Re: High School Football 2016
Date: August 22, 2016 09:42PM
Sorry that was kinda hard to read;
2016 Southeastern District football preview: Lots of changes, but Oscar Smith again should dominate
By Jami Frankenberry
The Virginian-Pilot
7 hrs ago
Three new faces are patrolling the sidelines this season, but don’t expect changes at the top of the Southeastern District.
Oscar Smith has dominated the district for more than a decade, and despite some close calls last season – 15-14 vs. Indian River and 23-21 vs. Western Branch – the Tigers are again the favorites.
Coach Bill Dee inherits from Richard Morgan, who left to coach Marietta (Ga.) High, a talented crop of players who were sophomores and juniors last season during a run to the Group 6A state championship game. Then there's the program's 82-game district winning streak and a stretch of 12 consecutive district titles.
Dee, though, had his own impressive run of success at Phoebus, where he led the Hampton school to four state championships, before becoming an assistant at Christopher Newport and then Old Dominion.
Meanwhile, Oscar Smith quarterback Shon Mitchell, heading into his fourth varsity season, is poised for a run at the Virginia High School League’s all-time passing record.
Elsewhere, first-year head coaches Scottie Littles (King’s Fork) and Steve O’Neal (Great Bridge) take over programs, while on the field some marquee names graduated.
A look at each team in predicted order of finish:
1. Oscar Smith Tigers Classification: Group 6A
Coach: Bill Dee, first season at Oscar Smith; 243-76-1 in 28 seasons overall.
Last season: 13-1 overall, 9-0 district.
Impact players: LB Keshon Artis, 6-1, 220, jr.; WR Larry Chapel, 6-0, 160, sr.; DB Branden Delbridge, 5-9, 165, sr.; CB Jahmeek Jones, 5-10, 185, sr.; QB Shon Mitchell, 5-11, 170, sr.; LB Khalik Perry, 5-11, 185, sr.; RB/DB Deangelo White, 5-9, 160, jr.
On the field: Mitchell, committed to William and Mary, has 8,109 passing yards, and 2,616 more will tie former Oscar Smith star Phillip Sims atop the VHSL career list. Mitchell’s lowest season total was 2,441 as a freshman. Along with Mitchell, the offense welcomes back South Hampton Roads’ top returning receiver in Chapel (77 receptions, 1,266 yards). White saw time in the backfield last season and is expected to become a primary ball carrier. Dee had his share of run-oriented offenses at Phoebus, but he also led teams that featured QB Tajh Boyd (3,505 yards over his two final seasons) and was an assistant at pass-happy ODU. Defensively, there’s no shortage of hard-hitters, led by returning standouts Artis and Perry.
2. Indian River Braves Classification: Group 5A
Coach: Glenwood Ferebee, 19-7 in two seasons at Indian River; 43-36 in seven seasons overall. Last season: 11-3 overall, 7-2 district.
Impact players: QB Keyshawn Brown, 5-10, 170, sr.; L Bruce Boone, 6-3, 315, sr.; WR/DB Devon Hunter, 6-2, 210, sr.; WR/DB Germeek Knight, 5-10, 165, sr.; L Keenan Moore, 6-3, 245, sr.
On the field: The Braves rebounded from a devastating last-minute regular-season loss to Oscar Smith to reach the 5A South Region championship game. Some key contributors graduated, including QB Tyre Givers-Wilson (Norfolk State), RB Tyain Smith (VMI) and linebackers Jaquan Yulee (Marshall) and Tavante Beckett (VirginiaTech).This team, though, is loaded with speed, and transfer Brown (Granby) gives the Braves an experienced signal-caller. Hunter is a playmaker and figures to see the ball – and play multiple positions – plenty after catching 24 passes last season. Up front, Moore is a returning captain and Boone was a second-team all-state pick, while an upcoming prospect – TE/LB Ah’sawn Moore – and transfers D’Jon Askew (Cox) and Demetrius Green (Oscar Smith) add to the depth.
3. Western Branch Bruins Classification: Group 6A
Coach: Greg Gibson, 32-14 in four seasons. Last season: 6-5 overall, 6-3 district.
Impact players: TE/DE Jalen Alexander, 6-4, 275, jr.; LB Alex Barteau, 5-10, 185, sr.; RB/WR/DB Keith Bryant, 5-9, 185, sr.; WR/S Zavion Hunt, 5-11, 200, sr.; L Clint Marshall, 6-4, 295, sr.
On the field: The Bruins welcome back 16 starters from a team that came within a whisker of knocking off Oscar Smith. The offense has playmakers, including 1,000-yard rusher Bryant and Brandon Byrd (569 regular-season yards), and a sizeable front line led by William and Mary commit Marshall. That should help ease the transition of new QB Dominique Brooks, a sophomore who last season was the junior varsity starter. The defense has eight returning starters after permitting fewer than 200 yards per game last season, with a big front line and solid linebacking corps headed by Barteau, Byrd, Horace Sawyer and Jayvon Sparrow.
4. Grassfield Grizzlies Classification: Group 6A
Coach: Martin Asprey, 62-34 in nine seasons. Last season: 8-4 overall, 6-3 district.
Impact players: QB/P Justice Bigbie, 6-3, 210, sr.; RB/LB Darius Hagans, 5-11, 190, sr.; L Seth Harrell, 6-4, 315, sr.; RB/WR/LB Shawndell Joyner, 6-2, 195, sr.; WR/DB Austin Wood, 6-3, 190, sr.
On the field: The chief concern is replacing the production of Grant Holloway, who graduated and headed to Florida after a play-making season on offense, defense and special teams. But Bigbie returns after throwing for 1,594 yards, and he has some experience around him. Hagans (444 rushing yards) and Joyner both saw time in the backfield, and Wood – a transfer from Great Bridge committed to Old Dominion – gives Bigbie (13 TDs, six INTs) a go-to target. Linemen Harrell and Collin Reese are a force on both sides of the ball.
5. Nansemond River Warriors Classification: Group 5A
Coach: David Coccoli, 12-9 in two seasons at Nansemond River. Last season: 7-4 overall, 6-3 district.
Impact players: WR/DB Quincy Gregg, 6-2, 190, jr.; LB Henry Moreno, 5-10, 215, sr.; WR/LB Gerard Stringer, 6-2, 190, jr.; RB/DB Javon Waller, 5-8, 175, jr.; L Elijah White, 5-10, 240, sr.
On the field: The Warriors took big strides in Coccoli’s second season, matching their highest win total since 2002 and collecting a convincing win over Grassfield. There are holes to fill after the graduation of two-time 1,000-yard rusher Terrence Lambert and standout lineman Thomas Jarrett Hopple (Virginia Tech), but plenty of experience remains. The speedy Waller saw time in the backfield last year, and Stringer and transfer Gregg (King’s Fork) give new QB Dyquan McGhee solid options. In the trenches, three-year starter White is joined by veterans Dia Gray and Brandon Reese, and two-time all-district pick Moreno anchors the linebackers.
6. King’s Fork Bulldogs Classification: Group 4A
Coach: Scottie Littles, first season at King’s Fork. Last season: 6-6 overall, 4-5 district.
Impact players: RB/WR Darran Butts, 5-8, 180, jr.; DB Terrell Hart, 6-0, 185, jr.; DL Xavier Ramsey, 6-2, 280, sr.; WR/DB Chris Shearin, 5-11, 175, soph.; OL Austin Williams, 6-4, 300, sr.
On the field: Littles, who won a state championship as a player at Landstown, takes over a program that Joe Jones led to four consecutive playoff appearances before leaving for Ocean Lakes. Star RB Deshaun Wethington – the school’s all-time leading rusher – graduated and headed to Towson. Butts is the likely successor, and he’ll have holdovers Ramsey and Williams to run behind. Shearin and Hart anchor the defense, which also has returning linebackers Tim Gronkoski and Bryan Walker. “We want to lay our foundation for the future as well as compete at a high level this year,” Littles said. “We are not looking at this as rebuilding.”
7. Lakeland Cavaliers Classification: Group 3A
Coach: Kevin Knight, 2-8 in one season at Lakeland. Last season: 3-9 overall, 2-7 district.
Impact players: RB/LB DeAndre Faulk, 6-0, 205, jr.; WR/DB Alajuwun Langston, 5-8, 150, sr.; RB Damontra Milteer, 5-8, 155, sr.; WR/DB Deondre Little, 5-10, 165, jr.; L Garrett Whitley, 6-1, 255, sr.
On the field: The Cavaliers last season won two regular-season games, but made the 3A East playoffs as the sixth seed and upended No. 3 Park View-South Hill. Knight is hoping to build on that with a stable of running backs, led by Faulk and Milteer, that saw significant playing time. Returning starting QB Tyquon Holloman and linemen Whitley and Jayree Hardy also will help on offense. Knight also expects the defense to improve with a solid linebacking corps led by Faulk, Ricardo Ray, Kory Lawrence and Demetrius McKinney.
8. Deep Creek Hornets Classification: Group 4A
Coach: Calvin Copeland, 6-34 in four seasons. Last season: 3-7 overall, 2-7 district.
Impact players: FB/LB Chris Green, 6-0, 205, sr.; QB/DB Jaylen Jefferson, 5-10, 170, sr.; FB/LB Tileek Lawrence, 5-10, 170, sr.; RB/LB D’angelo Mullen-Morrison, 5-11, 175, sr.; L Reggie White, 6-0, 215, jr.
On the field: Copeland, after a winless 2014, believes the Hornets took steps in the right direction last season, and a season-ending victory over King’s Fork gave them a boost heading into the offseason. “We have a lot of returning starters that will lead this team to be better than last year,” Copeland said. “This team worked hard in the offseason. They believe in the process. They believe in the team.” On offense, Jefferson – a “dynamic player on both sides,” Copeland said – is back along with Mullen-Morrison in the backfield and White on the line. Defensive leader Green also has experience around him, including fellow LBs Lawrence and Mullen-Morrison.
9. Hickory Hawks Classification: Group 5A
Coach: Jupiter Wilson, 15-35 in five seasons. Last season: 3-7 overall, 2-7 district.
Impact players: QB Jackson Childress, 6-2, 190, sr.; WR/DB/K/P Tommy Martin, 5-11, 175, sr.; RB Michael Ragudo, 5-10, 175, sr.; TE/L Tyler Trexler, 6-3, 275, sr.; FB/LB Steven Wadkins, 5-10, 205, sr.
On the field: Childress takes over behind center full-time after getting some experience last season, and running backs Ragudo and Eric Gamboni also return. Trexler, described as “tough as nails” by Wilson, gives the Hawks a stalwart on the line. That quartet should provide more consistency to an offense that was held to a touchdown or less seven times last season. Wadkins returns to lead the defense, while Martin was an All-Tidewater punter last season, averaging 40.2 per kick.
10. Great Bridge Wildcats Classification: Group 4A
Coach: Steve O’Neal, first season at Great Bridge. Last season: 1-9 overall, 1-8 district.
Impact players: G/LB Logan Akers, 5-11, 210, sr.; QB/DB A.J. Frommelt, 6-1, 180, sr.; L Casey Hilton, 6-2, 210, soph.; WR/DB Chase Rosenthal, 6-0, 170, sr.; L Nick Weaver, 5-11, 205, jr.
On the field: O’Neal takes over after Pete Gale unexpectedly resigned during his 11th season last year. O’Neal, a Great Bridge alum, hopes to rejuvenate a team that limped out of the gate last season with 31 points in its first seven games and picked up its only win against Deep Creek. Frommelt, a two-way starter, is back at QB, and he has a veteran target in Rosenthal. There’s stability up front with Akers, Hilton and Weaver, and finding reliable runners for O’Neal’s wing-T offense is a priority. Akers highlights the defense.