-1 record in 1992, bringing Beamer’s six-year mark to 2440-1. Rather than make a coaching change,

former athletic director Dave Braine and Tech officials famously directed Beamer to overhaul his staff, and they identified other measures to help the program. The new staff jump-started the Hokies to a 9-3 record in ’93, beginning the program’s present 21-year bowl run and a march to Big East and ACC titles and major bowl games. Today, Beamer’s office is within sight of or an easy walk to the fruits of the program’s success and commitment: expanded Lane Stadium; manicured practice fields; spacious, well-appointed locker room and player lounge; new indoor practice facility under construction. “I don’t know if there’s another (situation) as good as we (have), where I can sit in my office and see every facility that we’ve got,” Beamer said. “It’s all there. It’s very easy. You’re not having to go a long way to the practice field or a long way to the indoor practice facility. It’s all right See PEOPLE/Page 7

Continued from 6 there. I think we’re fortunate in that regard. “So, from a facilities standpoint, we’ve always been good. It’s not state money. It’s money raised from our supporters. Our supporters want to be very successful and they’ve showed it. It’s demonstrated by how much they’ve given to us to build facilities.” Beamer’s new boss, athletic director Whit Babcock, is the son of a college coach and spent 20 years in athletic administration across a breadth of Division I schools before coming to Blacksburg. Though his specialties include fundraising and marketing, he is convinced that people play the greatest role in championship programs. “I probably learned it from my dad being a coach,” he said. “Really, the best way to win is to surround yourself with the best coaches possible, give them the resources to be successful and then hold them accountable. If you do that, if you hire the best coaches you can possibly hire, you give them resources to be successful and you let them run the program their own way and hold them accountable with high expectations, that’s as good a recipe as I can come up with.” Babcock said that he routinely meets with recruits and asks them their draw toward Virginia Tech, or some of his previous schools. “Some people say facilities and other things,” he said, “but almost every one of them says relationship with the coaching staff. Facilities are important, resources and all that, but I still believe it comes down to the relationship business.” Like Kelchner at CNU, Bobby Wilder started Old Dominion’s program from scratch. He arrived in Norfolk in 2007 after a lengthy tenure as an assistant at his alma mater, the University of Maine. The Monarchs began playing in 2009. Two years later, they were a force in the Colonial Athletic Association and FCS. One year after that, they were headed to the Bowl Subdivision and Conference USA, where they will compete starting this season. Wilder has had the support of the administration from the moment he stepped on campus, whether it was infrastructure and facilities, or staff size and salaries commensurate with the Monarchs’ new venture. Administrators made over ancient Foreman Field, which has sold out every home game. A comprehensive campus master plan calls for a new stadium to accompany the move to FBS. Wilder said administrative support and a commitment to facilities allow the program to recruit and retain players and staff, which are critical in assembling a quality program. But when he discussed the ingredients for building championships, he skewed toward football factors. “First and most important,” Wilder said, “is putting together a coaching staff that likes each other. I know that sounds pretty

DAILY PRESS FILE PHOTO

William and Mary, with exacting academic standards and once-lagging facilties, has been competitive in the Jimmye Laycock era, twice reaching the national semifinals.

fundamental, but a group of guys that work well together. I’m not talking about finding the best X-and-O guys in the country, I’m talking about finding guys that like each other. That’s No. 1.” Second, he said, is having a quality quarterback. He’s been blessed with two, in Thomas DeMarco in the program’s startup phase and now with record-setting Taylor Heinicke. “You can be the sharpest X-and-O guy, you can have a wonderful defense, a great kicking game,” Wilder said. “But if you don’t have a quarterback, you’re not going to win. Look at NFL teams, look at college, high school, any level of football. If they have a good quarterback, they probably win. If they have a quarterback that turns the ball over and doesn’t complete passes, they probably lose.” Third, Wilder said, is balance and continuity in recruiting. Without that, veteran players find themselves on the bench. Younger players are thrust into roles before they’re ready. Team dynamics can fracture. “If you get an all-star freshman class that

comes in and your senior class isn’t very good, it’s not going to work,” Wilder said. “You’ve got to have talent equally distributed throughout the classes. If you do that, then you can redshirt kids, you can develop them over five years. And that’s where it’s been hard on us, because we’ve had to play so many freshmen.” Kelchner echoed Wilder’s thoughts about the importance of support staff — assistant coaches, trainers, medical personnel, academic tutors, everyone involved with the program. He mentioned that longtime equipment manager Lou Serio has a greater impact than anyone can imagine. “Having the core people around you being quality people,” Kelchner said. “I’d rather have a great person as a coach than the most phenomenal X-and-O guy. You’ve got to know X’s and O’s and you’ve got to know techniques and schemes, but you need a better person. You’ve got to have good folks. Who you surround yourself with is important.” Kelchner has tweaked his priority list as

See Page 8

he’s become established. He used to rank talent and recruiting second to administrative support, ahead of coaches and support staff. No longer. “I thought the players were more important than the coaches and people around you,” he said. “If you’re in the right place, you’re going to get the right kids if you work it right. If we do our work in recruiting, we’re going to get the kids we should. And every now and then, you get a kid that allows you to take the next step.” Virginia is years removed from the success under George Welsh. The Cavaliers struggled the past two years under Mike London, who nevertheless is well-acquainted with successful programs, from his time as an assistant at William and Mary, Boston College and U.Va., to an FCS title as head coach at Richmond in 2008. “I was fortunate to win a national championship at Richmond,” he said, “so I know there are a lot of things that have to go your way to make it happen. We came pretty close to getting a second shot at playing for the national title again the next year, and that shows you how close the line is between winning and advancing, and having your season end. Football is unique. Lose once, and your chances are probably over.” London listed execution, eliminating mistakes and consistency as primary ingredients on the field. He mentioned offensive production and stopping opponents on defense, with dynamic plays — sacks and turnovers. “Then, there is unity,” London said. “There is no substitute for when a team buys in and makes a commitment to come together. Unity bonds the team. It is a key ingredient to any championship.” Befitting a man in his fourth decade at the same position, Laycock preached the importance of continuity and staying the course — a consistent vision, consistent approach, consistent message. “I’ve seen it too many times when people have a setback,” he said, “they say that didn’t work, so let’s try this or let’s try that. I think you send a mixed message to everybody involved.” William and Mary operates out of a support facility that bears Laycock’s name and has the necessary upgrades to compete on a relatively even playing field in the CAA, but that wasn’t always the case. His teams in the 1980s, ’90s and early 2000s were marvels at maximizing the limited resources available. The fact that he attended W&M helped him adapt to the culture of the school. “To be successful at one place is not always the same key to being successful at another place,” he said. “You’ve got to learn your place, learn

Sunday, August 24, 2014 DAILY PRESS

People

8 DAILY PRESS Sunday, August 24, 2014

People Continued from 7 what it’s about. I think that was one of the things that helped me early on. I kind of realized at William and Mary which battles to fight, which ones not to; where to put the energy and where not to waste my time, and where not to get frustrated, because certain things are going to be the way they are.” William and Mary’s academic profile shrinks the available talent pool. It places a premium on identifying recruits who can do the academic work and on player development. “I think you’ve got to recognize what you’re talking about in talent,” Laycock said. “You want good players, obviously, but you’ve got to get good people before you get good players. You’ve got to get good, solid people that are going to work at it. “One of the things I talk to people about, or recruits about, or coaches about, what we want to do is we want to help develop (players). We want to get good, solid players that have potential and help them reach their potential. That’s what it’s all about. To me, if you get solid people that have potential and if you help enough of them come close to reaching their potential, the wins and losses take care of themselves.” Maynor fashioned a 45-6 record in four years with Winston-Salem State, making three NCAA playoff appearances. His championship teams, he said, were products of both talent and discipline. “I always tell my guys, you’re going to suffer one of two things in your life: the pain of discipline or the pain of disappointment from regret. If you’re disciplined enough to put in the extra work and time in the weight room, on the field, in the film room, in the classroom, you’re going to have W’s and win championships and make good grades and you’re going to graduate. “If you’re not disciplined enough to do that stuff, you’re going to be disappointed and regret it, because you didn’t work hard enough, you didn’t watch enough film, you didn’t lift enough, you didn’t go to class, you didn’t go to study hall. Now you’re going to make C’s and D’s, you’re going to flunk out, you’re not going to graduate. So there’s one of two things you can do. You can be disciplined enough to do the right thing or be disappointed and regret it because you didn’t.” Facilities are part of the championship equation as well. Upgrades abound across the state. Virginia Tech’s indoor practice facility is expected to be complete within a year. Virginia opened the

US PRESSWIRE FILE PHOTO

Kris Burd (18) was a receiver in Virginia’s last bowl appearance, a 43-24 Chick-fil-A Bowl loss to Auburn in December 2011.

George Welsh indoor facility, a 78,000square-foot structure, in the spring of 2013. Hampton installed a state-of-the-art artificial-turf surface at Armstrong Stadium this summer. Richmond’s four-yearold Robins Stadium is a functional, attractive, 8,700-seat venue tucked into campus. James Madison’s recently expanded Bridgeforth Stadium has a tangible “wow” factor and is one of FCS’ top game-day facilities. W&M’s Laycock Center, which opened in 2008, is top-shelf in FCS. “Facilities play a huge part in the final say-so in what athletes you get,” said Maynor, who emphasizes quality over spaciousness when he talks to recruits. “As long as you’ve got what you need — your weight room is big enough, you’ve got ample practice fields. You’re not going to get stronger just because you’re at Texas. If we’ve got the same machines they’ve got, they’ve just got more of them and more space. You’re not going to get any stronger because you’re lifting at Texas than if you’re lifting at Hampton or ODU, with that same equipment.” Facilities and structural improvements carry weight beyond recruiting. “Everybody thinks it’s about the players,” Laycock said, “but it’s important for the coaches to see that there’s commitment. It’s important for the equipment managers, it’s important for the trainers, it’s important for everybody to see that there’s a general, overall commitment to

ROB OSTERMAIER/DAILY PRESS FILE PHOTO

In ODU’s 35-18 FCS playoff win in 2011, Chad King sacks Norfolk State’s Chris Walley.

doing things as well as you possibly can.” Appealing as shiny, new facilities and weight rooms and training rooms and locker rooms are, it’s the occupants that provide the best opportunity to win titles. “You’ve got to surround yourself with

good people,” Laycock said, “and trust those good people to do a good job.” Norm Wood contributed to this report. Fairbank can be reached by phone at 757-247-4637.

Virginia Tech It all happened so fast. That’s how Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer remembers the magical 1999 season that ended with the Hokies coming up short, 46-29, against Florida State in the Sugar Bowl for the Bowl Championship Series national title. He loves the idea of the four-team playoff arriving this season to open doors for more than just two teams to compete for a national championship. Yet, he still marvels at how Tech came on the scene so quickly in ’99, and how one player helped put the spotlight on the Hokies. “Back in the day there, there were just certain teams in the minds of people that were at the top,” Beamer said. “If they won, they were going to be in that national championship, as opposed to a newcomer that maybe people hadn’t heard as much about. That was kind of the deal with us the year we (went to the national championship). “I think Michael Vick got us a lot of attention. I think having a dynamic player kind of lent itself to people noticing Virginia Tech. Then, when you went undefeated, it kind of led us into the conversation. I don’t know if it would’ve happened if we didn’t have such a dynamic player. I don’t think we would’ve gotten noticed as

Virginia After seeing his team’s recent triumphs in recruiting, Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage knows that’s just one important step in a rebuilding process, but making the giant leap to reach a championship level requires more. In his estimation, the championship formula requires key components on the field, including playmakers, consistent line play on both sides of the ball, luck in terms of staying healthy and minimizing mistakes. So, from his vantage point, what’s missing from a talent standpoint? There has to be some semblance of reliability from the man under center — something U.Va. still is seeking. “You have to get quality and consistent play at the quarterback position,” said Littlepage, a former men’s basketball coach at Penn and Rutgers, and assistant coach at U.Va., Villanova and Yale. “Quality play takes more than a few recruiting classes to be successful on a consistent basis. Recruiting success in certain positions or holes in the roster is equally important as talent on an ongoing basis. How injuries impact your roster is another factor.” Sophomore Greyson Lambert is next on deck to try to restore some confidence in U.Va.’s quarterback position. It’s been a while since the position has been any-

quickly.” By next August, Tech will have a new indoor practice facility. It’ll go nicely with Tech’s recent additions of state-of-theart locker rooms and academic support offices. Athletic director Whit Babcock’s hiring of two full-time staff members to facilitate football recruiting also helps to better distribute the workload of the football staff. All of the facility and staff support additions are essential tools in building an attractive program for top athletes, but Beamer is also encouraged by the increased opportunity just to get in the discussion for a national championship brought about by the playoff. Now, if Tech can clear the massive hurdle of winning the ACC again (which it has done four times since becoming a member of the conference in 2004), getting into a national championship playoff scenario is within reach. Of course, having a player of Vick’s caliber still doesn’t hurt when winning a national title is your aim. “It doesn’t get down into politics or somebody’s judgment,” Beamer said. “You’ve got to win the ACC championship or your conference championship and then you’ve got a possibility. That’s the way it should be.” — Norm Wood

where near on track for U.Va., which comes into the season having lost nine consecutive games under former starting quarterback and Hampton High graduate David Watford (who completed 57.1 percent last season for 2,202 yards, eight touchdowns and 15 interceptions). Since Matt Schaub completed 69.7 percent of his passes for 2,952 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2003, U.Va. has had primary starting quarterbacks in six of the next 10 seasons throw for as many or more interceptions as touchdowns. With the introduction of a new indoor practice facility last year, U.Va. has put itself on the cutting edge in terms of football facilities needed to compete on a championship level. Now, the talent base needs to catch up. “We continue to review and evaluate what it takes to be successful in all of our athletic programs,” said Littlepage, who was an associate AD at U.Va. in 1995 when the Cavaliers last earned a share of the ACC football championship, with Florida State, under former coach George Welsh. “Facilities are certainly one component. ... There are other factors we look at that demonstrate the commitment to the development of our players’ overall athletic abilities, well-being and that support their educational goals.” — Norm Wood

ODU rates high in administrative support and facilities, two areas cited by coaches and administrators as primary components of championship-caliber programs. Those two factors were practically given, since the school decided to resurrect the program after 60 years. ODU sunk millions into infrastructure and into making ancient Foreman Field suitable for fans and FCS-level football. Once the administration chose to move up to FBS and Conference USA, further upgrades were required. Expanded football facilities and a new on-campus stadium are planned. As for Coach Bobby Wilder’s criteria, the Monarchs are 2-for-3. They have a quality coaching staff that gets along and works well together. They had and have a quarterback — first Thomas DeMarco, now Taylor Heinicke. They lack in the third component — continuity and balance in recruiting classes, allowing them to redshirt and develop players over four and five years. That’s due largely to hitting the reset button and having to ratchet up recruiting in order to compete in FBS. They’ve had to recruit over the upperclassmen’s heads in some cases, and there have been recruiting misses and attrition, particularly on defense. It’s too early to tell how they’ll fare in C-USA.

William and Mary Longtime coach Jimmye Laycock didn’t rank the components of a championship program, but consistency was the first factor he mentioned. The Tribe gets high marks in that area, and not just because the same guy has been in the big office for 35 years. Certainly, Laycock has adapted through the years, but his message and values have remained the same. He won’t compromise his or the school’s standards. He has a feel for assembling quality staffs and for keeping them together, which contributes to consistency and continuity — key for a school that doesn’t have the talent or resource pool that many competing schools have. Laycock and the program have long had administrative support, and in recent years that’s been supplemented by greater financial support: lights and artificial turf at Zable Stadium; a dedicated football facility that brought the program into the 20th and 21st century, as well as creating operating space for many other Tribe programs. The school’s academic profile means that Laycock and the staff have a broader recruiting footprint. There are a number of areas the program historically mines for talent, based on his and the school’s reputation, as well as the CAA. That doesn’t figure to change.

Hampton New Hampton University coach Connell Maynor believes that the school possesses the necessary ingredients to build a championship program. The foundation, he said, is support from the administration and athletic department. School prez Dr. William Harvey is nothing if not involved in athletics, which he has always viewed as the front porch, or maybe the gazebo, of the university house. New athletic director Eugene Marshall Jr. has a track record of supporting his coaches and improving facilities. Maynor assembled a quality coaching staff, made up of trusted confidants and mentors with whom he has worked in the past, such as defensive coordinator Kenny Phillips and assistant head coach John Eder. Facilities are more than adequate, Maynor said, and he cites the new artificial turf at Armstrong Stadium. The school’s lofty reputation and picturesque setting broaden the recruiting footprint. Next is stocking the roster with more and better players. “I tell people all the time, it’s not rocket science,” Maynor said. “If my X’s are bigger than your O’s, I’m going to beat you. If your O’s are bigger than my X’s, you’re probably going to beat me. You’ve got to have players. When the talent’s even, that’s when coaching comes into play.”

Christopher Newport Christopher Newport coach Matt Kelchner starts with three distinct components required for a championship program and ranks them in order: administrative backing; quality support personnel; accessible talent pool. CNU is 3-for-3. The program has ample administrative support, from president Paul Trible’s office down. The administration provides much more than lip service. The Captains’ facilities — from stadium to practice fields to weight room to equipment to office space — are top-shelf in Division III. The Captains’ coaching staff and support personnel are excellent as well. The staff is routinely a mix of promising young coaches and seasoned veterans, such as longtime offensive coordinator Dan Antolik and quarterbacks coach Mike Faragalli, who won an FCS national championship at Richmond and was on staffs at Virginia and in the Canadian Football League. As for talent, Hampton Roads produces more than its share of players. The majority of the Captains’ roster is comprised of players from the Atlantic Ocean west to Richmond. All of that adds up to nine NCAA playoff appearances in the program’s first 13 years. “I don’t know that we’ve accomplished everything we initially thought we could,” Kelchner said. “It’s still a process, but we’ve accomplished some pretty good stuff here.” — Dave Fairbank

Old Dominion

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12 DAILY PRESS Sunday, August 24, 2014

COLLEGE VIRGINIA TECH 2013 | 8-5, 5-3 ACC

Last bowl bid | 2013 Sun Bowl (lost 42-12 to No. 17 UCLA)

ONLINE | Follow Norm Wood at dailypress.com/accallaccess

THE COACH

THE SCHEDULE

FRANK BEAMER 34th year (266-132-4, including 224-109-2 in last 27 seasons at Tech) It’s almost become a running joke. When the 67-year-old Beamer is asked how much longer he plans to coach, he has a standard line ready to go that includes three factors that need to be in place: good quarterback, good kicker and good personal health. The jury is still out on whether he has two of those things — the quality quarterback and kicker. As the active coach with the most career wins in the Bowl Subdivision by a wide margin (his 266 wins are most closely followed by South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier’s 219), Beamer’s legacy is secure, but he’s entering a somewhat precarious phase of his career — where the program appears teetering on the brink of decline after a long period of success. His teams have played in bowls in 21 consecutive seasons, the second-longest current streak in the nation, but the past two years Tech has had to work hard just to be bowl-eligible or has faltered late in the season. Job security isn’t an issue for Beamer, but leaving the program in good shape whenever he decides to exit has to be a concern. He’s under contract through the end of the 2016 season. There’s no telling if he intends to coach beyond the ’16 season, but his decision may obviously have a lot to do with the program’s prospects for the future.

Aug. 30 | William and Mary | 4 p.m. The odds of another JMU-size upset like the one that took place in 2010 in Lane Stadium are long, but Tech can’t afford to sleep on W&M’s defense. Sept. 6 | at Ohio State | 8 p.m. Tech brings a 1-20 record in games against top-five opponents under Frank Beamer into a prime-time affair at the Horseshoe. Sept. 13 | East Carolina | noon Though Tech has won 10 of the last 11 meetings, ECU has given the Hokies all they’ve wanted in the last two games. Sept. 20 | Georgia Tech | TBA Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson’s option routinely causes serious fits for defenses, but not recently against Foster, whose Hokies held the Yellow Jackets to 160.5 yards rushing in the last two meetings. Sept. 27 | Western Michigan | TBA It should be a little closer than the 2004 game in Blacksburg, which saw Virginia Tech plant a 63-0 loss on Western Michigan — maybe. Oct. 4 | at North Carolina | TBA There’s a good chance this one could carry Coastal Division title implications. Oct. 16 | at Pittsburgh | 7:30 p.m. This is a Thursday night trip for Tech, and stopping Pittsburgh wide receiver Tyler Boyd will be critical. Oct. 23 | Miami | 7:30 p.m. In the only previous Thursday night games against Miami (2008 and ’12), the Hurricanes won. Nov. 1 | Boston College | TBA Tech finally gets BC at home again after playing games in Chestnut Hill, Mass., the last two years. Nov. 15 | at Duke | TBA No loss stung Tech last season as much as its 13-10 home loss to Duke when the Hokies had risen to No. 16 in the national rankings. Duke returns 14 starters from last season’s Coastal Division-winning team. Nov. 22 | at Wake Forest | TBA New starters at quarterback, tailback and the entire defensive line could cause plenty of sleepless nights for first-year Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson, who inherits a team that went 4-8 last season. Nov. 28 | Virginia | TBA Tech will try to avoid its own Black Friday nightmare and extend what is already a series-record winning streak to 11 games.

THE STANDOUTS KENDALL FULLER So. | 5-11 | 195 | CB After just one season, he’s already challenging big brothers Vincent, Corey and Kyle for the title of most talented Fuller to play at Tech. Kendall finished his freshman year with team highs in interceptions (six) and pass breakups (11). He was a second-team All-ACC selection last year, and enters this season as a legitimate All-America candidate. LUTHER MADDY Sr. | 6-1 | 291 | DT There may not be much about Maddy’s physical stature that’s particularly impressive for a defensive tackle, but his relentless desire to spend time in the backfield from an interior line position makes him stand out. Last season, he led Tech in sacks (6 1⁄2) and tackles for loss (13 1⁄2). TREY EDMUNDS So. | 6-1 | 217 | RB Consider this one a bit of a speculative pick, but he’s shown little drop-off in the preseason after suffering a broken tibia in last year’s regular-season finale at Virginia. He led Tech last season in rushing with 166 carries for 675 yards and 10 touchdowns — solid numbers, but ones he’ll be expected to expand upon this fall.

PETER CASEY/USA TODAY SPORTS FILE PHOTO

Virginia Tech cornerback Kendall Fuller intercepts a Duke pass last season.

THE STORYLINES DOES MICHAEL BREWER HAVE WHAT IT TAKES? At just 6 feet and 200 pounds, it would be unreasonable to expect the same kind of arm strength from Brewer that Tech became accustomed to seeing from 6-foot-6, 250-pound Logan Thomas. On the other hand, offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler certainly wouldn’t mind more accuracy than what Thomas offered. Since transferring in late May from Texas Tech, Brewer has been the odds-on favorite to win the starting job — maybe as much because Mark Leal and Brenden Motley have done little to really nail down the job as Brewer has done to earn it. With 13 games of experience in two seasons for Texas Tech, Brewer has seen more game action than all of the four other scholarship quarterbacks on Virginia Tech’s roster combined. WILL THE PROGRAM CONTINUE TO SLIDE? Despite what some of the more reactionary fans would lead you to believe, it hasn’t been a catastrophic decline in the past two seasons, but there has been a noticeable drop-off from the stretch of eight consecutive seasons (2004-11) when Tech won 10-plus games each year. Going 15-11 in the last two seasons doesn’t indicate Tech is the healthiest program. While defensive coordinator Bud Foster continues to churn out some of the nation’s top units, Tech’s inability to consistently perform recently in two of its traditional areas of strength — the running game (109th in the nation last season out of 123 FBS programs in rushing offense with an average of 119.8 yards per game) and special teams — is troubling. Getting Edmunds back and adding Phoebus High graduate Marshawn Williams (if he doesn’t redshirt his first season) to the backfield mix should help the ground game.

IS THIS GOING TO BE A RARE DOWN YEAR FOR TECH’S DEFENSE? With six new starters on defense, all in the front seven, it has been suggested that this season might represent at least something of a rebuilding year for Foster, but this isn’t a typical group of new starters. Defensive tackle Corey Marshall, middle linebacker Chase Williams and defensive end Dadi Nicolas already have gained ample experience as backups, special-teams contributors and even part-time starters. Linebacker Deon Clarke has played at a high level since the start of the spring. Outside linebacker Ronny Vandyke was in line to be a starter last August before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Defensive end Ken Ekanem, who is coming off two injury-plagued seasons, is probably the biggest question mark. Other than how soon cornerback Brandon Facyson fully recovers from a hip flexor injury, there isn’t much concern in the secondary, where Fuller and Facyson are joined by returning starters Kyshoen Jarrett and Detrick Bonner at the safety spots. Foster has led his group to top-20 finishes in the nation in total defense in nine of the last 10 years (top 10 in seven of those seasons).

BY NORM WOOD

ACC CORNER While Florida State is the clear favorite to win the ACC’s Atlantic Division, the picture is murkier on the Coastal Division side. Miami earned the preseason media vote for Coastal favorite, but the first-place voting difference between Miami, North Carolina, Tech and Duke was tight. These are changing times for the ACC, as Louisville joins the league.

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14 DAILY PRESS Sunday, August 24, 2014

COLLEGE VIRGINIA 2013 | 2-10, 0-8 ACC

Last bowl bid | 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl (lost 43-24 to Auburn)

ONLINE | Follow Norm Wood at dailypress.com/accallaccess

THE COACH

THE SCHEDULE

MIKE LONDON Seventh year (42-36 overall, including 18-31 in last four seasons at U.Va.) The further London gets from his Championship Subdivision national title year at Richmond, his alma mater, in 2008, the more it must seem like it happened in another lifetime. Though his home is just an hour away in Charlottesville, he’s light years away from those halcyon days with the Spiders, which also included a trip to the FCS quarterfinals in ’09. If not for his perpetually positive attitude, it could be easy to interpret the football life he’s leading now as nightmarish. As he enters the season with a nine-game losing streak, and a 10-game skid in ACC games, London’s job with the Cavaliers could be in jeopardy if things don’t change in a hurry. This season’s schedule — with home games against UCLA, Louisville, North Carolina and Miami and trips to Brigham Young, Florida State and Virginia Tech — doesn’t show much opportunity for quick turnaround. Despite U.Va.’s struggles, London has assembled a coaching staff that has made some strong moves in recruiting. The trick is finding a way to get that talent to equal victories. Time may be running out for him to unearth a winning formula. With a feel for the culture of Cavaliers football, he needs to summon all his expertise from various levels of football to dig U.Va. out of the abyss it has resided in for most of the last six years.

Aug. 30 | UCLA | Noon The last time a Pac-12 opponent came to Charlottesville was in the 2008 opener, when No. 3 Southern Cal beat U.Va. 52-7. Sept. 6 | Richmond | 3:30 p.m. Richmond will be one of the most potent teams in the FCS and showcases two former U.Va. QBs, Michael Rocco and Michael Strauss. Sept. 13 | Louisville | 12:30 p.m. It’ll be Louisville’s first conference road trip as a member of the ACC. Sept. 20 | at Brigham Young | TBA The victory vs. BYU last year was U.Va.’s last against an FBS foe all season. Sept. 27 | Kent State | TBA In what should be a confidence-booster game for U.Va., Kent State may be the only truly overmatched opponent to come to Scott Stadium. Oct. 4 | Pittsburgh | TBA One of the ugliest ACC games of the season last year ended with Pittsburgh winning14-7 at home. Oct. 18 | at Duke | TBA The reigning Coastal Division champion Blue Devils have won five of their last six games against the Cavaliers. Oct. 25 | North Carolina | TBA U.Va. used to own UNC in Charlottesville, winning 14 consecutive meetings in Scott Stadium from 1983 through 2008. Now, UNC is on a four-game winning streak in the rivalry. Nov. 1 | at Georgia Tech | TBA Few ACC teams will enter the season with more quarterback uncertainty than Georgia Tech. Nov. 8 | at Florida State | TBA U.Va. won its last trip to FSU,14-13 in 2011, but the Seminoles (9-4 in ’11) and Cavaliers (8-5 in ’11) were in different places back then. Nov. 22 | Miami | TBA The last two times Miami has visited U.Va., the games have been thrillers, with the Cavs winning 24-19 in 2011 and 41-40 in ’12. Nov. 28 | at Virginia Tech | TBA When U.Va. last beat the Hokies in 2003, Beyoncé’s and Sean Paul’s song “Baby Boy” was No. 1 on the charts. That’s ironic, considering U.Va.’s current players weren’t far removed from being actual baby boys themselves in ’03.

THE STANDOUTS ANTHONY HARRIS Sr. | 6-1 | 190 | SS He’ll be hard-pressed to come up with an encore that can rival last season’s effort, which included him leading the nation with eight interceptions. He was one of the more dependable tacklers on a defense that often struggled in that department. He’s the kind of player U.Va. would want to mentor freshman free safety Quin Blanding. KEVIN PARKS Sr. | 5-8 | 205 | RB Last season, he ran for1,031yards, becoming the first U.Va. running back since Alvin Pearman in 2004 to eclipse 1,000 yards. While surpassing Thomas Jones for the school career rushing yardage lead would require 1,525 yards by Parks, it’s not inconceivable he could hit 1,000 yards again. He should benefit from having a healthy Taquan Mizzell in the backfield. ELI HAROLD Jr. | 6-4 | 235 | DE As one of the emotional leaders on U.Va.’s defense, he’s a player everybody listens to when he speaks. His quickness off the edge is right up the alley of defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta, who never saw a blitz he didn’t like. Harold led the team last season with 8 1⁄2 sacks.

BOB DONNAN/USA TODAY SPORTS FILE PHOTO

Virginia safety Anthony Harris (8) led the nation with eight interceptions last year.

THE STORYLINES WHAT WILL BE ENOUGH? After enduring losing seasons in five of the last six seasons at U.Va., and three of London’s first four seasons as coach, it’s fair to wonder what kind of record U.Va. has to achieve to put him in position to return next season to coach the Cavaliers. Is five wins enough? Six wins and bowl eligibility? U.Va.’s players have mostly said London’s job status isn’t a distraction, but how long will that last? If U.Va. continues to spiral, it seems inevitable that increased discussion regarding London’s future would creep into the thoughts of players. So many questions, but answers may become apparent if U.Va. can’t quickly pull itself out of the doldrums. IS LAMBERT READY FOR THE GIG? When we last saw 6-foot-5 Greyson Lambert playing quarterback for U.Va., he was absorbing all the pleasantries that come from trying to make anything happen in the passing game against one of the nation’s top defenses when it’s in attack mode. While playing the entire fourth quarter in U.Va.’s 16-6 loss to Virginia Tech, he completed 4 of 16 passes for 54 yards and an interception, and was sacked three times. Lambert played in six previous games, but the experience against Tech essentially signaled the passing of U.Va.’s starting quarterback mantle from ineffective Hampton High graduate David Watford to Lambert. After the starting quarterback role has shifted among Michael Rocco, Phillip Sims and Watford in each of the last three seasons, Lambert will try to stabilize the position in offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild’s pro-style system, which generated just 19.9 points per game last season (109th in the nation out of123 Football Bowl Subdivision programs). He’ll be without Jake McGee, U.Va.’s leading pass-catcher last season, who transferred to Florida for his senior season after spring practices. HOW MUCH BETTER WILL U.VA.’S DEFENSE BE THIS SEASON? With eight starters back, plus the addition of uber-talented freshmen Andrew Brown at defensive tackle and Blanding, there’s really only one expectation for U.Va.’s defense. It had better be much improved from last season, or U.Va. is in a world of hurt. Last season, U.Va. was 65th in the nation in total defense (403.6 yards per game) and 98th in scoring defense (33.3 points per game). Of course, it didn’t help that even when U.Va. was successful at creating turnovers, the offense couldn’t capitalize (just 13 points off 21 turnovers). This season, U.Va. boasts an All-American strong safety in Harris, All-ACC candidates in Harold and linebacker Henry Coley (91 tackles last season), and eight of its top nine tacklers from last season are back. U.Va. will either be better defensively in Tenuta’s pressure-thequarterback-at-all-costs approach, or his head just might explode.

BY NORM WOOD

ACC CORNER As the carousel of programs shifting conferences finally comes to a stop, the ACC welcomes two new football members this year — one full-time and one on a part-time basis. Louisville is just two years removed from a Sugar Bowl win against Florida and eight years clear of an Orange Bowl win against Wake Forest. Notre Dame will play four ACC foes this season, but from 2015 on, it will play five ACC opponents per season.

2013 | 8-4

Last playoff berth | 2012 (Lost 49-35 to Georgia Southern in FCS quarterfinal)

15 ONLINE | Follow Dave Fairbank at Twitter.com/FairbankDP

THE COACH

THE SCHEDULE

BOBBY WILDER Sixth year (46-14, all with ODU) Growing up in rural Maine, young Bobby Wilder was often alone with his thoughts, a common occurrence for residents of the least populous state east of the Mississippi. Little was given to Wilder, who subsisted on snow and deer jerky for the first 15 years of his life. As he grew older, he began to question whether an abundance of timber and lobster adequately compensated for the harsh winters and crushing isolation of the lower 48’s Gateway to New Brunswick. Wilder took to football and football to him. He loved the competition, and the game provided the kind of human interaction and camaraderie he was permitted to see only on Thursdays on the family Magnavox. Wilder viewed football as a vessel and vowed to share its lessons with others. When he got the opportunity to begin his own program, he would be true to the spirit of native Algonquin tribes and follow their credo of “behanem papoose kickit wuss” — which translates roughly to “only women and children punt inside their opponents’ 40.” ODU now faces an even greater challenge: a move to the Football Bowl Subdivision. Well, when you’ve doused yourself in whale oil and set yourself on fire to get warm, Conference USA doesn’t seem so tough.

Aug. 30 | Hampton | 3:30 p.m. Opener is ODU’s only FCS opponent and one of the more, shall we say, manageable games on the schedule. HU comes off a 4-8 season and has a new coaching staff. Sept. 6 | at N.C. State | 6 p.m. Nowhere to go but up for the Wolfpack, 2-10 overall and winless in the ACC in Dave Doeren’s first season as coach. Sept. 13 | Eastern Michigan | 6 p.m. The Eagles were 2-10 last season and one of the worst teams in FBS, giving up 45 ppg. They return 17 starters under new coach Chris Chreighton, including 1,000-yard rusher Bronson Hill. Sept. 20 | at Rice | TBA Welcome to Conference USA. Owls were C-USA champs last year and picked to finish second in West this season. They return 12 starters. Sept. 26 | Middle Tenn. State | 8 p.m. Friday TV game features an MTSU team picked to finish second in the East. Oct. 4 | Marshall | TBA Three-game C-USA gauntlet concludes with unanimous preseason favorite. Thundering Herd have both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year — QB Rakeem Cato and D-lineman James Rouse. Oct. 11 | at UTEP | 8 p.m. Miners were 2-10 last season under firstyear coach Sean Kugler and picked to finish last in the West. Oct. 25 | at Western Kentucky | TBA The Hilltoppers, like ODU, are C-USA newbies. They finished third in their last year in the Sun Belt and have a new head coach in Jeff Brohm. Nov. 1 | at Vanderbilt | TBA Vandy trends upward after consecutive nine-win seasons. New head coach Derek Mason comes from Stanford and has 13 returning starters. Nov. 8 | Florida International | 3:30 p.m. The Panthers were 1-11 last season and were picked to finish last in the East. Nov. 22 | Louisiana Tech | 1 p.m. La. Tech went 4-8 last season in former ECU head coach Skip Holtz’s first year. Nov. 29 | at Florida Atlantic | Noon New coach Charlie Partridge, a Bret Bielema disciple at Wisconsin and Arkansas, has excellent defenders in LB Andrae Kir and DB D’Joun Smith.

THE STANDOUTS TAYLOR HEINICKE Sr. | 6-1 | 205 | QB ODU’s best and most visible player gets to test himself against a full helping of FBS competition in his final season. He completed 70 percent of his passes and threw for 4,022 yards and 33 TDs against a mixed-bag schedule. ODU’s offense won’t look significantly different, but Heinicke will have greater responsibilities and options to call plays and to keep the chains moving. ANTONIO VAUGHAN Sr. | 5-8 | 172 | WR Vaughan is one of Heinicke’s favorite targets, and might be more so since Larry Pinkard’s dismissal. Vaughan, a native of Ahoskie, N.C., was ODU’s No. 2 receiver last year, with 60 catches for 843 yards and nine touchdowns. Vaughan’s 167 career catches are second in program history, and his 2,248 receiving yards are third. ANDRE SIMMONS Sr. | 6-0 | 210 | Rover A captain and one of the key performers on a defense that must grow up in a hurry. The Lorton native played safety the past two years, but moves up to a hybrid linebacker/ defensive back position. The move gets more speed, athleticism and experience closer to the ball.

ROB OSTERMAIER/DAILY PRESS FILE PHOTO

Quarterback Taylor Heinicke threw for 4,022 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2013.

THE STORYLINES WELCOME TO FBS Yes, the Monarchs got a taste of Football Bowl Subdivision competition last season, but the five games were reasonably spaced. ODU went 1-4 in those games and was inconsistently competitive — after one quarter, the Monarchs were completely overmatched in the season finale at North Carolina. Following the opener versus Hampton, ODU gets 11 straight FBS opponents and a full Conference USA schedule. CUSA isn’t the Southeastern or the Pac-12, but the league returns four programs that won at least eight games, and10-win teams in Rice and Marshall. The Monarchs have only two recruiting classes of FBS-level players and face teams with fully stocked FBS rosters. ODU will match up well with several opponents. Others figure to expose the Monarchs, particularly a defense that has yet to prove itself.

DEFENSIVE QUESTIONS Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but ODU’s defense is a big question mark. For all of the productivity and buzz from QB Taylor Heinicke and the offense, the Monarchs’ success depends on stopping folks occasionally. Last year, ODU would have finished 11th in Conference USA in scoring defense (34.0 ppg) and 13th in total defense (452.2 ypg), against a schedule with seven FCS opponents. The Monarchs made progress under new coordinator Rich Nagy and line coach Jeff Comissiong, but came unraveled late in the season due to the accumulated weight of inexperience and injury. Defense was the primary focus in recruiting and the offseason, but there are no quick fixes. ODU has more depth than ever, particularly at linebacker, but experience again may be an issue. As we’ve mentioned in the past, ODU’s hurry-up offense stresses a defense more than traditional huddle schemes. RETOOLED OFFENSIVE LINE QB Taylor Heinicke’s health and well-being, as well as ODU’s ability to move up and down the field, hinges on an offensive line that looks very different than the previous couple of seasons. ODU replaces three starters: D.J. Morrell, Jack Lowney and David Born. Center Josh Mann and Connor Mewbourne are the only returning regular starters, and both missed spring practice with injuries, along with tackle Ely Anderson. All three were full-go during preseason camp and are expected to be in the starting lineup for the opener versus Hampton. Truth be told, injuries forced the Monarchs to adjust and develop some depth along the O-line last season. Born missed the final six games with injuries to both knees. Mann missed the final two games with a knee injury, and starting guard Troy Butler slid over to center. Sophomore Tyler Fisher, the expected starter at left guard, started the final six games last season as a true freshman. Mewbourne started at both guard and tackle. Linemen don’t have to hold blocks as long in ODU’s quick-pass scheme, but how well the unit jells will dictate the effectiveness of the run game and how often Heinicke can take shots downfield.

BY DAVE FAIRBANK

C-USA CORNER The conference finally has some stability in membership, with 13 teams competing this season and Charlotte’s fledgling program coming aboard next year. East Carolina, Tulsa and Tulane are gone, while ODU and Western Kentucky are newcomers. Marshall is the overwhelming favorite to win the East and the league. C-USA has six bowl tie-ins for this season and arrangements with 10 bowls.

Sunday, August 24, 2014 DAILY PRESS

COLLEGE OLD DOMINION

16 DAILY PRESS Sunday, August 24, 2014

COLLEGE WILLIAM AND MARY 2013 | 7-5, 4-4 CAA

Last playoff berth | 2010 (Lost 31-15 to Georgia Southern in FCS second round)

ONLINE | Follow Dave Fairbank at Twitter.com/FairbankDP

THE COACH

THE SCHEDULE

JIMMYE LAYCOCK 35th year (222-165-2, all with W&M) Jimmye Laycock has reached the age and station in life that he is asked routinely by recruits and their parents if he will be around for them and their sons’ entire college careers. Here’s what he tells them: When he became head coach at his alma mater 35 years ago, it took four years for the program to post a winning record. As coach of a struggling program, he answered questions from recruits about whether he would remain. Once the program began to win regularly, he became an attractive candidate for other jobs. Because other schools sought his services, he was asked by recruits whether he would remain. Now, at age 66, as the phone no longer rings with job offers, he is asked by recruits whether he will remain. Can’t get away from it, Laycock jokes. Laycock says as long as he’s healthy, he’s going nowhere any time soon. Could he see himself at William and Mary another 5-10 years? Sure. He built a successful program that competes at the highest level of FCS. Laycock even embraced the uncommon staff turnover, as he entertains new ideas and shepherds the newcomers into William and Mary culture. Now, if only a quarterback would emerge, to make the ride a little more pleasurable.

Aug. 30 | at Virginia Tech | 4 p.m. The Tribe’s annual FBS game matches Laycock against longtime friend and golfing buddy Frank Beamer. OC Kevin Rogers spent four years in Blacksburg as QB coach from 2002-05. Sept. 6 | at Hampton | 6 p.m. W&M handled Hampton last year 31-7 in the first meeting of their current home-andhome series. Sept. 13 | Norfolk State | 7 p.m. W&M is 4-0 versus the Spartans. The Tribe’s challenges include All-American LB Lynden Trail and a retooled NSU offense under former Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley. Sept. 20 | Lafayette | 7 p.m. The Leopards return 11 starters from a team that finished 5-7 and lost 34-6 to W&M in Easton, Pa., but won the Patriot League and an FCS playoff berth. Sept. 27 | at Stony Brook | 6 p.m. The Seawolves (5-6, 3-5) return 12 starters from their first year in the CAA, including 1,000-yard rusher Marcus Coker. Oct. 11 | at New Hampshire | 3:30 p.m. The Wildcats were picked to win the CAA and they aim for an 11th consecutive FCS playoff berth. Oct. 18 | Villanova | 3:30 p.m. The CAA’s two longest-tenured coaches match wits — Laycock and Nova’s Andy Talley, entering his 30th year. Oct. 25 | Delaware | 12:30 p.m. The Blue Hens lost their final three games and limped home at 7-5. Nov. 1 | at James Madison | 3:30 p.m. There’s a new regime in Harrisonburg under Everett Withers, but expect a similar kind of team: quick and athletic defense, runoriented offense. Nov. 8 | Elon | 3:30 p.m. The CAA’s newest program has a new head coach in Rich Skrosky, an assistant there when the Phoenix made noise in the Southern Conference. Nov. 15 | at Towson | 3 p.m. Much to replace from last year’s FCS finalist. Several key returnees, notably S Donnell Lewis (Woodside High). Nov. 22 | Richmond | 7:30 p.m. If preseason predictions hold, the annual rivalry game figures to have postseason implications. The Spiders return 15 starters.

THE STANDOUTS MIKE REILLY Sr. | 6-4 | 265 | DE The preseason CAA Defensive Player of the Year after he led the league in sacks (11.5) and was fourth nationally in 2013. He registered 47 tackles, including 13 for loss. Had two sacks and forced a fumble in the season opener at West Virginia. Also had two sacks against Delaware and Penn. One of the ringleaders of what should be a very good defensive line. TRE McBRIDE Sr. | 6-2 | 205 | WR W&M’s primary offensive and special teams playmaker. He was a first-team all-conference wide receiver despite playing for one of the league’s least productive passing games. He led the Tribe with 63 catches for 801 yards and five touchdowns. He was CAA Special Teams Player of the Year, averaging 27.1 yards per kickoff return. The Georgia native compiled 1,533 allpurpose yards, which ranked third in the league (127.5 ypg). LUKE RHODES Jr. | 6-2 | 242 | LB Rhodes is half of the Tribe’s All-CAA LB tandem with playmaker Airek Green. Straight out of central casting, he has good size, athletic ability and instincts. He was second on the team in tackles last season (98). He had a career-high13 tackles in a win versus New Hampshire,12 in a loss at Maine.

JONATHON GRUENKE/DAILY PRESS FILE PHOTO

Wide receiver Tre McBride led the Tribe with 63 catches for 801 yards and five TDs.

THE STORYLINES QUESTIONS AT QUARTERBACK For the third consecutive season, the Tribe has major questions at the game’s most visible and important position. For veteran W&M watchers, this is jarring. Whatever deficiencies the team had, there always seemed to be a quarterback: Murphy, Yagiello, Lambiotte, Hakel, Knight, Cook, Corley, Campbell, Phillips. The past couple of seasons, W&M’s passing game has finished near the bottom of the conference. None of the candidates this season has taken more than a few game snaps. The good news is that whoever emerges won’t have to win games by himself. The Tribe has a good-to-excellent group of skill-position players, led by WR Tre McBride and RB Mikal Abdul-Saboor. The defense again should be top-shelf, so expect Laycock and OC Kevin Rogers to take shots when they can, but also to play field position.

LEANING ON DEFENSE As peculiar as W&M’s quarterback struggles is the emergence of the Tribe’s defense in recent years. Not that the program ignored defense. Some of its playoff teams in the early and mid-1990s had very good groups and individuals. But the 2009 unit was national champ-caliber and simply smothered people. A handful of defenders made NFL rosters, among them Sean Lissemore, Adrian Tracy, Derek Cox and B.W. Webb. Last year’s defense was second nationally in scoring and high in the FCS rankings in a handful of categories. The Tribe returns eight starters off of that group, including all-conference DE Mike Reilly, LBs Luke Rhodes and Airek Green and heavy-hitting safety Ivan Tagoe. What they might need are more dynamic plays, specifically turnovers. The Tribe was plus-5 in turnover margin last season — a decent number, but if they can goose it a bit, it could aid the offense immeasurably. PLAYOFFS W&M has made the FCS/I-AA playoffs nine times since1986. Its longest postseason drought in that span was four years (1997-2000 and 2005-08). It’s been since 2010 that W&M last made the playoffs. The Tribe likely would have made at least three other playoff appearances but for its insistence on playing FBS opponents. Last season, had the Tribe played a more manageable opponent than West Virginia and won, it would have finished 8-4 and almost assuredly gotten in. In 2008, a competitive loss to N.C. State meant the Tribe finished 7-4 rather than 8-3. Don’t expect a change in scheduling philosophy. Laycock uses FBS games as a recruiting tool and says they’re the ones that players often remember. So while the goal is still conference titles and postseason, the program believes it can test itself against FBS opponents and still reach the playoffs.

BY DAVE FAIRBANK

CAA CORNER The CAA regained its postseason mojo last year, with New Hampshire and Towson in the FCS semifinals and Towson in the championship game. Since 2008, the league is 32-22 in the playoffs. New Hampshire’s 10 consecutive playoff appearances comprise the nation’s longest active streak. The Wildcats were picked to win the league. The CAA has had no fewer than three playoff teams for the past eight years.

Last playoff berth | 2006 (Lost 41-38 to New Hampshire in FCS first round)

ONLINE | Follow Dave Fairbank at Twitter.com/FairbankDP

THE COACH

THE SCHEDULE

CONNELL MAYNOR First year at HU, fifth year overall (45-6 in four years at Winston-Salem State) There is some question whether Connell Maynor exited the womb already in possession of the confidence he exhibits, or if it developed in his formative years. Growing up in Fayetteville, N.C., he bounced between school, sports and nearby Fort Bragg, where he sometimes navigated Camp Mackall’s infamous “Nasty Nick” obstacle course for kicks following regular workouts. Maynor has won at every level at which he competed: high school, college, the Arena League, even the movie set, where he beat out a couple dozen candidates to be Jamie Foxx’s football stand-in on the set of “Any Given Sunday.” Honest, you can look it up. Maynor will compete at football, golf, racquetball, mowing the lawn and cleaning gutters. When he finally got the opportunity to be the Big Whistle, at Winston-Salem State, he told everyone he was going to win big. Then he went out and did it. He helped resuscitate the entire athletic department at WSSU. He is being asked to do the same thing to HU’s football program, once the flagship of the MEAC. He will have more resources at Hampton, though he doesn’t ask for the moon. All he wants is enough to give him a chance. He’ll do the rest.

Aug. 30 | at Old Dominion | 3:30 p.m. Tough opener against the FBS Monarchs at sold-out Ballard Stadium. Pirates’ defense must deal with QB Taylor Heinicke and an ODU defense that has talent, but is inexperienced. Sept. 6 | William and Mary | 6 p.m. Big challenge for the Pirates’ new offense, facing what appears to be one of FCS’ better defenses. Tribe smothered HU 31-7 last year. Sept. 13 | at Richmond | 6 p.m. Last of the Pirates’ three-game state gauntlet. Spiders were picked to finish third in the CAA and have nine starters returning on offense, led by QB Michael Strauss. Sept. 20 | Miles College | 6 p.m. A relative breather. Miles is a Division II program located in Fairfield, Ala., and was picked to finish second in the SIAC West Division. Sept. 27 | South Carolina State | 6 p.m. The Bulldogs were picked to finish second in the MEAC and return 14 starters from an FCS playoff team. The defensive line might be the league’s best. Oct. 9 | at North Carolina A&T | 7:30 p.m. Thursday nighter. The Aggies recorded back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 13 years, but HU ambushed them last year 31-26 after its midseason offensive overhaul. Oct. 18 | Norfolk State | 1 p.m. The Spartans hope their offseason offensive coaching changes pay dividends. HU won last year’s Battle of the Bay behind QB Bryan Bailey, RB Jorrian Washington and a defense that had three INTs. Oct. 25 | at Delaware State | 2 p.m. The Hornets have questions at QB and return 12 starters from a 5-6 team. Nov. 1 | Morgan State | 2 p.m. New head coach Lee Hull returns 17 starters from a team that went 5-7 overall. Nov. 8 | at N.C. Central | 2 p.m. New head coach Jerry Mack (age 33) is the third-youngest in Division I. Nov. 13 | Bethune-Cookman | 7:30 p.m. Thursday nighter. Two-time defending MEAC champs return only eight starters, but were picked to win the league. Nov. 22 | at Howard | 1 p.m. The Bison, picked fourth, have the league’s best QB in preseason Player of the Year Greg McGhee, who threw for 2,379 yards and rushed for 896 yards.

THE STANDOUTS MILES GROOMS Jr. | 6-4 | 244 | DE Grooms must be accounted for by opposing offenses. Quick, agile and good off the edge. An All-MEAC defensive end as a sophomore, he figures to move around in new coordinator Kenny Phillips’ 3-4 alignment. Led the Pirates with 9.5 sacks and was sixth in tackles (57), with 34 solo stops. JORRIAN WASHINGTON Sr. | 5-9 | 180 | WR Perhaps the Pirates’ most versatile playmaker. Generously listed at 5-9, 180, he is quick, possesses good speed and operates well in space. He averaged 114.2 yards per game last season in all-purpose yardage. Rushed for 699 yards, with a 6.1 average, caught 32 passes for 225 yards and had 447 yards in kick returns. Best in space, but can run effectively between the tackles, because he’s hard to find and can hit seams quickly. JOSHUA THORNE Jr. | 6-1 | 220 | LB Had a breakout sophomore year, finishing third in total tackles (115) with 65 solo stops, playing alongside Delbert Tyler. Figures to be an outside linebacker in Pirates’ new 3-4 scheme. Good from the start, with 10 tackles in season opener and first start versus Western Illinois. Two of his four sacks came in the win versus Norfolk State.

ROB OSTERMAIER/DAILY PRESS FILE PHOTO

Hampton defensive end Miles Grooms led the Pirates with 9.5 sacks last season.

THE STORYLINES QUARTERBACK COMPETITION Jaylian “J.J.” Williamson and Bryan Bailey have some experience, though neither was a clear-cut choice to be the opening-day starter. Bailey was the more productive of the two last season, when he was tabbed the starter following the Pirates’ midseason makeover. Both started at square one in Maynor’s system. For Maynor to achieve the balance he wants, he needs a dependable quarterback — not necessarily a star, but one who makes good decisions, avoids bad plays, completes 60 percent of his passes, and distributes to the playmakers. Whoever emerges has ample options, among them Jorrian Washington, WRs Twarn Mixson and Leon Shorter, and 240-pound fullback Marcus Hampton. Maynor, a former quarterback himself, must find and develop the right guy.

STOPPING PEOPLE Hampton’s midseason offensive overhaul drew much attention in the eventual 4-8 bog, but defensive shortcomings were at least as much to blame for the record and subsequent purge. The Pirates were near the bottom of the MEAC in scoring defense (30.7 ppg), total defense (401.7 ypg) and, particularly, rushing defense (232.6 ypg). Five opponents rushed for at least 248 yards, lowlighted by Coastal Carolina’s 382 and Bethune-Cookman’s absurd 475. New coordinator Kenny Phillips ditched the Pirates’ 4-3 scheme for a 3-4, and his imagination and personnel will be tested. The aim is to get more speed closer to the ball, but to avoid linebackers getting freight-trained and chipped by linemen, tight ends and fullbacks in the running game. The Pirates don’t have a great deal of depth along the interior line, something that will require another recruiting class or two to remedy. NEXT LEVEL Maynor was wildly successful out of the gate in his first head-coaching gig. But Division I — even at the FCS level — is an entirely different animal than Division II. More restrictions, more scrutiny, more competition. Maynor got a bit of a jump-start at Winston-Salem State because he had a core of players that were recruited for the program’s aborted move up to Division I. They succeeded nicely at the D-II level. He supplemented prep recruiting over his four years at WSSU with under-the-radar prospects and transfers. At Hampton, he must recruit Division I prospects in a state chock full of D-I programs, at both the FBS and FCS levels. Certainly, he and his staff can supplement the roster with a sprinkling of junior-college players and FBS transfers. But the core has to be prep recruits and development. Maynor’s patience figures to be tested at Hampton more than it ever was at WSSU.

BY DAVE FAIRBANK

MEAC CORNER The MEAC landed multiple teams in the FCS playoff field last season for the first time since 2010 and just the third time since 2000. The conference’s last playoff win was 1999, but with the expanded playoff field and more favorable matchups, it’s only a matter of time before it snaps the present losing streak.

Sunday, August 24, 2014 DAILY PRESS

2013 | 4-8, 4-4 MEAC

COLLEGE HAMPTON UNIVERSITY

18 DAILY PRESS Sunday, August 24, 2014

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Last playoff berth | 2012 (Lost 72-14 to Mount Union in Division III first round)

ONLINE | Follow Dave Fairbank at Twitter.com/FairbankDP

THE COACH

THE SCHEDULE

MATT KELCHNER CNU missed the playoffs for just the fourth time in the program’s 13-year history. But last season may have been Kelchner’s best coaching job. He guided the team through a situation that could have sent him and the entire operation into a tailspin. Quarterbacks coach and play-caller Ed Davis passed away in early October, following a brief battle with cancer. CNU’s two losses came after he was diagnosed and the week he passed away. No one on the staff will use Davis’ death as an excuse, but there’s no question that it affected everyone in the program. Kelchner had to balance concern and grief with the need for practice and a semblance of routine. There’s nothing in the coaching manual about dealing with death at midseason. Kelchner followed his heart, his gut and his experience. There were times around the football offices that Kelchner looked spent, as the accumulated burden wore on him. But CNU regrouped and won its final four games, a testament to the resilience and determination of players and staff. Years from now, the 2013 season will be seen as one in which the Captains didn’t make the playoffs. Those who were there will know better. The guy in charge never stood taller.

Sept. 6 | Salisbury | 6 p.m. The Sea Gulls’ run-heavy, triple-option offense is always tough to defend, though CNU did a good job last year in a 17-10 win. Sept. 13 | at Hampden-Sydney | 1 p.m. Traditionally one of the best teams in the ODAC. The Captains’ primary task is to defend the Tigers’ All-American pitch-andcatch combination of Nash Nance and Holton Walker. Sept. 18 | at N.C. Wesleyan | 6 p.m. Thursday night affair. Wesleyan was picked to finish seventh after a 2-8 record in Bishops coach Jeff Filkvoski’s first season. Sept. 27 | Methodist | 7 p.m. The Monarchs went 8-2 last year in C.J. Goss’ first season as head coach. QB Max Reber, the USA South’s 2013 Offensive Player of the Year, leads a wide-open offense that averaged 43.7 points per game. Oct. 4 | Ferrum | 7 p.m. Ferrum was picked sixth after a substandard 2-8 record last year. QB Tim Reynolds leads the offense, and former all-conference LB Jatavious Adams and DB Tarrell Owens are among seven returning starters. Oct. 11 | at Huntingdon | 2 p.m. The Hawks made a splash in their first year in the conference, going 7-3 and leading D-III with 586 yards of offense per game. Oct. 18 | at Averett | 6 p.m. A fresh start for the Cougars under new coach Cleive Adams, the former defensive coordinator at Ferrum. Picked ninth in preseason, they’ll play at a new facility, Daly Field, with synthetic turf and lights. Oct. 25 | Greensboro | 7 p.m. The Pride lost six of its last seven games and finished 2-8. Senior QB Ryan Throndset has thrown for 6,770 yards and 49 TD in three seasons. CNU won last year 42-13. Nov. 1 | LaGrange | 7 p.m. Matt Mumme, son of passing guru Hal Mumme, is full-time head coach after being the interim coach the final three games. QB Graham Craig and WR Marsalis Jackson return from Division III’s top passing attack (357.6 ypg). Nov. 8 | at Maryville | 1 p.m. Picked to win the league after a co-title and NCAA appearance last year. Scots return a veteran QB and two all-conference linemen on offense, as well as 10 of top 14 tacklers.

THE STANDOUTS SHAUN COPENING Sr. | 6-1 | 310 | DL Preseason All-American and the anchor of what should be an excellent defensive line. Quick for his size. Able to occupy, and shed, multiple blockers. Nearly always doubleteamed, which often creates opportunities for teammates. Finished last season with 39 tackles and 3.5 sacks. MARCUS MORRAST Sr. | 5-10 | 170 | QB Entering his second full season as starter and third season at the position. Good leader who operates offense well. Completed 81 of 155 passes for 1,206 yards and seven TDs, with three interceptions. CNU’s second-leading rusher last season with 428 yards and a 4.7-yard average, with six TDs. If he can goose his completion percentage several points, it would benefit the offense immensely. RUDY RUDOLPH Sr. | 6-2 | 175 | WR Deep threat with the ability to stretch secondaries. One of every four receptions in his career has gone for a touchdown (22 of 87). Averaged 26.6 yards per catch last season and scored eight touchdowns. Averages 21.6 yards per reception for his career. Has 1,881 yards receiving in three seasons. Will surpass Nathan Davis (1,964) for No. 1 in CNU career receiving yards.

DAILY PRESS FILE PHOTO

Quarterback Marcus Morrast threw for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns in 2013.

THE STORYLINES LAST LAP The Captains hope to conclude their final season in the USA South conference with familiar results: a trip to the playoffs. CNU’s 8-2 record last year matched its best ever regular-season mark. Unfortunately for the Captains, they lost the wrong two — a pair of conference games that kept them out of postseason. The league office did them no favors on their way out the door. They play 10 consecutive weeks, beginning with the Sept. 6 opener; their bye week comes at the end of the season. And they take two of the conference’s longest road trips in the final month — multi-day trips to Huntingdon in Montgomery, Ala., and Maryville, Tenn. Bon voyage. SHUTDOWN DEFENSE The Captains return eight starters from one of the best defenses, statistically, in program history. Last season, CNU limited opponents to a program-low 127 points and fewer than 100 yards per game rushing (99.7). The Captains were plus-14 in turnover margin, coming up with nearly 2.5 turnovers per game. One of the highlights was five interceptions of Hampden-Sydney All-American QB Nash Nance in a 17-7 win. CNU will miss all-conference Evan Moog, Tyler Portell and A.J. Schmetzer at LB, but may be more athletic at the position with Mic Edwards, former Old Dominion player James Faircloth and promising soph Allen Hayes. Copening anchors a line that returns mostly intact and that allows the linebackers to make plays. Cornerback Cameron Barlow (five interceptions) leads the secondary. OFFENSIVE BOOST CNU returns nine starters on offense, including Morrast and Rudolph, Storm Parker at running back, and the entire line. The operation should benefit from new assistant coach Mike Faragalli, who will coach quarterbacks and call plays. Faragalli has 30 years at the college and pro level (Canadian Football League). He coached Richmond’s FCS national championship team and later at Virginia. He assisted last year at D-II Virginia State, where head coach Latrell Scott said he was one of the best offensive coaches with whom he’d worked. A spring and preseason with Faragalli should bolster the offense, particularly a passing attack that averaged just 160 yards per game.

BY DAVE FAIRBANK

USA SOUTH CORNER The increasingly far-flung conference appears to be a two- or perhaps three-tiered group. Defending co-champ Maryville, CNU and Methodist all received first-place votes in the preseason poll, befitting last year’s records and returning starters. MaryvilleCNU figures to have title implications the next-to-last week of the regular season. Maryville appears to have the toughest closing stretch (CNU and Methodist).

Sunday, August 24, 2014 DAILY PRESS

2013 | 8-2, 5-2 USA South

COLLEGE CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT

20 DAILY PRESS Sunday, August 24, 2014

COLLEGE AREA SCHOOLS

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APPRENTICE

EAST CAROLINA

JAMES MADISON

LIBERTY

THE VITALS Last season | 1-9 overall, 0-4 United States Collegiate Athletic Association. Last playoff bid | None. THE SCHEDULE Sept. 6 | U.S. Merchant Marine Ac. | 1 p.m. Sept. 13 | Bluefield | 1 Sept. 20 | at Catholic (D.C.) | 1 Sept. 27 | Bridgewater | 1 Oct. 4 | at Alfred State (N.Y.) | noon Oct. 11 | at Coppin State | 1 Oct. 25 | at Edward Waters (Fla.) | 3 Nov. 1 | Alfred State | noon Nov. 8 | Webber International (Fla.) | 1 Nov. 15 | at Ave Maria (Fla.) | 1 THE STORYLINES New coach | After one season as the Builders’ linebackers coach, Paul White takes over as the head man. He’s led programs at Mathews and Gloucester high schools and has hired four assistants with deep local ties. Offensive line coach Jaymes Brooks is a former Denbigh High and Virginia Tech lineman; offensive coordinator Zbig Kepa was a longtime assistant at William and Mary; linebackers coach Tracy Harrod is a former Denbigh and Bruton head coach, and defensive coordinator Marc Bacote is a Hampton High graduate and former Old Dominion assistant. Run game | Rare is the successful team that struggles to run the ball and stop the run. Last season, opponents outrushed Apprentice by an average of 250.8 yards to 86.3. The Builders averaged 2.3 yards per carry, their opponents 4.9. Turnover margin | Similarly, Apprentice needs to dramatically reduce its giveaways. The Builders threw 21 interceptions and lost 13 fumbles last season — 3.4 turnovers per game. Conversely, they forced only 17 turnovers. THE STANDOUTS Erol Carter | Sr. | 6-1 | 240 | DE The Builders’ top returning tackler, with 68 overall last season. Led the team with 17 stops behind the line of scrimmage, including four sacks, and was voted secondteam All-USCAA. Blake Penix | Sr. | 6-2 | 185 | P Averaged 38.2 yards per punt and, most impressive, placed a dozen of his 57 kicks inside the opponents’ 20. Named firstteam All-USCAA. Teyquan Mayfield | Sr. | 5-8 | 170 | DB Shared the team lead in interceptions with two. Also broke up seven passes and blocked a kick. Thirty of his 40 tackles were unassisted. THE COACH Paul White The 2011 Tidewater District and Region A, Division 1 Coach of the Year at Mathews, White enters his first season leading the Builders. He worked as an assistant at his alma mater, Ferrum College, and Fork Union Military Academy. White has a challenge: Apprentice is 10-49 combined the last six seasons.

THE VITALS Last season | 10-3, 6-2 Conference USA. Last bowl | 2013 (Defeated Ohio in Beef ‘O’ Brady’s). THE SCHEDULE Aug. 30 | North Carolina Central | 8 p.m. Sept. 6 | at South Carolina | 7 Sept. 13 | at Virginia Tech | noon Sept. 20 | North Carolina | TBA Oct. 4 | SMU | TBA Oct. 11 | at South Florida | TBA Oct. 23 | Connecticut | 7 Nov. 1 | at Temple | TBA Nov. 13 | at Cincinnati | 7 Nov. 22 | Tulane | TBA Nov. 28 | at Tulsa | TBA Dec. 4 | Central Florida | 7:30 THE STORYLINES Conference shift | The Pirates move from Conference USA, where they would have been Old Dominion’s natural geographic rival, to the American Athletic, a.k.a., the old Big East. ECU will play eight of its 10 new league rivals, the exceptions Houston and Memphis, both of which left C-USA as well. Defensive progress | ECU improved dramatically last season, allowing 24.8 points per game, 6.8 fewer than in 2012. But with only three starters back, will the uptick continue? Running game | Vintavious Cooper rushed for 1,193 yards and 13 scores last season as a senior, easing the burdens on record-setting quarterback Shane Carden. Can Breon Allen (311 yards) or Chris Hairston (186) do the same? THE STANDOUTS Shane Carden | Sr. | 6-2 | 221 | QB Ranked second nationally in completion percentage last season at 70.5 and threw 33 touchdown passes, with only 10 interceptions. Has run a spread offense since high school, when he played for Texas Tech alum B.J. Symons. Justin Hardy | Sr. | 6-0 | 188 | WR The Bowl Subdivision’s active leader in career catches (266) and receiving yards (3,047), Hardy is 83 receptions shy of the FBS career record of 349 set by Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles from 2008-11. Hardy caught 114 passes last year for 1,284 yards. Zeke Bigger | Jr. | 6-2 | 228 | ILB ECU’s top returning tackler, he was third on the team last season with 77 stops, 4.5 for loss. Honorable mention All-Conference USA in 2013. THE COACH Ruffin McNeill Entering a fifth season leading his alma mater, McNeill is 29-22. He started at defensive back for the Pirates and coached that side of the ball as an assistant, but his calling card at ECU has been a productive spread offense that last season ranked eighth nationally in scoring at 40.2 points per game and 11th in passing at 328.1 yards per game.

THE VITALS Last season | 6-6, 3-5 Colonial Athletic Association. Last playoff bid | 2011 (won at Eastern Kentucky, lost at North Dakota State). THE SCHEDULE Aug. 30 | at Maryland | 3:30 p.m. Sept. 6 | at Lehigh | 12:30 Sept. 13 | Saint Francis (Pa.) | 4 Sept. 20 | at Villanova | 12:30 Sept. 27 | Delaware | 4 Oct. 4 | at Albany | 6 Oct. 11 | Towson | 12:30 Oct. 25 | at Charlotte | noon Nov. 1 | William and Mary | 3:30 Nov. 8 | at Stony Brook | 1 Nov. 15 | at Richmond | 12:30 Nov. 22 | Elon | noon THE STORYLINES Regime change | JMU’s first non-winning season since 2003 prompted the dismissal of Coach Mickey Matthews after 14 years, a tenure that included the 2004 FCS national title. Everett Withers arrives in Harrisonburg after two seasons under Urban Meyer at Ohio State, where he was assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator. Quarterback transition | Georgia Tech transfer Vad Lee transferred to JMU after two seasons running Paul Johnson’s tripleoption. He’s replacing Michael Birdsong and will have to adjust to Withers’ pro-style/ spread formations. Lee completed only 45.6 percent of his passes last season. Defensive formation | Withers and coordinator Brandon Staley, who worked last season at Division III John Carroll in Ohio, are switching the Dukes from a 4-3 base to 3-4. They have an experienced group, though, with eight returning starters, headlined by safety Dean Marlowe, end Brandon Lee and linebacker Gage Steele. THE STANDOUTS Daniel Brown | Sr. | 6-5 | 220 | WR Isle of Wight Academy graduate led the Dukes with 42 receptions, 665 yards and eight touchdown catches in 2013. His percatch average of 15.8 yards showed ability to stretch defenses. Dean Marlowe | Sr. | 6-2 | 205 | FS The lone JMU player voted to the preseason All-CAA team, he’s earned postseason all-conference in each of his first three years, including the first team in 2012. Started as a true freshman in 2011. Gage Steele | So. | 6-1 |230 | LB Was JMU’s No. 2 tackler as a redshirt freshman with 106, 43 solo, five for loss. Also forced and recovered three fumbles. THE COACH Everett Withers JMU is Withers’ first full-time head-coaching gig. He served as the interim big whistle at North Carolina in 2011 after the unusual July firing of Butch Davis and guided the Tar Heels to a 7-6 season and Independence Bowl bid. His assistant-coaching stops include Ohio State, UNC, Texas, Minnesota, Louisville and the Tennessee Titans.

THE VITALS Last season | 8-4 overall, 4-1 Big South Conference. Last playoff bid | None. THE SCHEDULE Aug. 30 | at North Carolina | 6 p.m. Sept. 6 | at Norfolk State | 4 Sept. 13 | Brevard (N.C.) | 7 Sept. 20 | Bryant (R.I.) | 7 Sept. 27 | at Indiana State | 3 Oct. 4 | Richmond | 7 Oct. 11 | at Appalachian State | TBA Oct. 25 | Gardner-Webb | 3:30 Nov. 1 | at Presbyterian | 2 Nov. 8 | Monmouth (N.J.) | 3:30 Nov. 15 | Charleston Southern | 3:30 Nov. 22 | at Coastal Carolina | 1 THE STORYLINES Not quite | The Flames’ four setbacks last year, to Kent State, Richmond, Old Dominion and Coastal Carolina, were by a combined 23 points. Reverse any of those results, and chances are they would have earned their first Championship Subdivision playoff bid. Conference quest | Liberty has long harbored, and made no attempt to mask, Bowl Subdivision ambitions. But none of the viable options — the Sun Belt, Mid-American and Conference USA — has extended an invitation. In a TV-driven world, a Lynchburg address doesn’t help. Nor does lack of playoff history. Replacing Rice | Desmond Rice rushed for 967 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2013 as a junior but sustained a season-ending injury during spring practice. D.J. Abnar (411 yards, six scores, 5.7 yards-per-carry last year) is a candidate to fill the void. THE STANDOUTS Josh Woodrum | Jr. | 6-3 | 210 | QB From nearby Roanoke, he threw for a Big South-best 2,581 yards, plus 19 touchdowns, as a sophomore, with only seven interceptions in 308 passes (one per 44 attempts). Also started as a redshirt freshman and was the conference’s Rookie of the Year. Darrin Peterson | Jr. | 6-2 | 190 | WR First-team All-Big South in 2013 with 58 receptions for 825 yards and seven touchdowns. Was streaky, shoehorning more than half of his yards, 459, into four games. Had career-high 124 in win vs. Monmouth. Jacob Hagen | Sr. | 6-3 | 205 | S Intercepted a Big South-best six passes last year to earn third-team All-America and first-team all-league honors. Five picks came in conference games. Hagan’s 61 tackles were one off LB Nick Sigmon’s team lead. Sigmon also returns in 2014. THE COACH Turner Gill A 1983 Heisman finalist as Nebraska’s quarterback, Gill has guided Liberty to shared Big South titles in each of his first two seasons. He’s 14-9 with the Flames, 39-58 overall, having led Kansas for two seasons, Buffalo for four.

By David Teel

ONLINE | Follow our college football coverage at dailypress.com/sports, like us at Facebook.com/DPSports and follow us at Twitter.com/DP_Sports

NORFOLK STATE

RICHMOND

VMI

THE VITALS Last season | 3-9 overall, 3-5 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Last playoff bid | 2011 (lost at Old Dominion). THE SCHEDULE Aug. 30 | at Maine | 6 p.m. Sept. 6 | Liberty | 4 Sept. 13 | at William and Mary | 7 Sept. 20 | at Buffalo | TBA Sept. 27 | Morgan State | 4 Oct. 4 | at Savannah State | 2 Oct. 11 | Delaware State | 2 Oct. 18 | at Hampton | 1 Nov. 1 | at Florida A&M | 3 Nov. 6 | Bethune-Cookman | 7:30 Nov. 15 | North Carolina Central | 2 Nov. 22 | at South Carolina State | 1:30 THE STORYLINES Coordinator change | Head coach Pete Adrian dismissed offensive coordinator Howard Feggins after a 2013 season in which the Spartans ranked 118th among 122 Championship Subdivision programs in scoring at 14.0 points per game. Suffolk native and former Morgan State big whistle Donald Hill-Eley replaced Feggins. Quarterback instability | Hill-Eley’s offensive coordinator at Morgan last year, Greg Gregory, is Norfolk State’s new quarterbacks coach. Tyler Clark, one of the four to start at the position in 2013, headed the depth chart entering preseason drills. He passed for 937 yards and seven touchdowns, with six interceptions. Voids to fill | The Spartans must replace running back Rolandan Finch (1,113 yards) and tight end Joseph Hawkins (39 receptions, 438 yards), both of whom made first-team All-MEAC as seniors in 2013. Brendon Riddick and James Lynch are the leading candidates. THE STANDOUTS Lynden Trail | Sr. | 6-7 | 260 | LB A finalist last year for the Buck Buchanan Award as the FCS’ top defensive player, this University of Florida transfer had 94 tackles, 8.5 sacks, two interceptions, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks. Darrin Marrow | Sr. | 6-1 | 195 | CB Moved from safety prior to last season and made first-team all-conference with MEAC-best five interceptions. Also broke up 11 passes and had 27 solo tackles. Deon King | Jr. | 6-1 | 220 | LB His 18.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in his first season as a starter led the Spartans and ranked second in the MEAC. Played end and outside linebacker in Norfolk State’s 3-4 alignment, making second-team All-MEAC. THE COACH Pete Adrian Entering his 10th season with the Spartans, Adrian is 50-52, but 7-16 the past two years after four winning records in five seasons — a stretch that included the 2011 MEAC championship, the program’s first. Including seven years at Division II Bloomsburg (Pa.), Adrian is 86-89-1.

THE VITALS Last season | 6-6, 4-4 Colonial Athletic Association. Last playoff bid | 2009 (defeated Elon, lost to Appalachian State). THE SCHEDULE Aug. 30 | Morehead State | 6 p.m. Sept. 6 | at Virginia | 3:30 Sept. 13 | Hampton | 6 Sept. 20 | New Hampshire | 4 Oct. 4 | at Liberty | 7 Oct. 11 | at Albany | 3:30 Oct. 18 | Rhode Island | 3:30 Oct. 25 | at Elon | 3 Nov. 1 | Villanova | 12:30 Nov. 8 | at Maine | 12:30 Nov. 15 | James Madison | 12:30 Nov. 22 | at William and Mary | 7:30 THE STORYLINES Playoff return | With nine starters back on offense and six on defense, the Spiders appear poised to reach the Championship Subdivision playoffs for the first time since 2009. Richmond made the postseason four times in five years from 2005-09, winning the national title in 2008. Cavalier quarterbacks | Two quarterbacks, one the head coach’s nephew, who transferred from the same school? The school you face in Week 2? You couldn’t dream up a more enticing subplot than former Virginia teammates Michael Strauss and Michael Rocco dueling for Coach Danny Rocco’s approval. Strauss threw for 3,808 yards and 26 TDs last season, while Rocco sat out per NCAA transfer rules. Momentum carryover? | Richmond closed 2013 with four victories, the last two over nationally ranked Delaware and William and Mary. This should be a confident bunch. THE STANDOUTS Stephen Barnette | Sr. | 6-3 | 190 | WR Caught 76 passes for CAA-best and school-record 1,189 yards last season. Blessed with the size and skills to make spectacular plays. Barnette’s identical twin, Reggie, is a Spiders defensive back. Michael Strauss | Sr. | 6-3 | 210 | QB Set or tied 14 school records in 2013. Threw 509 passes with only eight interceptions, one pick per 63.6 attempts. His numbers could decline but effectiveness could improve this season if Richmond can develop a credible rushing attack — the injury-plagued Spiders averaged a paltry 3.6 yards per carry — to keep defenses honest. Evan Kelly | Sr. | 6-2 | 285 | DL A second-team All-CAA selection as a sophomore and junior. Dominant in 2013 finale versus William and Mary with eight tackles, 2.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries. THE COACH Danny Rocco An in-state Championship Subdivision staple after seven years at Liberty (47-20) and the last two at Richmond (14-9). Rocco has never had a losing season as a head coach, but he’s yet to make the playoffs. That latter drought could well end in 2013.

THE VITALS Last season | 2-10, 1-4 Big South Conference. Last playoff bid | None. THE SCHEDULE Aug. 30 | at Bucknell | 6 p.m. Sept. 6 | at Bowling Green | 3:30 Sept. 13 | Davidson | 1:30 Sept. 20 | at Samford | 3 Sept. 27 | Mercer | 1:30 Oct. 4 | at Chattanooga | 4 Oct. 11 | at Navy | 3:30 Oct. 18 | Gardner-Webb | 1:30 Oct. 25 | at Wofford | 1:30 Nov. 1 | Furman | 1:30 Nov. 15 | at Western Carolina | 2 Nov. 22 | The Citadel | 1:30 THE STORYLINES Conference reunion | After an 11-year run in the Big South, the Keydets return to their traditional home, the Southern Conference. The league is much different than when VMI left, but familiar rivals such as Chattanooga, Furman and The Citadel remain. Quarterback quandary | The Keydets must replace the graduated Eric Kordenbrock. Despite missing the final five games last season with a concussion, he is VMI’s career leader in passing yards (6,142). Sophomore Hayden Alford (8-of-13 last year for 98 yards) and redshirt freshman Al Cobb are the leading candidates. Alford may also punt. Ambitious schedule | As if upgrading to the Southern Conference wasn’t challenging enough, VMI is playing two Bowl Subdivision teams, both of which earned postseason invitations last season. Bowling Green is the reigning MidAmerican Conference champion; Navy defeated Middle Tennessee State in the Armed Forces Bowl. THE STANDOUTS Derrick Ziglar | Jr. | 5-9 | 230 | RB With a new quarterback, more burden falls to VMI’s leading rusher last season. Ziglar ran for 768 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Sam Patterson | Jr. | 6-5 | 215 | WR Made the most of his modest 38 receptions last year, gaining 646 yards, 17.0 per catch, and scoring eight touchdowns to earn second-team all-conference. Similar numbers in 2014 would bode well for the Keydets’ quarterback transition. Logan Staib | Sr. | 6-1 | 241 | LB A starter since his redshirt freshman season, he shared the team lead last year with 6.5 tackles for loss and ranked fourth in overall tackles with 69. Had a career-best 14 stops last November in the Military Classic of the South against The Citadel. THE COACH Sparky Woods Entering his seventh season in Lexington, Woods returns to a conference in which he won three consecutive Coach of the Year honors, from 1985-87 at Appalachian State. He’s 15-52 with VMI, and his 78-98-5 career mark includes five seasons at Appalachian and four at South Carolina.

ROB OSTERMAIER/DAILY PRESS FILE PHOTO

Brendon Riddick is a contender to start at running back.

JONATHON GRUENKE/DAILY PRESS FILE PHOTO

Stephen Barnette caught 76 passes for 1,189 yards in 2013.

By David Teel

US PRESSWIRE FILE PHOTO

VMI must replace QB Eric Kordenbrock this season.

Sunday, August 24, 2014 DAILY PRESS

COLLEGE AREA SCHOOLS

22 DAILY PRESS Sunday, August 24, 2014 DAILY PRESS FILE PHOTO

Lafayette players savor a Virginia High School League trophy after beating Pulaski County 41-28 for the 2001 Division 4 state title. The current Rams try to carry on that tradition.

BUILDING WINNERS LAFAYETTE, HAMPTON LIFT PROGRAMS WITH WEIGHT ROOM, DESIRE

By Marty O’Brien

mobrien@dailypress.com

hen hiring a football coach, most athletic directors will pick the best man available and take the schemes and formations he brings. Charged with hiring a new head coach among his first duties in 1997, Lafayette High AD Dan Barner did the reverse. Barner first wanted a Wing-T offense practitioner. And he sought a coach who would increase weight-lifting emphasis in a program with just 14 victories in the previous 10 seasons. The object was to return pride in Lafayette’s hallways for a once-storied program that produced NFL stars

Ron Springs, Lawrence “L.T.” Taylor and Mel Gray. With those pillars in place, Barner believed Lafayette again could build champions. “I played in and coached the Wing-T in Pennsylvania and I think it’s a great high school offense,” Barner said. “It features angle blocking, so size isn’t the most important thing, and because of the misdirection, if a defender makes a false step, you can run by him. “We had to get the weight room going, because it creates athleticism and togetherness. From the very beginning, we wanted football to become a very good sport at Lafayette, because no matter what people say, it’s the sport the most people follow in our country. “It sets the tone for your school at the beginning of the year.” The championship formula Barner mapped out so long ago has worked like a charm. His first head-coaching hire, Dan Antolik, instituted the Wing-T and updated the weight room, guiding the Rams to more than 600 points and a state championship-game appearance in his second season. The Rams’ next coach, Paul Wheeler, carried on the

Wing-T legacy while adding a new level of weight-lifting expertise. His 10-year record of 82-31 included two state championship-game appearances and the 2001 Group AA Division 4 title. After a slight dip at the end of the Wheeler era, Andy Linn has overseen a Rams renaissance the past three seasons. The Rams are 30-6 under Linn, going 12-1 in 2013 while outscoring the opposition 608-140. An assistant under Wheeler and Antolik, Linn runs the Wing-T while eliciting an almost religious fervor from the players for weight-lifting. Linn’s Rams have won two straight Bay Rivers District titles and reached the 2013 state quarterfinals.

The championship architect Of course, any discussion of building a championship team has to include Hampton coach Mike Smith, who has won a VHSL-record 12 state titles — two in the ’70s, five in the ’80s, four in the ’90s and one in the 2000s. See BUILDING/Page 23

Building

Sunday, August 24, 2014 DAILY PRESS

Continued from 22 The Crabbers were hardly downtrodden before he took over in 1972. His predecessor, Johnny Palmer, had won the state in 1969. His last team on Queen Street went 9-1. Smith’s first championship came in 1975, his fifth season. The roster included future Hall of Famer Dwight Stephenson. In fact, Smith will be the first to tell you: You can’t win without talent. For three of his four championship seasons in the 1990s, he had the incomparable Ronald Curry. “I’ve always said you couldn’t win the Kentucky Derby on a mule,” Smith said. “You’ve got to have some talent. That doesn’t mean you’ll always win. You have to have discipline and you have to have people who want to play football. You have to have that desire.” George Massenburg was a starting offensive lineman on Smith’s 1995 and ’96 championship seasons. And he was an assistant coach on the 2005 team that Tyrod Taylor led to the title. When he took over as Heritage’s head coach in 2011, the Hurricanes were coming off an 0-10 season in which they were outscored 411-32. In the greatest three-year turnaround in Peninsula District history, Heritage went 12-2 last fall and advanced to the 4A state semifinals. As impressive as that is, Massenburg isn’t satisfied. He won’t be until Heritage puts another championship trophy — the Hurricanes won in 2000 — in the case. “That’s what we come out for every day,” he said. “We knew we were close last year, but we don’t even discuss that because it’s over with. We have to continue to build. “We look at it as an opportunity to get somewhere Heritage hasn’t been in a long time. We take every day as an opportunity to get better and get that championship.”

Rams continue to roll The pride in Lafayette football Barner craved has become perennial. “We take a lot of pride that the student body is so supportive,” all-state lineman Coleman Goad said. Quarterback Brendan McGinty said, “I’ve never had more pride on another team than I’ve had being a Lafayette football player. It’s the one team around here that everyone wants to watch.” Barner gives much of the credit to Linn, who combines the expertise and old-school attitudes of Antolik and Wheeler with an ability to communicate with the players that exceeds his predecessors’. “He combines the best of both of them,” Barner said. “Andy has great character, is a real ethical guy and has a great ability to relate to the players.” Linn lays the foundation by sending a letter to every middle school boy in the Lafayette zone, inviting them to play for the Rams. Antolik, who had 115 boys come out one year, never had to do that, but Lafayette’s enrollment is smaller now, so Linn leaves no stone unturned. Lafayette’s football culture is built in the weight room. The young players who heed Linn’s call are welcomed rather than intimidated. “When the younger guys come into the weight room, we don’t exclude them,” Goad said. “There’s no distinguishing between varsity and junior varsity. “Everyone is treated the same because when they grow up, we want them to lead and carry on the tradition.” McGinty said, “There’s no hazing. We work with them just like the upperclassmen at practice. “We treat them with respect. That’s one reason we continue to be so good every year.” Linn requires that each player attend at least 18 weightlifting sessions during the summer. To his delight, 90 to 95 percent of the players attend almost all of them. The stability of Lafayette’s coaching staff is a throwback to an earlier time. In an era when many schools are lucky

DAILY PRESS FILE PHOTO

Coach Mike Smith has a water bucket dumped on his head in the closing seconds of Hampton’s 35-7 victory against E.C. Glass for the 1995 Division 5 state championship at Todd Stadium. It was one of Smith’s record 12 state titles.

to have a handful of head coaches who teach, four Rams football coaches are full-time in the building. Linn and assistants John Byron (Menchville), Kyle Neve (Bruton) and Brian Sorrell (Lafayette boys soccer) have head-coaching experience. “All of them are very respected,” Linn said of his assistants. “It’s huge when a kid can’t walk around the corner in the building without running into a coach. “Our kids are, ‘yes m’am, no m’am’ types who go to class, sit at the front and do what they’re supposed to. We let them know how important it is they are representing Williamsburg and James City County.” The Rams forge their bond by doing community service such as car washes to raise money for feeding the homeless. That togetherness outside of the weight room is a welcome element to the formula Barner adopted so long

ago. “The Lafayette High program has been good for 20 years and we take pride in carrying that on,” McGinty said. “When we look in the stands and see a student section that is always packed, it gives us that much more pride in representing our school.” Staff writer Dave Johnson contributed to this report. O’Brien can be reached by phone at 757-247-4963.

24 DAILY PRESS Sunday, August 24, 2014

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HIGH SCHOOLS PENINSULA DISTRICT

NOTE | Teams listed in predicted order of finish

ONLINE | Follow Dave Johnson at HRVarsity.com and Twitter.com/DaveJohnsonDP

1. PHOEBUS

2. HERITAGE

3. HAMPTON

4. WOODSIDE

5. KECOUGHTAN

THE VITALS COACH | Jeremy Blunt (second full season, 18-3 after taking over in Week 5 of 2012) 2013 | 10-2, 9-0 (lost to King’s Fork in 4A South quarterfinal) Last time not in playoffs | 2000 Group | 4A Conference | 18 (Ironclad) Home field | Darling Stadium THE SCHEDULE Aug. 28 | at Gloucester, 7 (W,41-20) Sept. 5 | at Lake Taylor, 7 Sept. 12 | Warwick, 7 (W, 56-7) Sept. 18 | Denbigh, 7 (W, 49-21) Sept. 26 | Hampton, 7 (W, 42-0) Oct. 4 | at Menchville, 1 (W, 51-0) Oct. 10 | at Bethel, 7 (W, 35-7) Oct. 17 | at Woodside, 5 (W, 35-14) Oct. 25 | Heritage, 2 (W, 26-9) Oct. 31 | Kecoughtan, 7 (W, 23-6) THE STANDOUTS Robbie Robinson Jr. | 5-10 | 190 | WR/CB Had four interceptions, including a pick-six, in nine games last season. Also returned three kicks for touchdowns that totaled 227 yards. The Phantoms will want the ball in his hands. Harry Lewis Sr. | 6-1 | 255 | OL/DL A high-energy tackle with 4.6second speed in the 40-yard dash, Lewis has committed to Virginia Tech, where he is expected to play defense. Also an outstanding offensive lineman, which Phoebus always seems to have. Joe Addison Sr. | 5-8 | 165 | WR/QB Splitting time at QB last year, he completed 54 percent of his passes for 447 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions. But he’s probably going to spend most of his time at wideout. THE STORYLINES State title or bust. The Phantoms are 22-3 over the last two seasons, but none of that matters on Ireland Street without a ring. Phoebus won seven of them from 2001-11 but hasn’t made it past regional play since. Who heads Tailback High? Marshawn Williams was Phoebus’ latest great back, but he’s off to Virginia Tech. Blunt says it’ll be by committee with senior Breon Baskerville (147 yards, 4 TDs) and juniors Jomari Becnel (219, 1) and Traonte Hamlin among those sharing time. No longer invincible? To some, Phoebus isn’t as intimidating as it once was. But that’s fine with Blunt, who says he’d rather be the hunter than the hunted. He also believes anyone writing this team off is crazy. COACH SAYS “Replacing a Marshawn Williams is the same as replacing a Tony Pittman and a Tyree Lee was. Here at Phoebus, we believe the next great back is ready to go. … All of the offensive linemen have been in the system since the eighth grade. … We have unfinished business. Our focus is to get ourselves back on the mountaintop.”

THE VITALS COACH | George Massenburg (fourth year, 21-14) 2013 | 12-2, 8-1 (lost to Dinwiddie in 4A state semifinal) Last time not in playoffs | 2011 Group | 4A Conference | 18 (Ironclad) Home field | Todd Stadium SCHEDULE Aug. 29 | at Wilson, 7 (W, 48-7) Sept. 5 | Denbigh, 7 (W, 33-20) Sept. 13 | Hampton, 1 (W, 21-14) Sept. 19 | at Menchville, 7 (W, 35-0) Sept. 27 | Bethel, 1 (W, 44-14) Oct. 3 | Woodside, 7 (W, 28-24) Oct. 10 | at Gloucester, 7 (W, 21-14) Oct. 17 | at Kecoughtan, 7 (W,24-19) Oct. 25 | at Phoebus, 2 (L, 9-26) Nov. 1 | Warwick, 1 (W, 40-6) THE STANDOUTS Dimitri Holloway Sr. | 6-1 | 190 | WR/LB One of those kids who can play just about anywhere. Scored eight TDs last season (three rushing, three receiving, one blocked punt recovery and one fumble recovery) and averaged 24.3 ypc. Timothy Holden-Bethea Sr. | 5-11 | 165 | WR/DB/KR An electrifying athlete whose 11 TDs (five receiving, four rushing, two kickoff returns) covered 567 yards. Only had 34 touches from scrimmage, which should grow. Jeremiah Boyd So. | 6-0 | 180 | QB After not attempting a pass in the first four games, Boyd became the Canes’ QB1 in Week 5 and ran with it. Completed 56-of-105 passes for 1,286 yards, with 17 TDs and 6 INTs. THE STORYLINES Keeping on. Heritage went from 0-10 to 12-2 in three years, the best turnaround in district history and one of the best in the state. Sure, graduation took some key players, but the Hurricanes have more than enough returning to make another run. A different backfield. Maybe the key loss is TB Juany’e Patillo, who rushed for 1,199 yards last season. Gone, too, is backup DaQwane Sabb. Who’s next? Massenburg says it’ll be by committee: Tra’Sean Shackleford, Omar Martin, Marcus Vanhook and Holloway. Versatility. Heritage has a lot of those “slash” players — as in, guys who play just about anywhere. Holloway, Holden-Bethea and Vanhook are among those who can line up in the backfield on one play and at wide receiver the next. Or vice versa. COACH SAYS “We knew we were close last year, but we don’t even discuss last year because it’s over with. We have to continue to build. … Boyd is doing a great job. He’s put on about 10, 15 pounds over the summer and he’s gotten a little bit taller. He has a complete understanding of the offense. … When Tim gets the ball, we expect big things to happen. … We’re expecting some big things at 5800 Marshall Avenue.”

THE VITALS COACH | Mike Smith (44th year, 444-77-2) 2013 | 7-5, 5-4 (lost to Salem in 5A South quarterfinal) Last time not in playoffs | 2002 Group | 5A Conference | 10 (PenSouth) Home field | Darling Stadium SCHEDULE Aug. 28 | at Indian River, 7 (W,38-0) Sept. 5 | Woodside, 7 (L, 44-65) Sept. 13 | at Heritage, 1 (L, 14-21) Sept. 19 | Kecoughtan, 7 (W, 28-21) Sept. 26 | at Phoebus, 7 (L, 0-42) Oct. 2 | at Warwick, 7 (W, 60-3) Oct. 9 | Denbigh, 7 (L, 13-35) Oct. 17 | at Gloucester, 7 (W, 35-27) Oct. 23 | Menchville, 7 (W, 42-0) Oct. 30 | at Bethel, 7 (W, 38-0) THE STANDOUTS Jovonn Quillen Jr. | 6-1 | 190 | QB/DB Had a breakout sophomore year with 2,382 total yards (949 rushing, 1,433 passing) and 23 TDs (15 and 8). In the same playmaking mold as Ronald Curry and Tyrod Taylor. Tyquon Wilkins Sr. | 5-10 | 180 | WR/DB Led the Peninsula District in receiving yards last year with 744, of which 234 came in one game. Also scored 10 touchdowns, including on a direct snap in the Single Wing. Demetrius Strickland Jr. | 5-9 | 190 | RB/LB The district’s top returning tailback, with 887 yards (6 ypc) and 10 TDs. Has breakaway speed and, despite his size, is a surprisingly strong inside runner. Will also start at LB. THE STORYLINES Bouncing back. For most programs, 7-5 is a solid season. But Hampton, which has won 12 state championships under Smith, isn’t most programs. The Crabbers expect better, and with the talent they have returning, they should get it. Skilled players. No team in the district has a trio like Quillen, Strickland and Wilkins returning on offense. This is a team that hung 44 on Woodside, 31 on Bethel and 45 on Great Bridge. Scoring shouldn’t be a problem. However … Those 44 points Hampton scored against Woodside? They weren’t enough, because the Wolverines scored 65 (with 522 total yards). That’s the most the Crabbers have ever allowed. Hampton also gave up 22 ppg, twice as much as it does in a normal season. COACH SAYS “Some games last year, we couldn’t stop water on defense. But I think we got a little better as the season went on. … At this point, we’re not playing (Quillen) on defense. We may play him in the nickel package some. … Dazz Newsome is going to be a tremendous football player. … They’ve worked hard and they’ll get better. Now, how do we stack up against everybody else? I don’t know that.”

THE VITALS COACH | Danny Dodson (16th season, 91-69) 2013 | 6-5, 5-4 (lost to Ocean Lakes in 6A South first round) Last time not in playoffs | 2012 Group | 6A Conference | 2 (Mon.-Merrimac) Home field | Todd Stadium THE SCHEDULE Aug. 29 | at Granby, 7 (W, 38-0) Sept. 5 | at Hampton, 7 (W, 65-44) Sept. 12 | Menchville, 7 (W, 60-3) Sept. 20 | Bethel, 1 (L, 10-20) Sept. 26 | Gloucester, 7 (W, 27-24) Oct. 3 | at Heritage, 7 (L, 24-28) Oct. 11 | at Kecoughtan, 2 (L, 15-29) Oct. 17 | Phoebus, 5 (L, 14-35) Oct. 24 | at Warwick, 7 (W, 49-14) Oct. 31 | at Denbigh, 7 (W, 44-41) THE STANDOUTS L.J. Taylor Jr. | 6-0 | 170 | QB/DB Emerged as the starting quarterback in Week 6. His shining moment came against Denbigh, when he completed 15-of-20 throws for 234 yards and three TDs, including the game-winner with 57 seconds left. Sam Alvarez Sr. | 5-10 | 180 | RB/DE Not the biggest kid around, but he gives the Wolverines a strong runner who had 359 yards and three touchdowns last season. Will be in the mix at DE. Jordan Williams Jr. | 5-10 | 150 | WB/LB/S Has the ability to make plays on both sides of the ball. Will see some time in the backfield but will make his biggest impact on defense at LB/S. THE STORYLINES More experience. The Wolverines had only 13 seniors, and though some were major contributors — Trey Reed and Darius Howell, to name two — most of the starters were juniors and below. Dodson feels good about the athletes he has coming back. Avoiding the lull. In 2013, Woodside started and finished well in the regular season. The middle was the problem. After a 4-1 start, the Wolverines lost three straight. Then they won their last two to barely make the playoffs. A new star? Dodson wasn’t ready to declare him the starter as we went to print, but Taylor is the one to beat. He completed 30-of-48 passes for 423 yards and four TDs in his last two games and engineered a comeback win. COACH SAYS “We have a lot of young kids who played last year. We started several freshmen in our playoff game. Those guys are back and hopefully stronger. … We got a transfer from Salem named Davonte Williams. He reminds me of (former Wolverine back) Joacim Wigfall. … I think we have a lot of potential. We seem to be a little more cohesive than we were this time last year, even the year before.”

THE VITALS COACH | Alonzo Coley (third year, 9-11) 2013 | 5-5, 4-5 Last playoff appearance | 2002 Group | 6A Conference | 2 (Mon.-Merrimac) Home field | Darling Stadium THE SCHEDULE Aug. 28 | Warwick, 7 (W, 13-0) Sept. 4 | Granby, 7 (W, 25-22) Sept. 11 | Denbigh, 7 (L, 26-47) Sept. 19 | at Hampton, 7 (L, 21-28) Sept. 27 | at Menchville, 4 (W, 35-0) Oct. 3 | at Bethel, 7 (L, 0-33) Oct. 11 | Woodside, 2 (W, 29-15) Oct. 17 | Heritage, 7 (L, 19-24) Oct. 24 | at Gloucester, 7 (W, 36-14) Oct. 31 | at Phoebus, 7 (L, 6-23) THE STANDOUTS Desmond Savage Jr. | QB | 5-10 | 170 Had a memorable sophomore year, which included a career-high 398 yards vs. Heritage and a gamewinning touchdown pass on the final play vs. Granby. Completed 57 percent of his throws for 1,482 yards. Nick Carrera Sr. | 6-2 | 200 | TE/LB After spending most of his time at QB in his first two years, Carrera was the district’s best tight end last fall with 27 catches for 365 yards and three TDs. Also starts at LB. Ja’cione Fugate Jr. | RB/DB | 5-11 | 170 Did the bulk of the Warriors’ running with 493 yards and 8 TDs. Also proved to be an effective receiver, with five catches for 160 yards and a TD. STORYLINES A veteran offense. Savage gained 15 pounds (the good kind) in the offseason. Keith Grandy and Carrera caught a combined 52 passes, and Fugate is one of the PD’s fastest players. Kecoughtan should improve on last year’s 21 ppg and 239 total ypg. However … Graduation took its toll on the defense, with six starters lost. This from a group that allowed 20.3 ppg. Coordinator Greg Narvid will be relying on ends Tyler Crist and Carey Hollis, along with LBs Tahjuan Taylor and Greg Bennett. Breaking that drought. Kecoughtan has gone 11 consecutive years without a postseason appearance, longer than anyone in the PD except Menchville and Gloucester. If the Warriors are to get back to where they once belonged, the defense will have to come along. COACH SAYS “We have 10 starters returning on offense, and it’s definitely a lot easier with the transition and getting things done. On the other side of the coin, we lost so much on defense. … Our goal this year definitely is to get in the playoffs. … I think (Savage) is the best quarterback in our district. … We’ll have a smaller backfield, so we’ll try to throw a little bit more. … We’ll be a bit younger.”

By Dave Johnson

ONLINE | Read Dave Johnson’s Inside the PD blog at HRVarsity.com and like HRVarsity on Facebook

6. BETHEL

7. DENBIGH

8. GLOUCESTER

9. MENCHVILLE

10. WARWICK

THE VITALS COACH | Bubba Hooker (fourth season at Bethel, 20-12; 10th year overall, 24-68) 2013 | 5-5, 5-4 Peninsula District Last playoff appearance | 2012 Group | 6A Conference | 2 (Monitor-Merrimac) Home field | Darling Stadium THE SCHEDULE Aug. 29 | Menchville, 7 (W, 65-0) Sept. 6 | at Western Branch, 7 (L, 20-21) Sept. 12 | at Gloucester, 7 (W, 56-19) Sept. 20 | at Woodside, 1 (W, 20-10) Sept. 27 | at Heritage, 1 (L, 14-44) Oct. 3 | Kecoughtan, 7 (W, 33-0) Oct. 10 | Phoebus, 7 (L, 7-35) Oct. 18 | at Warwick, 1 (W, 31-0) Oct. 24 | at Denbigh, 7 (L, 25-43) Oct. 30 | Hampton, 7 (L, 0-38) THE STANDOUTS T.C. Chisley Jr. | 5-9 | 165 | WR/CB Accounted for 147 yards from scrimmage on 22 touches last season, and the Bruins will need that to grow exponentially. Also will anchor the secondary, which has little depth. Quinton Lee Sr. | 5-9 | 195 | RB/LB The Bruins’ leading returning rusher, with 262 yards and four TDs. Had a career-high 71 yards in a loss to Western Branch. Will also start at linebacker. Beau Morgan Sr. | 6-3 | 190 | QB His moment came against Woodside, when he completed 3-of-4 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown in the final 7 1⁄2 minutes of a 20-10 win. THE STORYLINES Youth up front. Last year, with current Virginia Tech Hokie Ricky Walker, the lines were Bethel’s strong point. This year, there’s little experience or depth where coaches say the battle is won. In the middle will be sophomore Drew Barker. Change of plans. Hooker plans to shake up the offense a little to accommodate for the team’s strength (skilled players) and weakness (the line). Bethel will go with four wideouts and no tight end to create a little more space. A different look. The schemes and colors will be the same, but the personnel will be almost entirely different. Last season, 24 of the 39 Bruins’ players were seniors, and some of those expected to return didn’t. Now, it’s the junior and sophomore classes that have the numbers. COACH SAYS “We’ll throw more than we did the last couple of years, but we won’t throw as much as when Coach (Jeff) Nelson was here. We’re trying to spread them to get them out of the box as much as possible and get the ball to those kids in space. … Up front is where we lost a lot of people. That was our strong suit last year. It’s probably our weak point this year.”

THE VITALS COACH | Marcellus Harris III (seventh season, 23-39) 2013 | 8-4, 6-4 (lost to Heritage in 4A South quarterfinal) Last time not in playoffs | 2012 Group | 4A Conference | 18 (Ironclad) Home field | Todd Stadium THE SCHEDULE Aug. 29 | Tabb, 7 (W, 28-21) Sept. 5 | at Heritage, 7 (L, 20-33, 29-32) Sept. 11 | at Kecoughtan, 7 (W, 47-26) Sept. 18 | at Phoebus, 7 (L, 21-49) Sept. 25 | Warwick, 7 (W, 28-0) Oct. 4 | Gloucester, 4 (W, 42-14) Oct. 9 | at Hampton, 7 (W, 35-13) Oct. 17 | Menchville, 7 (W, 56-0) Oct. 24 | Bethel, 7 (W, 43-25) Oct. 31 | Woodside, 7 (L, 41-44) THE STANDOUTS DeMarco Brown Sr. | 5-11 | 305 | LG/DT Returning for his fourth season as a starter, his job will be a little different this year in that the offensive philosophy will be more focused on the run. Malik Sparks Sr. | 5-4 | 130 | RB The Patriots’ top returning rusher (322 yards, 2 TDs) and receiver (4 catches, 83 yards, 1 TD), he’ll be asked to step up his production this season. Zach Hebert Sr. | 6-0 | 210 | PK/P PATs are hardly automatic in high school, but Hebert, who also plays soccer for Denbigh, was a model of consistency last season. Also a dependable punter. THE STORYLINES Out with the old … Denbigh lost 28 seniors from last year, including a QB who threw for 2,527 yards and four receivers who combined for 151 catches. The only similarity from the 2013 season will be the uniforms and the coaching staff. Different philosophy. In 2013, the Patriots passed 49 percent of the time. But with the O-line now the strength, Harris plans to run more. Sparks and Bruton transfer Elijah Rice (175 yards, 3 TDs) will handle most of the carries. Big shoes. Replacing Terrence Dingle, the most prolific QB in school history, won’t be easy. Harris has junior Casey Vick, a transfer from Menchville, and sophomores Shaquan Jones and Marquis Rhodes all in the mix. Whoever emerges won’t be asked to duplicate Dingle. COACH SAYS “We’ll definitely run the ball this year, and we have some guys we think can get the job done. (Quarterback) is the million-dollar question. … This is probably one of the bigger teams I’ve had size-wise since I’ve been here. … We’ve got a good little mix of guys who got some experience last year and guys who will be fresh. … I think we can still be pretty good this season, but it’ll be a different kind of good.”

THE VITALS COACH | Brandon Kelley (second year, 2-8) 2013 | 2-8, 2-7 Last playoff appearance | 1986 (Group AA) Group | 5A Conference | 10 (PenSouth) Home field | Gloucester HS SCHEDULE Aug. 28 | Phoebus, 7 (L, 20-41) Sept. 5 | at Norview, 7 (L, 0-27) Sept. 12 | Bethel, 7 (L, 19-56) Sept. 19 | at Warwick, 7 (W, 40-29) Sept. 26 | at Woodside, 7 (L, 24-27) Oct. 4 | at Denbigh, 4 (L, 14-42) Oct. 10 | Heritage, 7 (L, 14-21) Oct. 17 | Hampton, 7 (L, 27-35) Oct. 24 | Kecoughtan, 7 (L, 14-36) Oct. 30 | at Menchville, 7 (L, 12-21) THE STANDOUTS Devon Pullen Sr. | 5-10 | 180 | RB/LB Though James Scott handled the bulk of the offense, Pullen rushed for 489 yards and three TDs in 2013. He also had a 67-yard pick-six and a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Owen Rousselle Jr. | 6-2 | 175 | WR Though the Dukes didn’t throw much last season, he was their top receiver, with six catches for 160 yards and a touchdown. A long athlete who can run. Matt Smith Sr. | 6-3 | 300 | OL/DL Not only is he the team’s biggest player, he’s the lone senior on the offensive line. He’ll be counted on to provide some experience and stability to the grunts up front. THE STORYLINES No Great Scott. Perhaps the best back in school history is off to Towson, and so goes a huge hunk of Gloucester’s offense. Pullen proved he can make plays, but it’ll be different this year with opposing defenses keying on him instead of Scott. Taking over at QB. Scott held the position in name only, but this year the Dukes should have a true quarterback — whoever he might be. As we went to print, junior Caleb Smith and freshman Isiah Spencer were neck-and-neck for the job. Year Two. Only 28 when he was hired last year, Kelley faced plenty of skeptics. He’s won most of them over. The Dukes only won two games, but they gave Phoebus, Heritage, Hampton and Woodside fits in respectable losses. The program looks to be moving forward. COACH SAYS “I feel like we’ve made a lot of headway. We had a great offseason and the attitudes are different. … The kids have been really enthusiastic on the practice field. The only problem is, a lot of kids have to grow up quick. We have two sophomore offensive linemen and two quarterbacks with no varsity experience. … Our line is smaller than we were last year. But I feel like we’re faster.”

THE VITALS COACH | Glenn Tidwell (second year at Menchville, 1-9; 16-34 in five overall seasons) 2013 | 1-9, 1-8 Last playoff appearance | 1993 Group | 5A Conference | 10 (PenSouth) Home field | Todd Stadium THE SCHEDULE Aug. 22 | Maury, 7 (L, 0-62) Aug. 29 | at Bethel, 7 (L, 0-65) Sept. 12 | at Woodside, 7 (L, 3-60) Sept. 19 | Heritage, 7 (L, 0-35) Sept. 27 | Kecoughtan, 4 (L, 0-35) Oct. 4 | Phoebus, 1 (L, 0-51) Oct. 10 | Warwick, 7 (W, 17-13) Oct. 17 | at Denbigh, 7 (L, 0-56) Oct. 23 | at Hampton, 7 (L, 0-42) Oct. 30 | Gloucester, 7 (L, 12-21) THE STANDOUTS Torey Guilford Jr. | 5-9 | 185 | RB/CB Was the Monarchs’ rushing leader with 262 yards — 240 coming against Warwick and Gloucester — and two touchdowns. His added strength over the offseason should make him a more effective inside runner. Kenneth Kirby Sr. | 6-4 | 280 | LT/DT Menchville hasn’t had much size or experience up front in recent years, but Kirby gives them both. He will lead a line that will try to improve a rushing attack that averaged 21.6 ypg. Malik Dixon Jr. | 5-7 | 150 | RB/CB Rushed for 235 yards, second on the team, with 93 of that coming in Menchville’s 17-13 win over Warwick. He and Guilford should make the Ville’s veer more effective. THE STORYLINES Further along. Last year, Tidwell didn’t meet his team until June 15. This year, he was with the players all through the offseason. They know the system and the Monarchs return most of their starters, especially at the skilled positions. More talent at QB. Regardless of who starts — sophomores A.J. Wyatt or Shamar Butts or senior NaiQuan Cooper — Tidwell feels he’ll have more athleticism at the position than last year. Whoever doesn’t start most likely will play elsewhere. Giving away points. Menchville had 22 turnovers last season — probably fewer than you’d expect of a 1-9 team. The problem was, five were returned for touchdowns. Others came deep in the Monarchs’ territory or as they were driving. Changing that trend will be critical. COACH SAYS “We’re nowhere near as strong as we want to be, but we’re stronger than we were. We’ve gotten faster and stronger in the offseason. … We’ll do different things out of it, but (the veer) is our base offense. … Had (TE/DE Elijah Murphy) played his sophomore year, he’d be a fouror five-star recruit already. … I don’t know how many wins it’ll be, but I think we’ll be better. We’ll be better than 1-9.”

THE VITALS COACH | Corey Hairston (first season) 2013 | 0-10, 0-9 Last time in playoffs | 2011 Group | 5A Conference | 10 (PenSouth) Home field | Todd Stadium THE SCHEDULE Aug. 28 | at Kecoughtan, 7 (L, 0-13) Sept. 5 | at Maury, 7 (L, 16-28) Sept. 12 | at Phoebus, 7 (L, 7-56) Sept. 19 | Gloucester, 7 (L, 29-40) Sept. 25 | at Denbigh, 7 (L, 0-28) Oct. 2 | Hampton, 7 (L, 3-60) Oct. 10 | at Menchville, 7 (L, 13-17) Oct. 18 | Bethel, 1 (L, 0-31) Oct. 24 | Woodside, 7 (L, 14-49) Nov. 1 | at Heritage, 1 (L, 6-40) THE STANDOUTS Grayson Hubbard Sr. | 5-10 | 170 | PK Was the team’s most valuable offensive player last year with six field goals, including a career-long 45-yarder against Hampton. Also led the team in scoring with 26 points and will get recruiting looks. Eriq Diggs Sr. | 6-0 | 220 | LB Probably the Raiders’ top returning defender from last season, Diggs had one of his best games against Maury with nine tackles, including two for a loss of yards. Chris Young Sr. | 6-0 | 205 | TE/DE The only returning player on Warwick’s roster who scored a touchdown last season. That came in the second game of the season when Young caught a 66-yard scoring pass against Maury. THE STORYLINES Nowhere to go but up. For the first time in school history, the Raiders went 0-10. The good news is, the bar isn’t set very high. For examples that 0-10 isn’t always a fatal blow, Hairston can point to Heritage and Denbigh. A lot of new faces. Hairston says he will have 30 players on the varsity, a doable number but one he hopes will grow in the future. The veterans like Diggs, Young, AlanMichael Norton and Malik Harris will need to take the leadership role and help the newcomers along. Skilled spots. The quarterback spot is up in the air between sophomores D.J. Nunn and Travis Williams. When one is under center, the other might be lined up elsewhere. None of the tailbacks expected to play extensively had a single carry last fall. COACH SAYS “We’ve put last season behind us and we’re building for the future. We’re not focused on last year at all. That’s a distant memory. … Warwick has always had good athletes, and that will continue. We’ve had a rise in the kids who didn’t play last year who are now interested. They’re coming out. … We’re bringing back the tradition Warwick used to have. … They’ve bought into the system and we expect big things from them.”

By Dave Johnson

Sunday, August 24, 2014 DAILY PRESS

NOTE | Teams listed in predicted order of finish

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HIGH SCHOOLS BAY RIVERS DISTRICT NOTE | Teams listed in predicted order of finish

ONLINE | Follow Marty O’Brien at HRVarsity.com and Twitter.com/MartyOBrienDP

1. LAFAYETTE

2. TABB

3. SMITHFIELD

4. YORK

5. GRAFTON

THE VITALS Coach | Andy Linn (fourth year, 30-6) 2013 | 12-1, 9-0 (first) Last time not in playoffs | 2010 Group | 3A Conference | 25 (Colonial Rivers) Home field | Wanner Stadium SCHEDULE Aug. 29 | Brunswick Co., 7 (W, 16-13) Sept. 12 | Bruton, 7 (W, 28-6) Sept. 19 | at Grafton, 7 (W, 42-21) Sept. 25 | Tabb, 7 (W, 63-14) Oct. 3 | Jamestown, 7 (W, 42-11) Oct. 10 | Poquoson, 7 (W, 38-7) Oct. 17 | at Smithfield, 7 (W, 62-0 ) Oct. 23 | New Kent, 7 (W, 62-0) Oct. 31 | Warhill, 7 (W, 65-14) Nov. 7 | York, 7 (W, 42-13) THE STANDOUTS Brandon Villanueva-Pernell Sr. | 5-10 | 160 | ATH/DB The speedy (4.6-second 40-yard dash) and elusive V-P led the district in receptions (38) and interceptions (six) while returning three kicks for scores. He’ll move often to running back so the Rams can get him more touches. Coleman Goad Sr. | 6-1 | 230 | RG/DT Goad, a consensus all-state pick a year ago, is fundamental, intelligent, moves well and packs a wallop. Will rotate at tackle on defense. Brendan McGinty Sr. | 6-3 | 225 | QB/LB His 886 yards and nine TDs throwing should go up because he’s more mature and possesses an abundance of receiving talent. He runs well (eight TDs last season), is a leader, and as valuable as he is as a three-year starter at QB, he might be a better defender. THE STORYLINES Replacing Green and Wallace. In RB Jahlil Green (2,027 yards rushing, 34 TDs) and Daily Press Defensive Player of the Year LB Schekel Wallace, the Rams graduated two of the best players in the state. Replacing them, all-state DE Blake Guminsky and rugged LB Darren Patton won’t be easy. Will the Rams repeat? They enter the season as district favorites. Four of five starters return on the offensive interior line, six starters are back on defense and five players with 10 or more carries return. Tall targets at receiver. Linn insists the Rams will pass more. In addition to V-P, two 6-foot-4 receivers, Jamestown transfer Trey Neville and newcomer Tyreke Graham, are the reason. COACH SAYS “We should be capable of contending for another district championship.”

THE VITALS Coach | Matt Lawson (11th year at Tabb, 46-57; 17th year overall, 8388) 2013 | 7-4, 7-3 (second) Last time not in playoffs | 2012 Group | 4A Conference | 19 Home field | Bailey Field (at York HS) SCHEDULE Aug. 29 | at Denbigh, 7 (L, 21-28) Sept. 12 | at Poquoson, 7 (W, 41-35) Sept. 18 | Smithfield, 7 (L, 46-21) Sept. 25 | at Lafayette, 7 (L, 14-63) Oct. 3 | New Kent, 7 (W, 42-7) Oct. 9 | at Warhill, 7 (W, 33-31) Oct. 18 | Bruton, 1 (W, 41-0) Oct. 24 | at York, 7 (W, 12-10) Oct. 31 | Jamestown, 7 (L, 27-28) Nov. 7 | at Grafton, 7 (W, 27-21) THE STANDOUTS Brent Hinson Sr. | 6-0 | 195 | RB Used his determination, quickness and ability to get through the small holes and run for more than 1,000 yards each of the past two seasons. Josh Hopingardner Sr. | 6-3 | 230 | DE/OT One of the Tigers’ strongest players, he’s got a motor. He’ll look to pressure opposing QBs and keep linebackers from getting to the Tabb ball-carriers. Antwuan Hicks Sr. | 6-0 | 180 | ATH/DB The Tigers’ leading tackler a year ago (with 65 stops), the Tigers will use him at halfback to get the ball in his hands more often. THE STORYLINES Dynamic duo. With Antwuan Hicks moving to a ball-carrying role and Hinson going for his third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season, stopping the Tigers will be no easy chore. And that’s not even accounting for Bailey Hicks (322 yards and three TDs last season), who has some rushing ability. District title contender? With six starters returning on both sides of the ball, and plenty of talent on hand, the Tigers should win at least seven games. But the district title goes through Lafayette, and the Tigers have to put last year’s 49point loss behind them to compete with the Rams. Taking the next step. The Tigers improved defensively last year, but still gave up too many points per game (25.0). Hopingardner, the two Hicks, Casey Evans and Will Malone give the Tigers the experience and toughness to improve some more. COACH SAYS “We definitely want to win the district and get a win in the playoffs.”

THE VITALS Coach | Clark Harrell (third year at Smithfield, 14-8; 31st year overall, 209-134) 2013 | 4-6, 3-6 (seventh) Last playoff appearance | 2012 Group | 4A Conference | 19 Home field | Smithfield HS SCHEDULE Sept. 5 | Southampton, 7 (W, 35-0) Sept. 12 | Warhill, 7 (L, 28-34) Sept. 18 | at Tabb, 7 (L, 21-46) Sept. 26 | at Jamestown, 7 (W, 22-15) Oct. 3 | Grafton, 7 (W, 20-16) Oct. 10 | at New Kent, 7 (W, 31-20) Oct. 17 | Lafayette, 7 (L, 62-0) Oct. 24 | at Poquoson, 7 (L, 33-35) Oct. 31 | York, 7 (L, 14-15) Nov. 7 | at Bruton, 7 (L, 10-26) THE STANDOUTS Donald King So. | 5-10 | 185 | RB/S Ran for 1,043 yards and 15 TDs as a freshman despite missing a game with an injury. He showed great vision last year and has gotten stronger and faster. Collin Todd Sr. | 6-2 | 260 | OL/DL A three-year starter who earned second-team all-conference honors a year ago, Todd has improved his foot speed to complement his strength. James Green Sr. | 6-0 | 195 | WR/S Green is one of the district’s most dangerous downfield threats as a receiver. Harrell says he’ll line Green up in the slot more this season and let him do his thing after the catch. A very good tackler from the defensive backfield, he notched 71 stops a year ago. THE STORYLINES Return to the top? Following the 10-2 district title season of 2012, the less-experienced 2013 group dropped a few notches. With eight offensive and 10 defensive starters back, the Packers will surely improve. Older and better. The Packers relied heavily last year on three freshmen who will anchor the program for years to come: King, WR/LB Chris Pierce and DE Jack Darden. Defense must improve. The Packers went from a team that gave up 13 points a game in 2012 to 27 a game in 2013. Inexperience hurt, and the Packers must get stronger and tackle better to return to their form of two years ago. COACH SAYS “There’s no substitute for experience. We’ll be bigger and stronger this year.”

THE VITALS Coach | Doug Pereira (eighth year, 45-31) 2013 | 4-7, 4-5 (T-fifth) Last time not in playoffs | 2010 Group | 3A Conference | 25 Home field | Bailey Field (at York HS) SCHEDULE Sept. 5 | Churchland, 7 (L, 26-31) Sept. 12 | New Kent, 7 (L, 8-11) Sept. 19 | at Warhill, 7 (W, 30-12) Sept. 26 | Poquoson, 7 (W, 13-0) Oct. 2 | Bruton, 7 (L, 11-20) Oct. 10 | at Grafton, 7 (L, 7-10) Oct. 17 | Jamestown, 7 (W, 10-6) Oct. 24 | Tabb, 7 (L, 10-12) Oct. 31 | at Smithfield, 7 (W, 15-14) Nov. 7 | at Lafayette, 7 (L,13-42) THE STANDOUTS Collin Mandrick Sr. | 6-0 | 230 | OT/DT Pereira calls Mandrick an “oldschool football player who gets after it on every play, a guy who is smart, athletic and loves the game.” Chris Spruill Sr. | 5-8 | 180 | RB His 667 rushing yards were just 37 shy of the team lead a year ago. With the ability to get through the hole and catch the ball out of the backfield, Spruill should have a breakthrough season this year. Darius Reynolds Jr. | 6-2 | 220 | TE/DE The only clear Division I prospect in the district, Reynolds will move back to defensive end after shining at tackle a year ago. Unless the inevitable double-teams work on the hard-working, athletic Falcon, he should improve on his 11 sacks and 21 total tackles for loss of a year ago. THE STORYLINES Freshman QB. The Falcons already have two upperclassmen who’ve started some at quarterback, so freshman Cole Lytle (6-1, 160 pounds) must be pretty good. Lots of skill players. Pereira lists nine wide receivers, two tight ends, a fullback and three running backs competing for touches. That number of skill players should help the Falcons improve on their 14-point average a year ago. Plenty of experience. York returns lots of experience from a team that was competitive in every game. With eight returning offensive starters and seven on defense, the Falcons should be above .500. The offensive line and linebacker corps are experienced. COACH SAYS “We could be deeper than the 2011 (BRD championship) team if we jell like I think we’re capable of.”

THE VITALS Coach | Matt McLeod (second year at Grafton, 3-7; fifth year overall, 20-20) 2013 | 3-7, 3-6 (T-eighth) Last playoff appearance | 2012 Group | 4A Conference | 19 Home field | Bailey Field (at York HS) SCHEDULE Sept. 5 | at Hopewell, 7:30 (W,13-0) Sept. 13 | at Jamestown, 7 (L, 3-20) Sept. 19 | Lafayette, 7 (L, 21-42) Sept. 26 | New Kent, 7 (L, 0-16) Oct. 3 | at Smithfield, 7 (L, 16-20) Oct. 10 | York, 7 (W, 10-7) Oct. 17 | at Warhill, 7 (W, 20-7) Oct. 24 | at Bruton, 7 (L, 16-29) Nov. 1 | Poquoson, 7 (L, 7-31) Nov. 7 | Tabb, 7 (L, 21-27) THE STANDOUTS Zach Lechthaler Sr. | 5-10 | 195 | RB/LB A starter at fullback as a freshman on the Clippers’ 2011 state semifinalists, he’ll get plenty of carries this season and will be counted on to anchor the defense. Kevin Posey Sr. | 6-3 | 230 | OL/DL Posey is a high-motor guy whose improved strength and savvy will be a key on an offensive line that is one of the Clippers’ more experienced and talented units. D.J. Dobbins Jr. | 6-0 | 190 | QB His toughness and intelligence will help him as a signal-caller, while his 4.6 40-yard dash speed will be a plus at QB and at free safety. THE STORYLINES QB stability needed. Evan Sperling, who started as a sophomore in 2012, decided to focus on basketball and baseball. Dobbins should do fine if he can avoid the injury jinx that has sidelined every Grafton starting QB since 2008 before season’s end. Time together. McLeod took over as Grafton’s coach in July 2013, giving him little time to get the team ready. With a full season together and the weight-lifting and conditioning routine in place, the program is on a more solid footing. Inexperience on defense. Lechthaler, Dobbins and linebacker Darin Lassiter are the only returning starters from a defense that held the opposition to 20 points or fewer in six games. Size up front should help. COACH SAYS “We have to improve our first-down efficiency. We averaged less than 2 yards on first down last season. … An offseason together worked wonders, and I think we can say we’ve turned a corner.”

By Marty O’Brien

ONLINE | Read Marty O’Brien’s Inside the BRD blog at HRVarsity.com and like HRVarsity on Facebook

6. BRUTON

7. POQUOSON

8. NEW KENT

9. WARHILL

10. JAMESTOWN

THE VITALS Coach | Reggie Jones (first year at Bruton and overall) 2013 | 8-4, 6-3 (T-third) Last time not in playoffs | 2012 Group | 2A Conference | 33 Home field | Bruton HS SCHEDULE Sept. 5 | Amelia County, 7 (W, 14-6) Sept. 12 | at Lafayette, 7 (L, 6-28) Sept. 19 | Poquoson, 7 (L, 28-40) Sept. 26 | Warhill, 7 (W, 42-21) Oct. 2 | at York, 7 (W, 20-11) Oct. 10 | Jamestown, 7 (W, 27-6) Oct. 18 | at Tabb, 1 (L, 0-41) Oct. 24 | Grafton, 7 (W, 29-16) Oct. 31 | at New Kent, 7 (W, 49-7) Nov. 7 | Smithfield, 7 (W, 26-10) THE STANDOUTS Zach Uvodich Sr. | 5-6 | 150 | HB/CB His nose for the ball earned him five INTs, 38 tackles and selection to multiple 2A all-state teams. The Panthers will look for him to use his speed in space on offense. Ian Gruver Jr. | 5-9 | 170 | HB/LB Deceptively fast, Gruver used his speed to lead the Panthers with 106 tackles in 2013. He’ll be a part of a large corps of talented skill players expected to carry the rushing load. Daniel Jones Jr. | 6-2 | 185 | ATH/OLB Among the Panthers’ most athletic players, Jones will be counted on to play in the box and cover passes on defense, while running the ball and catching passes on offense. THE STORYLINES Jones takes over. You’ll rarely witness a smoother head-coaching transition. Reggie Jones was basically an assistant head coach to Tracy Harrod the past few seasons. A former Bruton player whose son is one of the team stars, Jones is as steeped in Bruton tradition as anyone. Replacing Doucet. A James Madison recruit who will first go the JUCO route, Kapri Doucet ran for more than 1,000 yards, had almost another 500 receiving and was first-team all-state at linebacker. Replacing his athleticism and physicality will not be easy. Solid front. Jones, Gruver and athletic lineman Jack Fyffe lead a defense that returns five players to the front eight. That maturity should help the improvement the Panthers showed in limiting six opponents to 16 points or fewer in a seven-game stretch late last season. COACH SAYS “Our offensive line is a little inexperienced, but we have potential on the line and our (skill) talent should allow us to spread the field.”

THE VITALS Coach | Elliott Duty (ninth year, 55-39) 2013 | 8-4, 6-3 (T-third) Last time not in playoffs | 2006 Group | 3A Conference | 25 (Colonial Rivers) Home field | Poquoson Middle School SCHEDULE Aug. 30 | at Southampton, 7 (W, 50-0) Sept. 12 | Tabb, 7 (L, 35-41) Sept. 19 | at Bruton, 7 (W, 40-28) Sept. 26 | York, 7 (L, 0-13) Oct. 3 | Warhill, 7 (W, 49-27) Oct. 10 | at Lafayette, 7 (L, 7-38) Oct. 17 | at New Kent, 7 (W, 42-13) Oct. 24 | Smithfield, 7 (W, 35-33) Nov. 1 | at Grafton, 7 (W, 31-7) Nov. 7 | Jamestown, 7 (W, 31-24) THE STANDOUTS Ethan Bryce Sr. | 5-11 | 185 | RB/LB He’s one of the most productive varsity returners, with 238 yards and two TDs rushing, 36 tackles and two interceptions. Cole Jackson So. | 5-8| 160 | RB/LB Used his low center of gravity and quick feet to net about 1,400 yards rushing last year for a good Poquoson JV team. He would have played varsity last year were the Islanders not so loaded at running back. Matt Blaser Jr. | 6-1 | 180 | WR/CB Did a nice job defensively last year, knocking down three passes and making 33 tackles. As one of the few returners with significant varsity experience, his role will increase. THE STORYLINES Major rebuilding effort. It helps that the Islanders’ coaching staff has remained the same for nearly a decade. As a result, a large number of seasoned players from a successful JV team are on the way. But with just two offensive and four defensive starters back, a major rebuild is in store. Dunagan goes both ways. With 2013 QB Trey Hicks focusing on a promising baseball career, Trevor Dunagan steps in and gives the Islanders a running threat. On defense he’ll play at linebacker, where he’s one of the program’s best open-field tacklers in years. New offensive line. The line is crucial for a Wing-T team like Poquoson, and the only returning starter is Thomas Cannella. Newcomers, led by sophomore Brett Bradshaw, are good and may need only a little playing time to prove it. COACH SAYS “I’m looking forward to this season because this is a coachable, competitive bunch.”

THE VITALS Coach | Dan Rounds (seventh year, 8-52) 2013 | 2-8, 2-7 (T-eighth) Last playoff appearance | 2003 Group | 3A Conference | 25 (Colonial Rivers) Home field| New Kent HS SCHEDULE Sept. 5 | at King William, 7 (L, 8-49) Sept. 12 | at York, 7 (W, 11-8) Sept. 19 | Jamestown, 7 (L, 20-37) Sept. 26 | at Grafton, 7 (W, 16-0) Oct. 3 | at Tabb, 7 (L, 7-42) Oct. 10 | Smithfield, 7 (L, 20-31) Oct. 17 | Poquoson, 7 (L, 13-42) Oct. 23 | at Lafayette, 7 (L, 0-62) Oct. 31 | Bruton, 7 (L, 7-49) Nov. 7 | Warhill, 7 (L, 17-19) THE STANDOUTS Trent Orie Sr. | 6-1 | 190 | WR/DB Tied with Lafayette’s VillanuevaPernell for the district lead in interceptions with six and caught a team-high 13 passes last year. Can get up high to get the ball and runs well after the catch. Davion Barnes Jr. | 5-9 | 195 | RB With a 4.5 40, Barnes is among the fastest Trojans. He’ll be the successor to 1,000-yard rusher Mikel Chalmers. Shane Whitlow Sr. | 6-2 | 260 | C/DL If Whitlow stays healthy, he’ll anchor the offensive and defensive lines. He’s big, physical and moves well, but hasn’t been completely healthy for a full season since he was a freshman. THE STORYLINES Changing defenses. The Trojans made a slight improvement on defense last year, allowing 34 points per game after giving up 40 on average the year before. They’ll change to a 4-2-5 alignment this season, one that emphasizes speed instead of size. Dixons show up big. The Dixon twins, Josh and Joe, stand 6-foot-5, 385 pounds. Rounds says both are strong and skilled as they enter their third season as starters, but need to slim down a bit to improve their movement. Morris takes over at QB. The Trojans possessed one of the district’s best QBs the past two seasons in Luke Mechling, who threw for about 2,200 yards. In junior R.J. Morris, they get an athlete who can move well and might be bettersuited to their double-wing offense. COACH SAYS “I think the kids are going to enjoy the new defense because they like running to the ball in the open field. I’m a big believer that we’re going to be better tacklers and more physical.”

THE VITALS Coach | Thad Wheeler (first year) 2013 | 2-8, 2-7 (T-eighth) Last playoff appearance | 2012 Group | 3A Conference | 25 (Colonial Rivers) Home field | Wanner Stadium SCHEDULE Aug. 28 | Churchland, 7 (L, 13-21) Sept. 12 | at Smithfield, 7 (W,34-28) Sept. 19 | York, 7 (L, 12-30) Sept. 26 | at Bruton, 7 (L, 21-42) Oct. 3 | at Poquoson, 7 (L, 27-49) Oct. 9 | Tabb, 7 (L, 31-33) Oct. 17 | Grafton, 7 (L, 7-20) Oct. 24 | at Jamestown, 7 (L, 20-34) Oct. 31 | Lafayette, 7 (L, 14-65) Nov. 7 | at New Kent, 7 (W, 19-17) THE STANDOUTS Clayton Osterloh Sr. | 6-3 | 215 | ATH/DE Led the Lions with 234 passing yards a year ago, but will focus on more physical roles on the offensive and defensive lines. Tough and fundamentally sound. Keron Dedmon Sr. | 6-0 | 160 | WR/DB When DeVonte Dedmon was hurt last season, his younger brother displayed similar athleticism in netting 699 all-purpose yards and scoring three TDs. Karson Dellert Sr. | 5-10 | 170 | OL/LB Whether he was clearing the way as a blocking back or making the big hit at outside linebacker, Dellert was the hard-nosed kid not afraid to do the dirty work last season. THE STORYLINES A new era. Thad Wheeler, a former W&M standout at linebacker and a former Lafayette assistant, takes over as head coach. There’s plenty of rebuilding to do, but Wheeler, known as a weight-room demon in high school and college, will get the Warhill kids stronger. Wing-T at Warhill. Being the son of Paul Wheeler, whose three state titles as a coach included one with Lafayette (2001), it’s no surprise Thad Wheeler will bring the Wing-T offense. That means four district schools will use the run-oriented offense full-time and another part-time. Life without DeVonte. The Lions ran the Wildcat most of the past three seasons, with two-time Daily Press Male Athlete of the Year DeVonte Dedmon accounting for more nearly 3,500 yards rushing, more than 60 touchdowns and two playoff appearances, most of it in 24 games. He’ll be missed. COACH SAYS “We’re inexperienced across the board, so the first thing we’ll do is focus on the fundamentals.”

THE VITALS Coach | Lee Williams (third year, 8-13) 2013 | 4-6, 4-5 (T-fifth) Last time not in playoffs | 2012 Group | 4A Conference | 19 Home field | Wanner Stadium SCHEDULE Sept. 5 | Dinwiddie, 7 (L, 7-55 and 0-62) Sept. 13 | Grafton, 7 (W, 20-3) Sept. 19 | at New Kent, 7 (W, 37-20) Sept. 26 | Smithfield, 7 (L, 15-22) Oct. 3 | Lafayette, 7 (L, 11-42) Oct. 10 | at Bruton, 7 (L, 6-27) Oct. 17 | at York, 7 (L, 6-10) Oct. 24 | Warhill, 7 (W, 34-20) Oct. 31 | at Tabb, 7 (W, 28-27) Nov. 7 | at Poquoson, 7 (L, 24-31) THE STANDOUTS J.J. Boyd Sr. | 6-2 | 180 | QB/S Boyd was one of the district’s most productive receivers in 2013, with 25 catches for 305 yards and two TDs. Strong-armed with good footwork, he’ll throw passes this season while running via the option and contributing on defense. Mark Lipscomb Jr. | 5-8 | 170 | RB/S Was the most productive of the regular running backs per carry a year ago, with 7.5 yards a pop en route to 337 rushing yards and six TDs. Follows blocks well and has some moves. On defense, he’s smart and difficult to block. Zach Pennycuff So. | 6-0 | 175 | WR/LB A standout wrestler, Pennycuff’s aggressiveness should help plenty on defense. Figures to be one of the Eagles’ top deep threats at receiver. THE STORYLINES Inexperience in abundance. Only two of the returners on offense started a year ago. Of the 62 players at the first practice, 45 are freshmen or sophomores. Lipscomb had 45 carries last year, making him the only returning player with more than four. Youth up front. The Eagles’ lack of experience is most pronounced on the offensive line, where sophomore Russ Schugeld is the most experienced. Williams says the starting linemen are aggressive. Strong at linebacker. In a runoriented district like the BRD, it helps to have talent at linebacker. Pennycuff, Lipscomb, T.J. Delfico and Matt Crowder are among the Eagles’ most experienced players. COACH SAYS “The best-case scenario is making the playoffs. The worst case would be finishing near the bottom of the district. If things fall into place, I’m fairly confident we can make the playoffs.”

By Marty O’Brien

Sunday, August 24, 2014 DAILY PRESS

NOTE | Teams listed in predicted order of finish

HIGH SCHOOLS BAY RIVERS DISTRICT

32 DAILY PRESS Sunday, August 24, 2014

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