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2013 Piedmont District football preview capsule


The Roanoke Time | File 2012


Franklin County OG/LB Alveno Matthews (56)

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by
Robert Anderson | 981-3123

Wednesday, August 28, 2013


BASSETT

Coach: Jay Gilbert (ninth season)

Record at Bassett: 57-48

Last season: 4-7, 3-1 (lost in Region IV Division 4 first round)

Returning offensive starters: 2

Returning defensive starters: 3

Players to watch: QB Devontae Jordan (5-9, 166, jr.), SS-RB Tay Ross (5-11, 170, sr.), LB Ryan Akers (6-1, 196, sr.), TE-DL Ryan Wilkerson (6-1, 213, sr.), OL Deontae Warren (6-2, 316, sr.), NG Desmon Hairston (5-11, 388, jr.), SE-S Devontae Wimbush (6-4, 175, jr.), LB Xavier Johnson (5-11, 175, sr.), DL Jeremy Younger (6-0, 306, sr.). QB-DB Loje Witcher (5-9, 163, jr.).

2012 summary: The Bengals endured a six-game losing streak before steadying to win the last three to finish in a three-way tie for the Piedmont title and qualify for the region. Bassett was thumped 64-28 at Christiansburg to close the season. The last game was a microcosm of the season. The Bengals moved the football and found the end zone but the defense was porous. The yield was 36.1 points per game in the losses.

Outlook: Bassett's first order of business is to find a QB to run Gilbert's spread, which is minus all of the Bengals' top skill players in 2012. The decision is likely to go down to the wire. Candidates Jordan and Witcher are similarly untested. Witcher, who has been hampered by a bad back, is about a week behind. The playbook will be simplified early. Most of the first-year starters will be members of last year's junior varsity. Fresh relationships extend to Piedmont newcomers George Washington and Halifax County, which are on the schedule along with North Stokes, N.C. The Bengals are a 4A West playoff longshot.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Coach: Chris Jones (fifth season)

Record at Franklin County: 31-15

Last season: 4-6, 1-3 (did not make playoffs)

Returning offensive starters: 5

Returning defensive starters: 4

Players to watch: OG-LB Alveno Matthews (6-1, 240, sr.), RB-DB Thomas Church (5-11, 170, sr.), RB-DB Carlton Adams (5-9, 170, sr.), TE-LB Andrew Williams (6-2, 210, sr.), OL-DL Chris Luckett (6-1, 270, sr.), OL-DL Jack Boone (6-0, 250, jr.), LB Garrett Jennings (5-10, 205, sr.), QB-DB Bradley Parcell (5-11, 180, jr.), FB-LB Hunter Ingram (5-9, 150, sr.), QB-DB Braxton Wheeler (5-11, jr.).

2012 summary: The Eagles fell victim to injuries while slumping to their first losing season under Jones. Starting QB Kyle Ellis went down in the first scrimmage, foreshadowing a frustrating season in which starters would lose more than 200 combined quarters to injuries. The Eagles lost in overtime to Salem, Christiansburg and Halifax County.

Outlook: Franklin County returns its entire offensive line from last year - a major positive for a team that is breaking in new skill players. Parcell and Wheeler were battling for the starting QB job late in preseason camp, with Wheeler having steered the JV team last year and Parcell offering more of a running component. Church and Adams will get some competition at running back from freshman Andrew Harris, who looks like he could become a star. The Eagles will move to a 3-4 defense, putting the onus on veteran LBs Williams, Jennings and Ingram. The Eagles will be improved, but they'll probably need to win at least seven games - against a schedule featuring nine 2012 playoff teams to make the Group 6A South playoffs.

MAGNA VISTA

Coach: Joe Favero (sixth season)

Record at Magna Vista: 36-22

Last season: 7-4, 3-1 (lost in Region IV Division 4 first round)

Returning offensive starters: 5

Returning defensive starters: 4

Players to watch: WR-KR Bryce Hankins (5-9, 168, sr.), WR-KR Brent Hankins (5-11, 154, sr.), QB Calin Jamison (5-11, 183, sr.), S Jalen Hairston (6-1, 187, sr.), LB-RB Chanco Estes (5-11, 206, sr.), G-DE Xavier Greenfield (6-0, 275, sr.), OT Brad Brown (6-4, 253, sr.), OLB Malik Adams (6-2, 217, sr.),LB C.J. Bagwell (6-2, 204, sr.), OLB RaQuan Witcher (6-2, 196, jr.)

2012 summary: The Warriors were rolling going into the regular-season finale at Bassett having won five straight and seven of eight. The subsequent 20-19 loss seemed to take something out of Magna Vista. The opening round of the region at Pulaski County the Warriors never got going in a 32-0 loss. That was a complete turnaround from an earlier 34-28 victory over the Cougars.

Outlook: Magna Vista has a 51-man roster with 29 seniors. The experience confers a sense of urgency. A QB competition involves Jamison, who amassed 2,166 yards total offense in 11 starts, and sophomore newcomer Shoalin McGuire. Elsewhere, sophomore RB Jacqez Hairston will move from a part-time to full-time role. Other offensive skill positions will be set once a fourth wide receiver earns a job. The 3-4 defense will be built around senior linebackers Estes, Adams, and Bagwell. Jalen Hairston is a four-year starter at safety. Going to Franklin County and George Washington ups the challenge but anything less than a home game in the first round of the 16-team Group 3A West playoffs would be a major disappointment.

MARTINSVILLE

Coach: Orion Martin (first season)

Last season: 1-9, 1-3 (did not make playoffs)

Returning offensive starters: 5

Returning defensive starters: 4

Players to watch: WR-DB Brandon Carter (6-1, 185, sr.), WR-DB Darius Dillard (6-1, 141, sr.), TE-LB Christian Gravely (5-11, 151, fr.), RB-DB Zanthus Hairston (5-6, 135, fr.), QB-DB DaShawn Price (6-3, 137, sr.), OL-DL Malik Price (5-11, 242, sr.), RB-DL Taj Taylor (5-11, 235, sr.), WR-DB Shaq Tinsley (5-6, 130, sr.), WR-DB Kerion Witcher (5-9, 160, sr.), Montarius Hodge (6-1, 188, sr.).

2012 summary: The Bulldogs lost their first six games and their final three under Bobby Dalton, who announced his resignation before the season began. It was their sixth straight non-winning season, although they did make the playoffs in 2010 and 2011. Four teams that beat Martinsville last year are off the schedule. The team's top two rushers and top two tacklers last year, Larry Perkins and Alberto Garcia, graduated.

Outlook: Martinsville enters a new era as a Group 2A school. Martin, a former star defensive end at Virginia Tech and an assistant last year at Franklin County, becomes a head coach for the first time. Martin will use a spread offense and a 4-3 defense. Carter, who threw for 488 yards last fall, has moved to WR where he can take advantage of his sprinter's speed. The new starting QB will be Price, who completed six passes last year. Taylor (278 yards rushing) will be the fullback, while Hairston will be the running back. Newcomers to the schedule are Morehead (N.C.), William Fleming, Dan River and George Washington. It will take more than one or two wins to make the 2A playoffs.

PATRICK COUNTY

Coach: Kenny Perry (second season)

Record at Patrick County: 0-10

Last season: 0-10, 0-4 (did not make playoffs)

Returning offensive starters: 8

Returning defensive starters: 8

Players to watch: RB-DB Zach Tickle (5-11, 165, jr.), QB Tre Penn (6-2, 170, jr.), MLB Kody Katzer (5-11, 210, sr.), RT Zach Overby (5-11, 195, jr.), WR Denzel Anthony (5-10, 150, jr.), WR-CB Matt Hutchens (6-1, 165, sr.), DE Tyler Presnell (6-2, 220, jr.), SB-OLB Miguel Rodriguez (5-8, 180, jr.), WR-CB Will Hylton (6-2, 165, jr.), SS Ezra Carnes (5-7, 150, sr.)

2012 summary: The Cougars had little chance in Perry's first year as they extended their losing streak to 30 games. The last victory was 29-7 at Martinsville on Nov. 6, 2009. Problems were prominent on multiple fronts. The Cougars scored six points or fewer seven times with three shutouts. Opponents scored 51 or more points on five occasions. Leading tackler Marquise Nowlin graduated.

Outlook: Patrick County has hope based on two factors: starters returning at 16 positions and dedication to the offseason strength and conditioning program. Penn had some good moments at QB in the Cougars' spread offense, passing for 918 yards and four TDs. Tickle rushed for 571 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per carry with three TDs for a team that scored just 18 points in four Piedmont District games. Turnovers were a major problem. The Cougars had more than 20 for the season. Katzer is back after recording 56 tackles last fall. The Cougars must play new Piedmont members George Washington and Halifax County along with 2012 Division 4 state runner-up Heritage. The team is looking for a win anywhere.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

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