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FOOTBALL '15 | SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015 | Page 3
King's Fork 2015 schedule Unless otherwise noted, all games are scheduled for 7 p.m. Home games are in CAPS. Fri., Aug. 28..................................at Smithfield Fri., Sept. 11..................................... HICKORY Fri., Sept. 18..............................at Indian River Fri., Sept. 25...................WESTERN BRANCH Fri., Oct. 2................................at Great Bridge Fri., Oct. 9...................................... at Lakeland Fri., Oct. 16..................................GRASSFIELD Fri., Oct. 23...................NANSEMOND RIVER Fri., Oct. 30.............................. OSCAR SMITH Fri., Nov. 6................................at Deep Creek
King's Fork
TITUS MOHLER/SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD
King’s Fork team members include Clinton Bailey Jr., El’Haji Bakari, Darren Beaton, Marquel Bonepart, Quadre Boone, Jason Bottari, Quadarius Boyd, Trevon Brock, Notorious Brown, Darran Butts, Vernord Bynum, Nathan Carter, Travius Cheeks, Kevin Cotton, Avery Cutler, Trashaun Delk, Josh DeLoatch, Jamal Eley, Keon Foster, Jaylon Grant, Quincy Gregg, Tim Gromkoski, Doral Harris, T.J. Hart, Aundre Henderson, Cedric Holley, Justin Holloway, Joel Iglesias, Thomas Jones, Cameron Kennedy, Trivonte King, Ryan Kluck, Phillip LeClair, Cullen Marshall, Breshawn Mayo, Ron Newsome, Jacob Owens, Mike Pearson, Keon Pitts-Jordan, Noah Poon, Adonis Privott, Juan Saunders, Ben Shapiro, Chris Shearin, Anthony Smith, John Spearman, Wyatt Stuck, Terry Tubbs, Bryan Walker, Deshaun Wethington, Dennis Whitehead, Austin Williams and John Woods.
Bulldogs look to continue ascent
BY TITUS MOHLER STAFF WRITER
King’s Fork High School football coach Joe Jones has familiar expectations for his team. “Same as the last two years — raising the bar,” he said. The Bulldogs have been doing that since 2012. That year, they went 7-4, with their first playoff appearance in school history. The next year they went 9-4, getting their first playoff wins in school history, advancing as far as the Region 4A South semifinals. In 2014, they returned to the
regional semifinals, played their first home playoff games and finished with their best record in school history, 103. “We want to raise the bar from 10-3 this year,” Jones said. “We’re always looking for 15 (wins), that’s the ultimate, but we’re always looking to improve.” The Bulldogs will need some new names to emerge as key contributors to continue the program’s ascent. The team had 23 seniors graduate earlier this year, including a slew of standouts like cornerback/kick returner TyQuan Weston, safety Kane Miskel, linebacker/slotback Duke Santora,
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safety/wide receiver Akil Freeman and wide receiver Camryn Little. One of the obstacles to overcome this year is inexperience. “We’re not as experienced as we’ve been in the past, as we were last year.” Jones also noted his team needs to stay healthy, particularly on the line, which saw many seniors graduate. The list included Steffen Bruce, George Reid, Bryce Jones, Justin Calhoun and Brandon Babbs. Josh Bush, now a senior, started at defensive end last year, but decided not to play this year so he can rest and rehab an injured knee.
“Last year, we had a lot of depth on the line, and this year we don’t have as much,” Jones said. But quality remains, as he added, “We’re good up front.” Linemen the Bulldogs will be counting on include senior Cullen Marshall, junior Travius Cheeks, senior Justin Holloway, senior Haji Bakari and junior Austin Williams. The varsity roster will feature about 53 players, and as of Aug. 17, it had 26 seniors, 17 juniors, eight sophomores and two freshmen. Leading a small group of well-
See BULLDOGS, 8
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Page 4 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015
SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD | FOOTBALL '15
Lakeland 2015 schedule Unless otherwise noted, all games are scheduled for 7 p.m. Home games are in CAPS.
Lakeland
Fri., Sept. 4..............WOODROW WILSON Fri., Sept. 11...................at Western Branch Fri., Sept. 18........................ OSCAR SMITH Fri., Sept. 25........................at Great Bridge Fri., Oct. 2.............................at Deep Creek Fri., Oct. 9.............................. KING’S FORK Fri., Oct. 16...................................at Hickory Fri., Oct. 23..............................GRASSFIELD Fri., Oct. 30........................... INDIAN RIVER Fri., Nov. 6.................. at Nansemond River
TITUS MOHLER/SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD
Lakeland team members include Cody Anderson, Reginald Anderson, DeAndre Baker, Devon Beamon, Chase Bell, Daquan Boyette, Jarvis Brannon, Aaron Britt, Tre’von Claude, DeAndre Drayton, Ja’Quan Faison, DeAndre Faulk, Derrick Grant, Jayree Hardy, Monte Hillard, Tyquan Holloman, Darryl Knight, Amir Knight, Alajuwun Langston, Kory Lawrence, DeAndre Little, Damontra Milteer, Arslyn Moore, Nashon Overton, Tyriq Rawlings, Ricardo Ray, Riley Richardson, Marquis Ridley, Anthawan Riley, RaQuan Saunders, Derrick Thorne, Jamair Walker, Garrett Whitley, Rivon Williams and Adam Worley.
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Young Cavs are confident BY TITUS MOHLER STAFF WRITER The Lakeland High School football program has been preparing for the 2015 season in the face of significant change. Due to its student body size, Lakeland has been reclassified by the Virginia High School League, going from being one of the smallest 4A schools to one of the largest 3A institutions.
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Like all of Suffolk’s public schools this year, Lakeland is part of a new conference, but unlike any of the city’s other high school football programs, the Cavaliers have a new coach. This is Kevin Knight’s first high school football head coaching opportunity, but the transition has been helped by his being no stranger to the Lakeland program. He has served as the Cavs’ defensive backs and running backs coach for the last seven years. As for the 2015 Cavaliers, he has
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been encouraged by the work many of them have put in during the course of the year. “The offseason’s been pretty good,” he said. “We had a lot of kids show up for offseason workouts.” “My expectations are high,” he added. “With the talent that we have on our team, I really feel like we can do something special this year.” He anticipates the Cavs being a playoff team with a winning record. Lakeland made the playoffs last year
at the 4A level, finishing with a 3-8 record. As many as nine senior players graduated earlier this year, including key contributors like defensive back/ wide receiver Corvon’Tra Revell, defensive back/wide receiver William Barnes, running back Jordan Stokley, running back/defensive back JaJuan Walker, quarterback Miles Goodman and offensive/defensive lineman
See CAVS, 7
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FOOTBALL '15 | SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015 | Page 5
Nansemond River 2015 schedule Unless otherwise noted, all games are scheduled for 7 p.m. Home games are in CAPS.
Nansemond River
Fri., Aug. 28...............at Menchville (5 p.m.) Fri., Sept. 4...........................at Oscar Smith Fri., Sept. 18........................... DEEP CREEK Fri., Sept. 25................................. HICKORY Fri., Oct. 2..............................at Indian River Fri., Oct. 9...................WESTERN BRANCH Fri., Oct. 16.........................GREAT BRIDGE Fri., Oct. 23............................. at King’s Fork Fri., Oct. 30...............................at Grassfield Fri., Nov. 6................................. LAKELAND
TITUS MOHLER/SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD
Nansemond River team members include Derick Addicks, Hugh Arrington, Layvaun Baum, Kevin Boatang, Marquis Braimer, Ronald Brown, John Carter, Jason Clarke, Josh Covington, Mason Cutchin, Wali Faulk, Larry Goodman, Raymond Goodman, Dia Gray, Jaquelle Harrell, Isaac Hason, Chris Henderson, Jonathan Hope, Thomas Hopple, Darius House, Douglas Jackson, Jonas Jones, Deondre Lacey, Terrence Lambert, Kiere Landry, Matt Lewis, Evan Lomax, Jackson Lyons, Torriano Marshall, Henry Moreno, Malachi Middleton, Cameron Olds, Anthony Oliphant, Brandon Reese, Seth Repko, Terrance Shanklin, Joseph Stills, Cameron Stitmon, Demetrius Stitmon, Gerard Stringer, Brandon Strout, Ben Sullivan, JeVon Waller, Elijah White, Colby Williams and Jacob Woodruff.
BY TITUS MOHLER STAFF WRITER
Warriors look to build on 2014
David Coccoli has a proven track record of helping football programs grow, and now he aims to do the same for the Warriors in his second year as coach at Nansemond River High School. “I’m optimistic,” he said. “We’re improving from scrimmage to scrimmage. We have a good mix of seniors and then underclassmen, more so than last year, so hopefully that’ll carry us a little bit.” Nansemond River’s roster features 18
seniors, 15 juniors, 10 sophomores and three freshmen. The Warriors lost only nine players from last year’s team due to graduation, though some of them were key contributors, like quarterback/linebacker DeShon Saunders, wide receiver/defensive end Napolean Cross and offensive/defensive linemen Fred Dupree and Leonard Floyd. Last year, NR ended up with a 5-6 overall record, going 5-5 in the regular season and earning the 11th seed in the playoffs. Because of its large student body size,
Nansemond River is moving up to the Virginia High School League’s Group 5A classification to face schools of similar size. “We play a 4A, 5A, 6A schedule anyways, so I’m not too concerned about it,” Coccoli said. “We haven’t even talked about it.” The Warriors’ regular season schedule still features the other Southeastern District teams, which includes one 3A team, three 4A teams, three 5A teams and three 6A teams. Bayside High School, a talented 6A team that returned most of its players
from last year, was among Nansemond River’s preseason scrimmages. “We need to fix some things on both sides of the ball, but other than that, I think we’re in good shape,” Coccoli said after the scrimmage. “We matched up pretty well against them.” The coach said he wants to see his team take better care of the football this year, avoiding turnovers, and he wants to see the Warriors get more aggressive on defense.
See WARRIORS, 8
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Page 6 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015
SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD | FOOTBALL '15
NSA 2015 schedule N
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Sat., Aug. 29............... at North Cross (2 p.m.) Fri., Sept. 4...........................BISHOP IRETON Fri.,request Sept. reviewed, 11.FREDERICKSBURG To receive a copy of the NSA Fundraising and Marketing Policy and to have your please contact CHRISTIAN the NSA Office of Advancement at 539-8789, ext. 3234 or visit the website at www.nsacademy.org. Fri., Sept. 18.................VIRGINIA EPISCOPAL Fri., Sept. 25......................BISHOP SULLIVAN Fri., Oct. 2.......................at St. Anne’s-Belfield Logos Fri., Oct. 16..................NORFOLK ACADEMY Fri., Oct. 23................. at Greenbrier Christian - S UFFOLK D Sat., Oct. 31........ at Trinity Episcopal (2 p.m.) Fri., Nov. 6...HAMPTON ROADS ACADEMY
NSA
TITUS MOHLER/SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD
Nansemond-Suffolk team members include Ben Anderson, Jack Bivins, Ian Brads, Reed Browne, Jack Burns, Matthew Buttery, Dominic Claxton, Cole Christiansen, Austin Eberwine, Hunter Foster, Noah Giles, Daniel Griffith, Joshua Hoerster, Jordan Houston, Jack Johnson, Connor King, Ben Koppelman, Cameron Miller, Colin Moor, Graham Moore, KeShaun Moore, Edwards Morgan, Chris Murphy, Zach Ourlian, Noah Quier, James Russell, Noah Serianni, Erek Smith, Jacob Smith, Nathan Soper, Trent Taylor, Eric Teumer, Zach Teumer and Robby Tew.
Saints ready to rumble
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BY TITUS MOHLER STAFF WRITER A smaller but highly-talented Nansemond-Suffolk Academy football team finds itself in a new division this year, and it all adds up to high expectations for the Saints. They have been a force to be reckoned with at the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association’s Division II level each of the last three years.
Wood, Camden Sutton and Austin The Saints reached the state title squad is the best during his time Babb, running back Addison Peak and at NSA, matching up with the 2012 game in 2012 and the state semifinals Saints, he said. tight end/defensive end C.J. Patterson in 2013, and they managed to return Navy Blue team’s numbersYellow are will Gold also be missed. White to the state semis in 2014 despite a Royal BlueThough the Pantone 286 Pantone 289 Pantone 117 Pantone 872 down, “interestingly we152, have year, 5-6 record. rgb: 0, 51, 161 rgb: 10, 34, 64 enough rgb: 204, 0 rgb:This 141, 115, 74 Nansemond-Suffolk’s rgb: 255, 255, 255 defense is being led by a new Lower NSA enrollment levels have 18 seniors this year — the largest Please note: Grey is permissible for t-shirts and sweatshirts only. defensive coordinator, Justin Conyers. number I’ve ever had.” resulted in a move down to VISAA Colors may vary depending on availability. Last year’s team featured only eight “I decided in the offseason I Division III. “I’ve got to feel like we are the seniors on the roster, though the list wanted to make some changes, so I included some major contributors, led approached him,” Johnston said. “He favorite,” Nansemond-Suffolk coach letterhead Lew Johnston said. “We should be.” by five-year starter David Gough, h a eaderwas very excited to come over.” The 2015 roster features only 34 standout fullback/defensive end. N a Offensive/defensive N s e m o N d linemen - s u Shay f f o l k a c aSee d SAINTS, e m y 7 players, but talent-wise, this year’s
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FOOTBALL '15 | SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD SAINTS continued from page 6
Conyers played for Johnston at Western Branch High School and recently served as head coach of Nansemond River High School’s junior varsity football team. “We’ve got a whole new attitude on defense this year,” Johnston said. Senior linebacker Cole Christiansen returns as the leader of the defense, and he will play both inside and outside, providing pass defense and run support on sweeps. Junior KeShaun Moore will also return at linebacker, and Western Branch High School transfer Daniel Griffith will join the group this year as a senior. “With Daniel, KeShaun and Cole, I think we have one of the best linebacking corps in the state, public or private schools,” Johnston said. “They’re all Division I recruits.” Senior Noah Serianni will no longer be the starting quarterback on offense, but Johnston noted, “He will now be the quarterback of the defense.” At free safety, Serianni will make the coverage calls, while Christiansen will manage the defensive fronts. Senior Reed Browne, a three-year starter at cornerback, is a key returner, as is senior outside linebacker Trent Taylor, who will provide coverage and be a pass rusher.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015 | Page 7 CAVS continued from page 4
On offense, any list of standouts starts with senior running back Noah Giles, who led the Saints last year in rushing yards (1,277), rushing touchdowns (21), receptions (19), receiving yards (267) and tied for the team-lead in receiving touchdowns (three). “When we get him healthy, Daniel Griffith is going to be the nice complement to Noah,” Johnston said. Griffith, Moore and Christiansen will take carries at fullback, as will freshman Ben Koppelman. “I’m real excited about (Koppelman),” Johnston said. “He’s a tough nut, (I) really like him.” Senior Graham Moore will contribute at wing back. Serianni will be a starting wide receiver, and sophomore Robby Tew will take over at quarterback. “He’s looked real good in the preseason,” Johnston said of Tew. “He’s gotten a little bigger and faster.” The coach said the team needed Serianni’s speed at wideout. Last year, “we couldn’t throw it deep when nobody was fast enough to go out there and catch it,” Johnston said. NSA begins its season on Aug. 29 in Roanoke against North Cross School.
Gregory Stephen. This year’s team, which will feature a roster of about 40 players, is young. “I have about maybe four or five seniors,” Knight said. “That’s it.” His junior class has the highest concentration of players. One of the leaders among that number will be Alajuwun Langston, returning at wide receiver on offense and set to have an expanded role on both sides of the ball. “Alajuwun Langston is definitely somebody we’re counting on with his speed and his quickness,” Knight said. “I’m expecting big things from him.” Senior Andre Drayton will also provide leadership at the wide receiver position. Lakeland will feature no seniors on the offensive line but has veterans like juniors Chase Bell and Garrett Whitley. “Those two definitely are leaders that I’m looking to help us,” Knight said. They will work to protect quarterback Tyquan Holloman, a freshman who has impressed Knight with his play. “He never panics,” the coach said. “I like how poised he is back there.” Knight said Holloman is able to keep the guys’ attention, and “I’m
looking for a big year from him.” The coach noted the offense should feature a balanced attack, because “we’re loaded at the running back position.” Sophomore DeAndre Faulk, sophomore Kory Lawrence, freshman Ricardo Ray and senior Ja’quan Faison will split time carrying the ball. Monte Hillard, senior middle linebacker, Faulk, weak side linebacker, and Drayton, safety, are expected to be leaders on defense. Knight is looking for sophomore DeAndre Little to step up in the secondary. “I know he’s going to have a good year this year at the cornerback position,” the coach said. Little and Langston will look to continue Lakeland’s legacy of fielding strong defensive backs. Despite their move to 3A, the Cavaliers’ regular season schedule will remain mostly unchanged from previous years. “I think we have an advantage, because we play nothing but 4A, 5A, 6A schools,” Knight said, which will help his team grow and put it in a position to earn the power points that dictate postseason positioning. Lakeland opens its season hosting Woodrow Wilson High School on Sept. 4.
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Page 8 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015
SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD | FOOTBALL '15
WARRIORS continued from page 5
Helping drive that defensive effort will be senior defensive back Marquis Braimer, who can play multiple positions. “He has an outstanding work ethic, and he has several colleges looking at him,” Coccoli said. Sophomore JeVon Waller, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, will lend his youth and athleticism to the secondary. Virginia Tech, the University of South Carolina, the University of North Carolina and the University of Georgia are all interested in him. Coccoli noted junior linebacker John Carter will be important due to his aggressiveness and good instincts. Bolstering the defensive line will be seniors Demetrius Stitmon and Deondre Lacey, both of whom Coccoli described as “good athletes, good kids and aggressive.” On offense, senior Josh Covington, a breakout basketball star for Nansemond River last season, is expected to be the top wide receiver, using his speed and athleticism to get separation from
BULLDOGS continued from page 3
defensive backs. Also contributing at wide receiver will be senior Chris Henderson, expected to help stretch the field. Senior Terrence Lambert was a standout running back for NR in 2014, and he will be back, splitting carries with senior Jonas Jones and Waller. Senior left tackle Thomas Hopple, a 6-foot-6-inch, 290-pound Virginia Tech commit, will be key on a line anchored by senior Seth Repko, junior Elijah White, junior Dia Gray and Lacey. Senior Kiere Landry will take over at quarterback. “He’s got a big arm, and he’s a good athlete,” Coccoli said. “He was our starting wide receiver last year, but he can throw the football.” Coccoli tabbed junior offensive/ defensive lineman Brandon Reese, Elijah White and sophomore wide receiver/ defensive back Gerard Stringer as upand-comers. Nansemond River begins its season on Aug. 28 with a 5 p.m. game at Menchville High School.
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known returners is senior feature back Deshaun Wethington, King’s Fork’s career rushing leader with more than 4,200 yards. “We’re counting on him and Ryan (Kluck),” Jones said, referencing the Bulldogs' senior returning starter at quarterback. “Ryan’s had a good preseason.” Wethington is fully recovered from a hamstring injury that severely limited his playing time in the postseason last year, and King’s Fork plans to use him in a variety of ways. “They’re going to spread me out a little more this year, get me in the flats catching more passes,” Wethington said. He will also spend some time on defense. “Right now, we’re using him as a backup linebacker,” Jones said. “When he comes in the game, we definitely don’t lose any athleticism.” Senior Quadarius Boyd will again
contribute at slotback, Cullen Marshall will play at either center or guard and Austin Williams will become a full-time starter at guard, as well as defensive tackle. On defense, senior Notorious Brown will star, along with senior John Spearman. “They’ve got good experience coming back as inside linebackers,” Jones said. Boyd will also be back at cornerback, where he started most of last season, while freshman Chris Shearin is developing as another option at cornerback. Sophomore Quincy Gregg has been getting a lot of reps at safety, and senior Mike Pearson and sophomore Bryan Walker have been battling for the other safety spot. Marshall and Travius Cheeks will be starters on the defensive line. King’s Fork opens the season on Aug. 28 at Smithfield High School.
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