05 XC FINISHES STRONG 26 CHS QB’S SACRIFICE
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November Rain Four Central Virginia football teams still stand PAGE 7
VOL 5 . ISSUE 7 :: NOVEMBER 21, 2013
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DEPTH OF FIELD A 2013 cross country round up for both the VHSL and VISAA
FINAL FOUR A look at who’s still alive and kicking in the VHSL playoffs
GAME TIME Recounting the four wins in football last week
WHATEVER IT TAKES CHS’ Thurston makes big sacrifice
26 Chs qb’s saCRIFICe
scrımmageplay vol 5 . issue 7 :: november 21, 2013
November Rain VOL 5 . ISSUE 7 :: NOVEMBER 21, 2013
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05 XC FINIsh stRoNg
Four Central Virginia football teams still stand page 7
S TA F F Bart Isley, Creative Director Bob Isley, Infrastructure Director Ryan Yemen, Creative Editor O N T H E COV E R Monticello’s football team M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T Local sports are the lifeblood of every community in America, and we’re here to reach beyond the basics and give compelling accounts about Central Virginia athletes to our readers. CO N TAC T U S 4408 Ivy Commons, Charlottesville, VA 22903 [ e ] info@scrimmageplay.com [ p ] 434-202-0553
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PREGAME
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Western Albemarle’s Steven Hearn comes up with a 2-point conversion catch for the Warriors as they cruised past Cave Spring in the first round of the Division 3A West playoffs. Eight teams entered the VHSL postseason and four of them survived to live another Friday night — Western, Monticello, Buckingham and Goochland. For a look inside each squad flip over to page 7. ✖ (Photo by Ron Londen)
03 :: @scrimmageplay
Family
Corner PRESENTED BY
ABOVE » The Goochland football team overcame the pressure to perform at the highest level in 2012, one year after falling in the state title game.
Handling the postseason If you eat, sleep and breathe your sport during the season, odds are good that when you hit playoff time, you ratchet everything up a notch. That’s natural. You probably get more focused. You probably play harder. You probably even practice harder. That’s all well and good. If you’re a competitor, that’s natural. But remember to channel it. When emotions run high during the playoffs, it’s easy to lose sight of taking care of the day-to-day habits that got you to that point in the first place. Make sure you’re still leaning on your routine at home. Take care of your homework and prepare for school the same way you’ve been doing all year. Eat the same foods around the same times. There’s comfort in that routine. Alabama football coach Nick Saban eats two Little Debbie cakes and an iceberg wedge salad every single day at the same times. People who master the postseason are usually creatures of habit.
The intensity and stress increase as your team enters that win-or-go-home stage of the season, but letting that soak into the rest of your life is trouble. Keep the same routine at home. Treat your family the same way. If you start changing things up or letting stress take over the off-field aspects of your life, it’s going to show in how you perform on the field. Allowing stress to take over is also a major source of the kind of distractions that coaching staffs hate during the postseason. Suddenly you’re not managing things and taking care of business, which can create problems. We’ve seen players have to sit out the most important games of their high school career because distractions derailed them during the postseason. It’s heartbreaking for everyone involved. Don’t lose sight of what got you to this point. It’s what’ll keep you moving forward. Statisticians and their research have largely
debunked the idea of an athlete being “clutch,” particularly at the professional level, but there’s no question that players can unravel in pressure situations, especially at the high school and youth level. Keeping a level head in the playoffs, like anything else, takes some practice and experience, and high school athletes just haven’t been in those situations nearly as often. Handling those scenarios usually comes down to your perception and approach to the game. Take Robert Horry, a retired player who is regarded as one of the NBA’s great all-time clutch shooters. Again that’s a myth, but he’s hit enough of key baskets to earn the nickname “Big Shot Bob.” Horry’s quote from the 2002 playoffs explained how a career role player stays calm in pressure situations. “If I hit it we win, if I miss y’all are going to blame the stars for losing the game anyway,” Horry told the Washington Post. “There’s no pressure on me.” Horry didsn’t let the moment faze him or even impact his approach. It’s just another shot, one of thousands he’s took in games in his career. If you can prepare for each pressurepacked postseason game like its just another regular season district clash though, you’re going to go a long way toward bringing the kind of panic-free, level-headed play you need as the heat turns up. Don’t take it for granted either. Playing in the postseason is an exciting privilege. Stay focused and it can be an incredible ride. ✖ Scrimmage Play and Triple C Camp partner up to cover family issues related to youth and prep sports in our Family Corner.
Bart Isley,
CRE ATIVE DIRECTOR
www.scrimmageplay.com :: 04
First Quarter Depth of field
Nine cross country teams place well at state level By Ryan Yemen
T
Ryan Thomas (77) finished his senior year in XC by placing second overall in the 5A boys race. (Bart Isley)
{ ONE LAST GO } 18:53 AVERI WITT W. ALBEMARLE
05 :: @scrimmageplay
K AR A EL DER
18:48 ANNIE TAYLOR W. ALBEMARLE
16:09 GANNON WILLCUTTS W. ALBEMARLE
RYAN THOMAS ALBEMARLE
15:36
The top two times for boys and girls at the VHSL and VISAA meets.
he Albemarle boys cross country team has churned out its share of elite runners recently, from Zach Vrhovac (2009) to Anthony Kostelac (2010) to Adam Visokay (2012), making it a contender to bring home a state title every year.
It was no different this fall with Ryan Thomas leading the way. The senior runner set the tone for the Patriots’ third place showing in the 5A Division by finishing second individually in his final meet with a scorching time of 15.36 at the Plains at Great Meadows. Pacing the Patriots as well were junior Zach Gentry and senior Jakob Brooks who respectively placed 13th and 23rd. At the same meet on both the girls and boys 3A level, Western Albemarle was able to finish second overall. Annie Taylor had the top score for the girls with an 18:48 run to take second individually. The Warriors also got a great showing from freshman Averi Witt who finished fourth. Chance Masloff gave Western three top-15 runners with her 14th place time. For the boys squad, Gannon Willcutts, a sophomore, led with a fifth place showing individually and a time of 16:09. A 12th place finish from Chris Ferguson, Andrew De Jong’s 23rd place run, Nathaniel Hashisaki’s time at 26th and Trevor Stutzman’s 27th place performance rounded out the scoring for Western. Up at the 4A level, the Fluvanna County girls and Charlottesville boys’ Warren Riley Covert had strong showings. In the girls race, the Flucos were led by senior Nicki Douma’s sixth place time. With Devon Burger finishing in 34th, Fluvanna was able to muster up an eighth place standing as a team. Individually in the boys race for Charlottesville, Riley Covert put together a top-10 performance, taking ninth overall with his time of 16:24. The race at Great Meadows wrapped up a
solid season for local runners with the private schools completing their state meet the week before in the VISAA championship at Woodberry Forest. The hosting Tigers took home the Division 1 boys championship with Robert Singleton and Hines Liles finishing fourth and seventh overall at 17:14 and 17:30. Fork Union’s Alex Lomong took second as an individual with his time of 17:09. In the Division 1 girls race, St. Anne’sBelfield’s Maddy Hunter took second as an individual at 19:35. Along with senior Meg Pritchard’s 13th place run, the Saints were able to finish fourth as a team. The Miller and Covenant boys teams took fourth and sixth place as teams in the Division 2 race. The Mavericks were led by Rahls Fortenberry’s 12th place finish. John Dyke finished out front for the Eagles with his 28th place run. Covenant also put together a good day in the Division 2 girls race. The Eagles had a pair of top-25 runners in Kathryn Grant and Emma Breault who landed in 21st and 24th respectively. That set up a third place finish for Covenant. In all, both public and private, an impressive nine different teams from seven different programs managed to place eighth or higher at the state level to defend Central Virginia’s reputation as one of the state’s deepest areas of strong cross country runners. ✖
go online »
For more cross country coverage head to our website at: www.scrimmageplay.com.
College Update
We’ve gone digital
Former Fluco off to blazing start at CNU
But you can have it in print too!
By Ryan Yemen Hannah Miller excelling in the collegiate ranks should surprise no one, certainly not anyone that saw her play during her time at Fluvanna County. It was going to happen. But this soon? That the former first team AllRegion II and Jefferon District player of the year simply jumped right in for the Captains as a freshman the way she did is nothing short of impressive. After helping CNU with a season-best 12 kills to lead the way to a first round win over Cabrinia in the NCAA Division II tournament. While the Captains bowed out in the sweet sixteen against Eastern, Miller chipped in seven more kills and two blocks. Her 19 kills during the tournament was good for a tie for the team high and as a result, she earned a Regional All-Tournament nod. Miller joins elite company as just the third player in Captains history to earn the accolade as a freshman. Both Cory Harris and Abby Hogge did so in 2009. Some of the best volleyball players in the area have played at CNU recently including
Albemarle alum Kara Elder (2009) as well as Western Albemarle’s Chastity Lacy (2010) and Ellen Koch (2005). It looks like the CVaCNU pipeline is still strong and a quick look at Miller’s numbers show that she’s likely to carve out quite the reputation for herself by the time she’s done. Miller finished second on the team during the season with 247 kills. She also had 106 blocks, including a pair of 4-block games against Chicago and Washington and Lee. Of those 106 blocks on the year, 32 of them were solo rejections which was the best mark in the Capital Athletic Conference. Miller finished third on the team for points per set with a mark of 2.62, finishing just behind Lacy at 3.09 That added scoring depth from the Palmyra native helped the Captains to a 25-13 record, including an 8-0 mark at home. As a freshman at Fluvanna in 2009, Miller made quite the impact. As a sophomore, she became unstoppable. It looks like there might be history repeating itself for Miller at Christopher Newport. ✖
BELOW » Fluvanna alumnus Hannah Miller, the 2012 JD player of the year, is off to a fast start in her collegiate career at Christopher Newport University. (CNU Sports Information)
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www.scrimmageplay.com :: 06
FINAL FOUR 7 :: @scrimmageplay
The second week of the postseason is underway and four teams, two from the Jefferson District and two from the James River, are vying for a chance to take the field at least one more time after this week STORY BY BART ISLE Y AND RYAN YEMEN PHOTOS BY RON LONDEN, ASHLEY THORNTON, ROGER SPIVEY AND PAT DIGREGORIO
Buckingham P. 09 Goochland P. 11
Round Two
Monticello P. 13 Western P. 15
IT’S A NEW FORMAT AND NOT A WHOLE lot has changed. All four of these teams — Buckingham and Goochland at the Division 2A level and Monticello and Western Albemarle at the 3A level — were in this same spot last year, realignment and all. Eight Central Virginia public school programs entered the postseason. Only the four home teams advanced through the first round. Now three of those remaining four teams are hitting the road. Only Western Albemarle gets to host its second round matchup, but it also faces a 10-1 Magna Vista squad that is going to be a true challenge to get past. The Warriors will rely on their two-way standouts at receiver and in the secondary to pave the way for another win. Monticello, which held strong against Rustburg in the first round, heads to Northside who is also 10-1. It’s easy to focus on just how much T.J. Tillery and this Mustang offense has done this year. But what has been overlooked at Monticello is the way this defense has risen to the occasion. It did against Rustburg. Can it do so against Northside? Look to its junior class. Buckingham hits the road playing its best football of the year right now, but to face a Dan River team that is quite similar. The Knights have come a long ways since September. They still might be getting better each week, making them a dangerous opponent for the Wildcats. And then there’s the defending 2A champs, Goochland. The last two years they took down Wilson Memorial to play for the title in Salem. Now they have to do it to make it to the elite eight. They’ve got the horses in the backfield, and one particular two-way standout is playing at full strength. Something has to give in this matchup that’s quickly grown to the status that the Bulldogs used to have with Gretna circa 2006 and prior. At the end of the day, it’s some what predictable that four of the most prolific teams over the last five years have come to this point again. But only one of these squads has played football in December during that time. How kind will round two of the playoffs be to these four programs? www.scrimmageplay.com :: 8
BUCKINGHAM BUCKINGHAM COUNTY COACH CRAIG GILL laid the outline in his postgame interview after his team fell in its season opener to Appomattox. The Knights simply weren’t very effective offensively out of the gate. It wasn’t for a lack of talent. Sometimes things just take a little tweaking, a little ironing out. The bottom line for Buckingham when the season started isn’t any different from now – get the ball in Kenneth Johnson’s hands and let him grind out the yardage. “We just have to work on the little things,” Gill said. “We got two weeks to sit on this thing so we’ll get better, we’ll be better.” That was the first week of September, and Gill being a man of his word, by October, he had things worked out. Since starting 3-2, the Knights have been on a tear, going 5-1 in that stretch with the lone loss coming to Division 3A West playoff team Liberty Bedford on the road. It’s been Johnson at running back that’s fueled this team, and the numbers show it. But you can’t overlook the little things that Gill and his staff did to help make the senior back’s season so impressive. John Edwards and Leon Ragland have been critical in that area. The Knights moved Edwards,
HELMET STICKERS 935
1,921
There’s no arguing with this ground game. Quarterback Leon Ragland and running back Kenneth Johnson are churning out the yards right now.
RAGLAND | JOHNSON | REST OF TEAM 9 :: @scrimmageplay
YARDS 990
KEY PLAYERS:
KENNETH JOHNSON, LEON RAGLAND, JOHN EDWARDS, JESSE HICKMAN, HAROLD STANTON, JUSTIN AYRES
a senior, from quarterback to wide receiver and Ragland from receiver to quarterback. That shift has worked well as Edwards does all the little things that often get lost in the stats when a team is so run heavy like Buckingham is. Unafraid of the dirty work, Edwards is all you could ask for as a blocker, but more on him when we get to this much improved defense. Ragland’s shift to quarterback has given the Knights another explosive element in the ground game, keeping teams from completely dialing it in to stop Johnson. The importance of his 935 yards and 13 TDs through 11 games can’t be overstated. He’s also completed almost 50 percent of his passes for 458 yards and three touchdowns, all of which is a bonus to this offense. The other big difference in Buckingham’s season-long improvement has been a young offensive line growing up. This group is going
“We’ll get better, we’ll be better.” — Craig Gill
Leon Ragland (8) and Kenneth Johnson (1) have the Knights playing their best football late in the season. A strong secondary with John Edwards and Harold Stanton (2) anchors a young defense.
to be even more problematic for opponents next year than they’ve been in the second half of 2013. The Knights’ line has the physical tools and it’s no coincidence that since they’ve been on point, this team’s blown away five of its last six opponents including a huge win at Central Lunenburg and an opening round beatdown of James River in the Division 2A West playoffs. Then there’s Johnson. At just 177 carries he’s the area’s leading rusher with 1,921 yards and also has another area best with an astounding 22 rushing TDs. Johnson’s running style is as ruthless as it is dangerous. The Buckingham senior runs with a motor that never quits, and what he does after contact is nothing short of awesome. Defensively, Edwards at safety and linebackers Michael Mabry and Jesse Hickman have been lights out. While Edwards leads the team with 68 tackles, seven for a loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, Mabry’s had a breakout year. The sophomore has 54.5 tackles and 6.5 for a loss and also a pair of forced fumbles and fumble recoveries. Hickman, a senior, is playing like one with 53 tackles. With a trip to face a vaunted Dan River team led by Virginia Tech commit Terrell Edmunds, the Knights are facing their doppelganger in the second round. Edmunds has a Johnson-esque line of 154 carries for 1,676 yards and 21 touchdowns. But as is evident now in mid-November, Buckingham knows itself. It’s made the changes necessary to get to this point. And so don’t be surprised if the Knights see their mirror image in themselves with Dan River and know what to do about it. Remember, with what this team lost last year, this was supposed to be a bit of a rebuild. It sure hasn’t looked like it, and that makes 2014 even scarier to think about. ✖ www.scrimmageplay.com :: 10
GOOCHLAND IT’S TOO EARLY, these two weren’t supposed to meet like this. Goochland and Wilson Memorial have played for the right to travel to Salem in the Division 2A semifinals the last two years. And in those last two years, the Bulldogs have overwhelmed the Hornets, both at home and then last year on the road. Now with these two meeting in the second round, one of two things is going to happen — Goochland, vastly underseeded by all accounts, licks its chops to play a team who’s number it’s had, or Wilson is finally going to get this monkey off their back. There’s was never any real question that the Bulldogs would get to this point in the season, after all, they’ve been playoff darlings pretty much their entire time under coach Joe Fowler’s watch, and that includes when the program jumped up and made it to the playoffs at the Division 3A level in both 2009 and 2010. Still, there has to be something said for the way with which Goochland has dealt with its mass exodus of seniors after winning the Division 2A championship last year. “We talk about how we play the games on Friday night,” Fowler said.
912
TOO MANY You might be able to slow one down, but there’s no slowing them all of them down — the committee.
DYER | ALLEN | JEFFERSON | SAUNDERS | REST OF TEAM 11 :: @scrimmageplay
1,034 YARDS
384 550
594
KEY PLAYERS: JORDAN JEFFERSON, DAVID DYER, JAYLEN ALLEN, AKIA TIMBERLAKE, J.D. CREWS, CONNOR SAUNDERS
“But you win them Monday through Thursday in practice and you win them in the weight room in the summer and winter.” It’s showing. In addition to graduating almost its entire defense and the bulk of its offensive line, Goochland got hit with the injury bug this year. For starters, it’s two-way standout at quarterback and defensive back, Jordan Jefferson, was dinged up. Then the program’s wild card, quarterback Reid Chenault, went down to injury. Still, the Bulldogs stuck to what they do and that’s pound the rock, chew up clock and simply wear teams out. Goochland earned a third straight James River District title (sharing it this year with Buckingham, after sole possession in ’11 and ’12). In years past, the Goochland defense set the tone, but this year there’s
“You win them in the weight room in the summer and winter.” — Joe Fowler
Connor Saunders (20), Jaylen Allen (8), David Dyer (7) and Jordan Jefferson (6) make up a backfield that has the Bulldogs putting up 50 points on a regular and seemingly effortless basis.
no arguing that its massive running back, David Dyer, is the one who is driving the buss. Dyer is the yeoman-like back that’s behind the long drives and speedsters Jaylen Allen and Connor Saunders are the ones who deliver the daggers. Dyer has 1,034 yards on 159 carries and 14 touchdowns on the year. The Bulldogs make their name by moving the chains and eating away at the clock and tiring defenses. Dyer couldn’t be more tailor made for the job as he’s a load to bring down. Saunders averages almost 10 yards per attempt. Allen averages almost 15 yards per carry and it was in full effect last week against East Rockingham as he touched the ball four times and had 86 yards and two touchdowns en route to a quick win. Remember, that was an eighth-seeded Bulldogs team facing a ninth-seeded Eagles squad — by design, the 52-13 win shouldn’t have happened, but this is a playoff wolf in an eight seed’s clothing. This offense has scored 50 or more in four straight weeks. Defensively, Goochland’s come around and its five-turnover showing against East Rockingham isn’t a fluke as this secondary is well equipped as they came up with four interceptions. Akia Timberlake, J.D. Crews and company lead this young unit up front. And against Wilson, the Bulldogs will need the defensive line to play beyond its experience against running backs Juh-Kwquan McCauley and Savant Swift. But having a sure tackling secondary will be a big help. If you’re looking for why Goochland’s been so successful against Wilson in years past, go no further than the Bulldogs defense playing against its own physical offense every week in practice. It’s a recipe for success. If it seems as though Goochland’s quietly put together this season, it’s because it’s routine. But if Wilson hasn’t learned what that means, it never will, and if Goochland pulls the upset off, the plan is in place for another long Bulldog run. ✖
www.scrimmageplay.com :: 12
MONTICELLO GRIFFIN DAVIS, ACCORDING TO Monticello coach Jeff Woody, is a ‘leave your feet’ type player. He’ll jump to knock down a pass. He’ll jump to make a tackle. In short? He’s exactly the kind of player you want at middle linebacker. “If you have any inkling of timidness in you (middle linebacker is) not for you,” Woody said. “He leaves his feet to knock down passes, he leaves his feet to make those tackles and I feel like he’s a legitimate linebacker in this league.” Davis is one of three juniors along with tall, explosive defensive ends Morgan Wilson and Rashad Brooks that have grown into their roles this season as players and helped solidify a Monticello defense that struggled early in the year against Fork Union, but has become one of the squad’s major strengths down the stretch by following some excellent senior leadership in Sean Means and T.J. Tillery as well as a combination of hard work and understanding how everything fits together. “There’s not a lot of cockiness in the junior class and no on the team period,” Brooks said. “Everybody is playing their role.”
DECEPTIVE Monticello’s defense can get over shadowed by its offense at times. There’s no escaping the total yardage given up per game though for this defense.
PASSING | RUSHING 13 :: @scrimmageplay
96
46 YARDS
KEY PLAYERS: TJ TILLERY, JOSH MALM, ALEX MCNAIR, JAMES ST HILL, SEAN MEANS, GRIFFIN DAVIS
Brooks (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) and Wilson (6-foot-3, 235-pounds) give the Mustangs an incredible presence at defensive end. Their play helps make life easier on Means, the Jefferson District defensive player of the year, as teams can’t double team all three of those players, particularly not with Davis flying in to make plays. While none of the three juniors received All-JD honors, they’ve earned their keep as some of the best at their position, particularly with what Monticello is trying to do within the defense. “They’re all (three) very versatile,” said co-defensive coordinator Jamar Lovelace. “I think that’s what makes them the best, is that they can go from standing up and playing the edge, and then they can go down and play inside.” Monticello hasn’t given up more than 30 points since that night in
“I like to put my nose in there and I pretty good speed” — Griffin Davis
Shawn Means (58), Griffin Davis (50), Morgan Wilson (77), Rashad Brooks (55) and T.J. Tillery (19) lead an under-appreciated Monticello defense.
mid-September against the Blue Devils. The junior group’s emergence is a big reason for that. All three have made gamechanging plays at various times this year, with Wilson scoring a touchdown on a fumble recovery in a battle with Orange County, Davis coming up with a safety against George Whyte and Brooks terrorizing opposing backfields in any situation. Davis in particular has become a rock in the middle, helping get everyone in position on that side of the ball while also wreaking havoc. Part of that comes from his clear passion for the role he plays. “I love playing middle linebacker — I started off as a defensive end in my younger years but I realized I thrived more at middle linebacker,” Davis said. “I like to put my nose in there and I have pretty good speed.” He’s fit in nicely at Monticello since moving in from Connecticut as a sophomore and he’s now part of a defense that’s giving up less than 150 yards of total offense per game. That’s a stunning number and a big reason why that unit has become something of a secret weapon. It’s easy to focus on a ground attack that’s churning out career highs from T.J. Tillery every week, but the defense has been a difference maker as the offense re-tooled after Kyree Koonce’s injury. Davis, Wilson and Brooks allowed the Mustangs to weather a couple of storms on that side of the ball too, particularly the injury to linebacker Zach Graves earlier in the year and an early ankle injury that hobbled Tillery, a defensive wild card this year who’s played a variety of roles. The supporting cast just seems to keep getting better each week. “I think that intensity of our whole defensive line and our defense, we’ve all picked it up a lot,” Wilson said. “I think we have a lot more energy.” It’s showing on the field and unfortunately for area squads, with this group back they’ll have to deal with it all over again next year. ✖ www.scrimmageplay.com :: 14
WESTERN IT TOOK WESTERN ALBEMARLE a little time to find the flow this year with some new faces in the lineup, but when Kent Henry drops back and simply throws to the open man — regardless of what number he’s wearing — the Warriors’ offense turns into a machine. You just can’t cover them all. “It’s great for us, we have so many guys who can make plays on both sides of the ball,” said senior receiver Steven Hearn. “Our wide receiver (group) is so deep, our backups are great receivers.” Hearn had one of the quietest 500+ yard receiving seasons in recent memory as a junior. In the shadow of Daniel Kuzjak and Nic Drapanas’ allstate seasons in 2012, Hearn plugged along, making big catches throughout the season on offense and making things that much tougher on opposing defenses already contending with guarding those two wideouts and accounting for Kent Henry’s rushing ability every second of every play. This year with Kuzjak’s graduation and Drapanas’ injury, he’s stepped into a more primary role as a receiver and has totaled 748 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the area with his touchdown total.
SHARED ROCK Breaking down where the 2211 passing yards Kent Henry has through 11 games eventually wound up.
HEARN | DRAPANAS | STOKES | REST OF TEAM 15 :: @scrimmageplay
325
554 YARDS 594
748
KEY PLAYERS:
KENT HENRY, STEVEN HEARN, PATRICK MAUPIN, OLIVER HERNDON, OSIRIS CRUTCHFIELD, CHASE STOKES
He’s also brought a little nastiness and aggressiveness to the Warriors on the boundary. While Henry is known as a hard-nosed running threat, Western is too often mistaken for a finesse team. Hearn, who’s had 38 solo tackles and four interceptions to lead the Warriors in both categories this season at safety, makes sure that teams don’t leave with that impression after playing Western. He’s a ferocious downfield blocker and bringing the 6-foot-2 175-pound Hearn down after he catches the ball with a full head of steam is no easy task. Western has made a habit of finding guys like Hearn each year since the Warriors implemented the spread, when it really kicked into gear in 2009 with the quartet of Tyler Ward, Dom Losco, Nick Kuzjak and Christophe Drapanas. The spread is an excellent fit for the kind of athletes that
“We have so many guys who can make plays.” — Steven Hearn
Everything starts at Western with quarterback Kent Henry (16), but his new top target Steven Hearn (10), running back Oliver Herndon (22) and Chase Stokes (21) have stepped up after a tough injury to all-state wideout Nic Drapanas.
Western has in abundance — tall, fast, heady receiver/defensive back types with good hands. This year, beyond Hearn, the Warriors have found success through the air with Chase Stokes, a soccer/basketball convert who has posted a 544-yard, 9-touchdown season while proving just how tough he’s been on the hardwood as the Warriors’ primary scoring option the last couple of years. They’ve also leaned on lacrosse standouts Dylan Curry and Burks Summers, two seniors who’ve played big roles this year. Throw in senior Tre Banks who has been red-hot at times and it’s a harrowing task for opposing secondaries to matchup with Henry constantly extending plays with his feet. In the playoffs against teams that haven’t seen much of the Warriors, that can be a huge advantage. Henry likes to get everyone involved and has made a point of finding whoever is open and getting them the ball quickly. Against Cave Spring in the opening round, the Knights tried to double Hearn in the slot, leaving, Stokes, who checks in at 6-foot-4, in man-to-man coverage against a 5-foot-9 corner. Western immediately exploited the mismatch for a big gain down the sideline. When teams try to sit back in a four-deep coverage and spy Henry, the Warriors can put the ball on the ground or take the short stuff the defense is giving them while moving the ball methodically down field. Western’s offense can always adapt. The offensive line has come along nicely too, working well together to protect Henry, who was running for his life early in the season but seems to have gotten more comfortable and confident in the unit. The entire Western offense looks comfortable right now. They’ve worked out a lot of the kinks, they can improvise and they make teams pay for mistakes in a big way. They can go to anyone at any time and know they’re capable of getting the job done. In the postseason, that’s exactly what the Warriors need — rhythm and options. Right now they’ve got both. ✖ www.scrimmageplay.com :: 16
Game Time Buckingham 63, James River 24 Knights simply explode past first round opponent By Ryan Yemen
Buckingham’s Leon Ragland (above) had 10 carries for 184 yards. (Roger Spivey)
17 :: scrimmageplay
It was a first quarter that almost lasted longer than the other three combined. By the time Buckingham County ran five plays, it had James River in a 2-possession hole. Behind a pair of early interceptions and plenty of rushing yards and touchdowns from Leon Ragland and Kenneth Johnson, the sixth-seeded Knights cruised to a 63-24 win in the first round of the Division 2A West Region playoffs. “I’ll tell you what — we’re front runners now — we get something going early and these boys rally around it,” said Buckingham coach Craig Gill. “It’s like it’s feeding time around here and they’re sharks.” It took just three plays and a minute for the Knights to get on the board with the first of four Johnson touchdowns. The first quarter scoring spree continued moments later when Harold Stanton hauled in an interception and set up a 17-yard rushing TD from Ragland, this first of his three scores. “We were prepared,” Gill said. “We came out in that cold, it was dark, 6:30 p.m. and I was just proud of the way these kids prepared and it showed tonight. My coaching staff did a great job with the game plan and the boys executed. This was great. I’m so happy for them because a lot of people gave up on us early when we lost to Appomattox and then Goochland.” Another interception, this time from Ragland, Johnson cashed in a 51-yard touchdown scamper to make it 21-0. Ragland had a 10-yard TD run to make it 28-0, with the Knights having run just 11 plays on offense in eight minutes and change. “It felt good knowing that I didn’t have to run the ball as much as I normally do,” Johnson said.
James River broke up the shutout on the next play from scrimmage on a 70-yard pass, but Buckingham responded with another 28-spot as Ragland broke a pair of long runs of 43 and 56 yards that set up a pair of short Johnson TDs, from seven and one yard out. Ragland’s third rushing TD made it 49-6 midway through the second quarter. “Our line was great and I love ‘em,” Ragland said. “We’ve got some great athletes there they played great.” Gill put in the second team offense in and that changed nothing as the Knights punched in another touchdown to inflate their lead to 56-6 going into the break. With a insurmountable lead and a running clock on its side, Buckingham had little trouble resting its starters in the second half and cruising to the win to finish up its final game at home this year. “(The younger guys) they’re stepping up,” Johnson said. “We had lots of guys graduate last year and everyone’s come in to do their jobs. That was our (the seniors’) last game at this stadium and so it meant a lot to come out and just give it our all.” Ragland had 184 yards and three TDs on 10 carries while Johnson totaled 165 yards and four scores on 11 touches. The Knights (8-3) will travel to face third seed Dan River (9-2). The Wildcats lone losses came in week three to Tunstall and week seven against Altavista. Dan River defeated 13th seed Glenvar 32-15 in its first round win. In addition to this being the Knights fifth consecutive postseason appearance, the quick win over James River marked the third straight year that the Knights have made the second round of the playoffs. ✖
SUPPORTING THE FUTURE SPORTS STARS OF TOMORROW Best of luck to our 2013 student athletes as they embark on their college careers. Maiah Bartlett Miles Davis Blissie DuBose Will Eppard Tyler Gimple Will Grossman Allie Nicholson Lloyd Smith Stewart Staunton Aaron Stinnie Catherine Towers
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Game Time Goochland 52, East Rock 13 Bulldogs’ offense run wild in opener, defense comes up with turnovers By Liz Keller
Allen (above against Fork Union earlier this year) and the Bulldogs offense piled up 409 yards in the first half against East Rockingham. (Bart Isley)
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Goochland’s football team is running like a well-oiled machine. And the defending state champions couldn’t have picked a better time to play their best football of the season. The No. 8 seeded Bulldogs excelled in all facets of the game – offense, defense and special teams – in a 52-13 rout of No. 9 East Rockingham in the 2A East first round playoffs on Friday night. Goochland amassed 468 yards on offense – 409 of which came in the first half – en route to the lopsided victory. The team, which has won five straight games, has scored at least 50 points in its last four. The Bulldogs advance to play at No. 1 seed Wilson Memorial, a winner over Madison County, on Friday. “We talk about we play the games on Friday night, but you win them Monday through Thursday in practice and you win them in the weight room in the summer and winter,” Goochland coach Joe Fowler said. “We had more focus this week than we’ve had all season long and it manifested itself on Friday.” Goochland (9-2) broke to a quick start as Jaylen Allen burst down field for a 70yard touchdown jaunt on the first play from scrimmage. The speedster added another score later in the first quarter on a 10-yard run and finished with 86 yards rushing on four carries. He also hauled in one pass for 22 yards. The Bulldogs’ defense provided a spark after recovering a fumble on the Eagles’ opening drive. The home team took three plays to score after the miscue. Conner Saunders sprinted 17 yards before fumbling, but teammate Joe Cutchins picked up the loose ball and ran it another 25 yards and nearly reached the end zone. Quarterback Jordan Jefferson ran it in from 1 yard out to extend the early lead.
Jefferson, a multi-talented junior who has stepped back into the full-time quarterback after Reid Chenault suffered an injury a few games ago, had a stellar night on both sides of the ball. Jefferson finished 4 for 4 passing for 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also had two interceptions. “Jordan is a very quiet, unassuming man, but in the pregame today you could tell he was amped up and ready to play and wanted to come out here and make a statement,” Fowler said of Jefferson. He ran the offense like the veteran that he is and made three spectacular plays on defense, two interceptions and a great tackle on a pass.” The Bulldogs’ front line paved the way on the ground as two players surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark. Saunders, who had a second-quarter touchdown, rushed for a game-high 129 yards on seven carries while David Dyer toted the ball 12 times for 103 yards. Dyer, a senior fullback, ran for one touchdown and caught another – a 42-yard pass from Jefferson -- to help Goochland to a 49-0 halftime lead. Goochland took advantage of five turnovers by the Eagles, including four interceptions. The Bulldogs’ kicking game was also impressive, as Raleigh Marria was a perfect 7 for 7 on PATs before connecting on a 31-yard field goal in the third quarter. East Rockingham (7-4) scored on a pair of late touchdown runs by Joseph Marshburn. “It’s a big confidence-booster blowing this kind of team out,” Jefferson said of the win. “We’ve already looked at film on [Wilson Memorial]. They’re big, but we just have to come out like we did this week with the energy and confidence and practice hard again.” ✖
Blue Ridge School ALL BOYS • ALL BOARDING • ALL COLLEGE BOUND
Torian Pegram Class of 2014 Being Cody Pegram’s younger brother I expected to follow in his path but Blue Ridge School helped me learn that I have a choice. Here I’ve been able to try a lot of varsity sports and make my own mark. I’m playing football this year to prove to myself, to my friends, that I can do it. Now there’s nothing holding me back but my choice. I want to play for Coach Patterson because he respects us. Why all boys? I know that boys focus on the girls in the classroom. Without girls you don’t have to hold back, and every boy is doing the same. Boys also learn differently - we’re more hands on. Blue Ridge School is a place where you can pick up anything you want and no one will judge you for it. At home I would never have thought of joining a choir. Here I learned I could sing, and got good at it too. Blue Ridge also prepares you socially for college. At dances we meet girls, and over the years you learn how to talk to them which will be important in college.
When Torian graduates in May 2014, he’ll have played these varsity sports: Wrestling 4 years (Torian was 3rd in the state in 2013) Football – 2 years Soccer - 2 years Lacrosse – 1 year
Boys Thrive at Blue Ridge School 273 Mayo Drive, St. George, VA • 434-985-2811 • www.BlueRidgeSchool.com • admissions@BlueRidgeSchool.com
Game Time Monticello 35, Rustburg 28 Mustangs hang on, Tillery has monster game By Logan Riddick
Tillery (above) had a career high 245 yards rushing and four tochdowns (Ashley Thornton)
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It’s clear that Monticello’s playoff fortune will be inextricably linked to the performance of senior T.J. Tillery. “He’s a horse, and we’re going to put it on his shoulders and he’s going to carry us,” said Monticello coach Jeff Woody. “[Campbell County Schools Superintendent] Bobby Johnson coached me in high school and he said to me, ‘It doesn’t matter if the horse is blind, you keep loading the wagon,’ for whatever that means. When T.J. gets hot, he’s one of the best I’ve ever coached.” Tillery clearly is ready to carry the load. On Friday night in No.6-seeded Monticello’s 35-28 victory over Rustburg in the 3A West playoffs, he set a career-best mark for the third straight week with 245 yards and four touchdowns against the Red Devils “Thirty-eight carries is a load, but I love when I hear my number,” said Tillery. “They were doing different stuff than we thought they were going to do up front. The offensive line did a great job adjusting, and then holes just started opening up.” Rustburg made clear it would be no firstround pushover with a pair of first quarter touchdowns. The Red Devils received the opening kickoff and drove 67 yards in ten plays, including conversions on third and nine and fourth and three, before Jones scored on a 17-yard run. Later in the quarter, Rustburg quickly covered 73 yards in seven plays, with Randll Jones and Anthony Lovelace each breaking runs over 20 yards. Jones notched his second touchdown from two yards out. Monticello drove the field on its first possession behind Tillery’s seven carries for 58 yards. He broke a 33-yarder to convert on third and four, and scored from two yards out on third and goal. Trailing 14-7 in the second quarter, Monticello started its next
successful drive with eight running plays involving Tillery as well as Darian Bates, Tyler Wagner, and quarterback James St. Hill. After a Rustburg timeout, St. Hill completed a deep pass to Alex McNair, who used his height advantage over the Red Devils’ secondary to secure the 32-yard touchdown. The Mustangs’ defense then came up with a big red zone stop on fourth and four, and the offense took most of the time left in the half to drive 82 yards. On the 13th play, Tillery barreled in from a yard out, giving Monticello its first lead, 21-14, heading into the break. Monticello received the third quarter kickoff, and Tillery quickly added to his highlight reel. On the series’ first play, he raced 37 yards on a screen pass; four plays later, he broke a run 21 yards for his third score. It was the third straight touchdown for Monticello, which opened a 28-14 lead. However, Rustburg answered as the teams exchanged scores throughout the quarter. Lovelace returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to the Monticello 29; six plays later, he went six yards on a keeper for the Red Devils’ first score since late in the first quarter. As the rain picked up, Tillery capped the Mustangs’ next 68-yard drive with a 31-yard touchdown run. Rustburg came back with a 65-yard drive as Lovelace hit Thacker again for a 32-yard touchdown, pulling within 35-28 with 1:06 left in the third. From there, the defense mounted a successful a four-play stand, on fourth and goal from the 1 to preserve the lead. Aaron Dudley pulled down a big interception. With 7.7 seconds left and no timeouts, Sean Means sacked Lovelace near midfield to end the game. Behind Tillery, Bates went for 27 yards on five attempts. St. Hill finished 7 of 9 passing for 127 yards, with McNair catching five for 91 yards. ✖
See a photograph you like? Defensive stand Warriors goalie has more than one trick | By Ryan Yemen
At Scrimmage Play we pride ourselves on offering the best possible graphics Two years ago the Western Albemarle boys to Shin, who doubles as a Junior National Judo we can get our hands on, in both our soccer team was fueled by its underclassmen medalist, but has developed into one of the with sophomores and bearing the website area’s most magazine asfreshman well as at our atversatile goalkeepers. brunt of the work load. Now two years later, forwards Aaron Myers and Alex Nolet, as well as senior defender Tom Rogers are all in their senior seasons and looking to earn a Region II bid, something that Orange County snatched away from them in the Jefferson District semifinals last season. After the first month of play, the Warriors seem to have the defensive side of the equation figured out and junior goalkeeper Kai Shin is a big part of that. Before Western went on its spring break, none of its four opponents were able to score more than once, a testament to the team’s play in the middle of the field, but also a nod
The netminder has shown he’s capable of
www.scrimmageplay.com making big saves, particularly in the team’s
two ties. In the first game of the season, Shin endured wave after wave of Albemarle attack, but stood tall and showed no rust in the 1-1- tie. But while Shin’s on the field because he can make stops, his strong leg has also been of great use as he’s able to easily clear the zone but also spark fast breaks all by himself. The Warriors averaged a little over two goals per contest before the break, but if that average starts to increase, don’t be surprised if it’s because of Shin’s ability to contribute to the transition game. ✖
We want to make sure that our readers have the same opportunity to have these photos. If something catches your eye in either the magazine or on the web, you can order the photograph for yourself.
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Western Albemarle’s Kai Shin hauls in a shot during his team’s 1-1 tie with Albemarle that kicked off the soccer season for both squads. (Frank Crocker)
Game Time Western 42, Cave Spring 14 Big second quarter paves the way for Warriors By Bart Isley
Running back Oliver Herndon had 99 rushing yards and two touchdowns. (Bart Isley)
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Western Albemarle took what Cave Spring was giving it early — some room to run. With Oliver Herndon and Kent Henry chewing up yardage, the No. 2-seeded Warriors raced out to a three-touchdown lead by early in the second quarter and rolled 42-14 over the No. 15 Knights in the 3A West first round. “We wanted to get out defensively and smack them in the mouth and then drive down the field on offense — we wanted to get off the field quick,” said Western lineman Donte Henry. The Warriors did just that and showed a physical edge to the run game that’s been there at times this season but hasn’t consistently showed up with the offensive line leading the way. Henry finished with 120 yards and a touchdown on 18 touches while Herndon went for 99 yards and a pair of scores on 12 carries. Josh Meeks also scored on the ground for the Warriors. It helped that Cave Spring seemed intent on not giving up big plays in the passing game, leaving just a few defenders in the box. Eventually the run game opened up the passing game, with Henry spreading the ball to five different pass catchers for multiple receptions. Steven Hearn’s three catches for 58 yards led the quintet, with Chase Stokes, Herndon, Dylan Curry and Tre Banks all getting in on the act. On the other side of the ball, the Western defense put together one of its better performances of the year too as the defensive line — led by Osiris Crutchfield, Donte Henry and Patrick Maupin — terrorized the Cave Spring backfield all night. Henry, a first team All-Jefferson District offensive lineman, saw his first action on defense,
and he made the most of the opportunity, bringing pressure up the middle for the Warriors all night. “That made my night the way he played,” said Hearn, who also plays defensive back. Maupin and Henry both drew a lot of attention and some double teams and that opened things up for Crutchfield, who had three sacks on the night. Crutchfield got beat a couple of times coming a little too far upfield, but his aggressive nature paid off all night against the Knights as the sophomore continues to emerge as one of the area’s best young defensive linemen. “That’s been me since I was eight years old first playing football, going in the backfield, that’s what I like to do,” Crutchfield said. “I’ve got to work on it…we’re going to get that fixed.” Maupin also had a sack as Cave Spring struggled to move the ball through the air, particularly in the early going. Except for a couple of long runs by Cave Spring’s Tyler Rice including a 98-yard sprint for a score, the Warriors’ defense contained the Knights’ attack for the most part. “I tell (the defense) before games that we’re known as the weakest link of this team and that’s not right,” Hearn said. “We’ve got a little passion in our stomach, a little extra fire from people saying that we’re the weakest link of this team and knowing we’ve got to end that rumor.” Western advances to the second round of the 3A West tournament where they’ll face off against a one-loss Magna Vista that escaped Liberty Bedford 51-49. Magna Vista’s only loss came at the hands of Dan River in week two. ✖
ACADEMIC EDGE SPONSORED
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As part of Monticello High’s state semifinalist girls basketball squad, Cierra Hall emerged as a key player for the Mustangs last season. Hall’s ability to connect from beyond the arc made defenses extend out, opening things up for Monticello in the paint. One of her finest performances came when she buried four 3-pointers in a 12-point effort to help Monticello edge Western 45-43 during the regular season. She gets the job done in the classroom too, where the senior sports a 4.646 GPA and is hoping to attend either UVa or James Madison University’s honors program where she’ll study to become a sports psychologist. Hall is plugged in throughout the school, serving as the senior class vice president while also working as a member of the steering committee for the Monticello Mentors program and as a volunteer with the CBIP program. She’s also played tennis and golf as well during her time at Monticello.
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Success stories begin here.
Success Story: Danny Aiken It’s without question the most specific and specialized job in football, and it takes unconventional skill and a special type of commitment. Long snappers might have one of the most interesting jobs in sports, and at the professional level, there are only 32 positions available, making it one of the hardest gigs to land. Danny Aiken came to John Shuman’s Fork Union’s post graduate football team in 2006 where he began to focus on the position in addition to his role as a tight end. During his high school career, the Roanoke native played at Cave Spring where he was a quarterback and led the Knights to a 10-2 record as a senior, but was unable to aquire college offers at that position. After one season with the Blue Devils, Aiken was able to grab an offer from Virginia as a long snapper. Aiken appeared in each and every
Cavalier’s game including his freshman year in 2007 where he was flawless on 134 of his 140 snaps. By 2010 many NFL scouts had Aiken ranked as the top long snapping prospect in the country as can snap at a ball up to 45 miles an hour and on average, can put the ball into a punters hand in 0.67 seconds. As a result, when the NFL lockout finished up in 2011 Aiken was scooped up by the Buffalo Bills. His tenure might have been short in Buffalo, but it took him just a few days to land a long term job. After he was released by Buffalo, Aiken was snatched by New England off the waiver wire where he’s been the Patriots long snapper the last three seasons. There might only be 32 long snappers in the league, but Aiken is now entrenched as one of them thanks to his time at Fork Union.
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Overtime
Whatever it takes CHS’ Chris Thurston proves its team-first for him
I
f a player started on the varsity as a freshman and played three different roles as a running back, kick returner and defensive back that season, then eventually rushes for 1,229 yards and 14 touchdowns while earning first team All-Scrimmage Play honors as a junior, it’s pretty clear how that player’s senior year should go. Line up at tailback again. Carry the ball 20-30 times per game while also playing defense. Enjoy the fruits of four years of incredibly hard work with another strong season that closes out one of the most noteworthy high school careers in recent memory because it helped make the school’s previously dormant football team relevant once again. Things definitely didn’t go as planned for Charlottesville’s Chris Thurston. Not when an ankle injury hampered him in the early stages of the season. Not when, out of necessity, he settled into the quarterback spot on the fly in order to give his team the best chance to pick up wins. Nothing at all went as planned for the Charlottesville star, and yet, along the way, he proved exactly why he’s one of the area’s best. “You look at the yards he’s sacrificed,” said Charlottesville coach Eric Sherry. “The fact that he’s done what he’s done for us means a lot to me. I’ll never forget it.” Thurston proved how unselfish he really is and put the team’s success above his own numbers. Forget about tape for recruiting. Forget about accolades. Sure, he made the AllJefferson District squad as a first team all-purpose back, but Thurston was a first team All-Region II honoree in 2012. He should’ve been in the conversation for player of the year in the Jefferson and potentially all-state honors this season. Instead, he spent the second half of the season scrapping and clawing for the Black Knights, doing anything it took to win as the starting quarterback. In the process, he helped lift a team that started 0-3 into the playoffs and put them just a play away from upsetting G.W. Danville on the road in a 37-33 loss in the opening round. The season was a microcosm of his career at Charlottesville. He was singled out early in his freshman year in certain conversations with coaches as a potentially program-turning athlete, but during that 2010 season the Black Knights bottomed out with a winless season on the heels of a promising 2009 when he was in eighth grade. Thurston didn’t lose faith though, not even when Charlottesville turned things over to Sherry, an unknown quantity who coached previously at Massaponax. Thurston found his role and adapted as a sophomore, learning what Sherry and the re-worked staff expected out of him. Then, along with Rashad Davis, he helped form one of the most dangerous rushing duos in the state last year and the Black Knights qualified for the playoffs for the first time in a decade. With Davis’ graduation, things changed this year, and the injury and personnel shortcomings complicated matters. Things just didn’t go as planned. Thurston didn’t complain about any of the adversity he faced this season though. He proved he’ll do whatever it takes to help the Black Knights win. He’s one of the area’s most
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“You look at the yards he’s sacrificed. The fact that he’s done what he’s done means a lot to me. I’ll never forget it.” explosive athletes, but that package doesn’t come with a team-killing ego. He sets the tone for the Black Knights — whatever is best for the team comes first. As a freshman, Thurston once walked off the field at a game at William Monroe while an assistant tried to talk him through the last defensive play where the Dragons had just scored a touchdown in the latest frustrating chapter of a 0-10 campaign. As the assistant broke the play down, Thurston looked at him and said, without anger but more in exasperation: “I can’t do everything!” He all but proved himself wrong this season. Thurston can do anything his team asks of him. ✖
Bart Isley,
CRE ATIVE DIRECTOR
back talk »
What’s the meaning of sacrifice in sports? Contact Bart at: bart@scrimmageplay.com
LUKE HEINSOHN COVENANT SCHOOL ‘09 WASHINGTON & LEE ‘13 THREE-TIME ALL-ODAC THREE-TIME ALL-STATE SELECTION
THE NEXT STEP
Luke Heinsohn turned four years of athletic success at Covenant into an opportunity to shine at the Division III level, excelling in both football and lacrosse at Washington & Lee University. Luke set the career points record for the Generals’ football team, and is the school’s all-time leading rusher and scorer with 3,397 yards and 332 points. In addition, he led the nation in scoring at 19.56 points per game as a senior. As an all-conference midfielder in lacrosse in his junior year, Luke scored 11 goals and dished out 13 assists for the Generals’ lacrosse team. As a senior, he scored 11 goals and doled out 14 helpers. He’s done it all while always displaying the leadership and work ethic fostered at Covenant that paved the way for his next step. THE COVENANT LOWER SCHOOL | Pre-K through Grade 6 THE COVENANT UPPER SCHOOL | Grades 7 through 12 175 Hickory Street Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 434-220-7330 1000 Birdwood Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 434-220-8125
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TEAM SPOTLIGHT COVENANT SOCCER The Covenant soccer team won its first ever VISAA Division 2 championship this fall and they did it the right way. The Eagles played unselfishly, draw little attention to themselves as they rolled along the way. Covenant won their games playing stymie defense and relying on their hustle. Congratulations Eagles, you earned this title with class.
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