2023 High School Football Preview

BY LEE VOGLER PHOTOS BY LEE VOGLER

Chatham Cavaliers

After coach Jay Fielder left for the head coaching position at Martinsville High School, the Chatham Cavaliers will be led this year by coach Bruce Devlin. While Devlin may be new to the Chatham program, he certainly isn’t new to coaching.

He was the varsity football head coach at Princeton Day School in New Jersey, where he won two state titles and was named the Coach of the Year in New Jersey twice.

He also coached varsity baseball at Princeton Day School and won three state titles and two Coach of the Year awards. Most recently, he was a volunteer assistant coach for the Averett University football program.

The Cavaliers will kick off their season, August 25, on the road against Prince Edward County. In October, they will host key matchups against William Campbell and Dan River, before closing out their regular season at home against Altavista on November 3rd.

Dan River Wildcats

The Wildcats of Dan River High School will look to build off their successful 6-5 campaign as they open their 2023 season on the road against longtime rivals Tunstall. The following week, they’ll be on the road once again against the Magna Vista Warriors.

Dan River will then be treated to some home cooking with three straight home games against Bassett, Martinsville and Gretna.

Former player, and 1997 Dan River graduate, Brian Womack will continue to coach the team as he has for the past several years, racking up a string of successful seasons. In 2019, Womack was named Region 2C Coach of the Year.

The Wildcats close out their regular season on the road against Appomattox County on November 3rd.

George Washington Eagles

“Win Everywhere: In the classroom, the community and on the field.” That’s the motto the George Washington Eagles will carry into this season, following last year’s 4-6 campaign. Led by longtime coach Nick Anderson, the Eagles were in unfamiliar territory last season, but are looking to bounce back in a big way. “Last year, not making the playoffs for the first time as a coach in 18 years (11 with GW), as a staff we’re going back to the basics,” said Anderson. “Last season humbled us and made us hungry.”

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