Preview: Defensive improvements a must for Patriot HS
At Varina, experience will be key
Team: Varina
Classification/Conference: 5A/Conference 12
: 4-6 (No Playoffs)
Head Coach: Stu Brown
Mascot: Blue Devils (Blue and Vegas Gold)
Over the last eight seasons, Coach Brown has helped lead the Blue Devils to a 61-. However, over the last two seasons the Blue Devils have hit a bit of a wall.
In 2014, the Blue Devils finished 4-6 and they followed that up with a repeat in 2015. In the eight years Coach Brown has been head coach at Varina, he has led the Blue Devils to the playoffs five times. Varina has missed the playoffs over the last two seasons and are trying to duplicate the days of finishing with double–digit win totals.
Last season, the Blue Devils endured a promising start taking out Norcom 46-20. A three-game skid followed to Thomas Dale, Hermitage, and Hanover. These three teams finished with a collective record of 30-9. After evening up their record with wins against Patrick Henry and Henrico, the Blue Devils lost 3-of-4 games missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Their last loss was against eventual 5A state champion, Highland Springs.
Coach Brown is in a position he hasn’t seen throughout his tenure at Varina High School. Digging the Blue Devils out of their current hole appears to be a daunting task, but with Brown at the helm there is absolutely no reason for the Blue Devils to panic.
On offense last season, the Blue Devils fell below their expectations. The Blue Devils only averaged slightly over 18 points per game. Varina stands to lose three starters across the offense and will be highlighted by the return of C.J. Jones (SR RB 6-0 185) and Raymond Coles (JR SB 5-11 185). The one-two duo looks to hold down the offense again this year and will rely on Brion Logan (JR QB 5-9 170) who owns a tight grasp of the Blue Devil offense.
Logan has a couple of great targets in Stephen Richardson (JR WR 5-8 165) and Samond Pinchback (JR WR 6-3 215) to eat up yardage through the air. Richardson brings a speed edge to the receiving core as Pinchback brings a size element. Jason Rickman (SR OL 6-3 285) leads the way for the offensive line and has been a three-year starter for Coach Brown. Rickman will the anchor for an offensive line that has the potential to do very well this season.
On defense last season, the Blue Devils had one of their worst seasons in recent memory. Varina allowed teams to put up their defense. Their worst outings came against teams with at least nine wins on the season. The Blue Devils gave up 55 points to Highland Springs, 45 points to Hanover, and 42 points to Thomas Dale. Jeremiah Edwards (SR NG 6-0 265) has the potential to be the most disruptive player on the Blue Devils defense. Edwards is a three-year starter across the defense line and joins Andy Matthews (JR DT 6-2 280) who both will solidify the interior.
Jace Depriest (JR LB 6-0 215) and Jasper Carter (JR LB 6-0 200) are the most experienced linebackers on the Blue Devil roster. Both are very dynamic players who specialize in stopping the run. Jaylen Jones (JR DB 6-0 175) and Ronald Smith (JR DB 5-9 175) represent the defensive backs who, similar to Depriest and Carter, bring back a lot of wisdom and experience to the back line. Raymond Coles and Warren Akande join Smith and Jones to round out the secondary for the Blue Devils. Varina will field a very talented and experienced defense this season; however, depth may prove to be a concern as the season progresses.
Player(s) to watch: The entire offensive line for the Blue Devils is a unit that won’t be able to be pushed around. Jason Rickman leads an offensive linemen corps where the shortest man stands at six-foot-one and the average lineman weighs 275 pounds. The offensive line holds two seniors and three juniors so experience and maturity shouldn’t be an area of concern for Coach Brown. The key for the offensive line will be whether or not they’ll be able to gel and gain momentum at the very start of the season. One thing is for certain, many defensive lines will have a hard time breaking through the front five of the Blue Devils.
All-in-all, Varina has the potential to rise above recent troubles that has plagued them over the last few seasons. The Blue Devils have a favorable opponent to start the season in Norcom, but it starts to get a little difficult from there. Following Norcom is Thomas Dale, Hermitage, and Lee-Davis. If the Blue Devils can finish that stretch with at least a 2- they may be able to ride some momentum into the playoffs.
– Brandon Mitchell
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