King’s Fork Football may be at a crossroads. Their current crop of seniors will be expected to deliver big results in 2012. Few schools in the region can boast two high level Division I commitments at this stage of the game. Head Coach Joe Jones has developed his squad into a program that is capable of getting into the playoffs, where they’ve never been before. They just have to believe.
It’s another year of a youth movement at Tabb. Coach Matt Lawson has his squad ready for the high flying Bay Rivers District once again, and once again the Tigers will rely on young players to carry some of the load. There are some key seniors leading the way, but the youth movement at Tabb will have to figure out how to close out games if they’re going to pile up wins.
Eddie Handsome has come to Norview to establish a new era of football. None of the three coaches ahead of him could claim that. Tom Long lasted two games. Varsity Basketball Coach Jonathan Wilson finished the 2010 season. Greg Gibson took the Pilots to new heights in 2011, but departed for Western Branch. Handsome comes in to introduce some stability and continue the winning ways that were established under Gibson.
The Beach District is a battlefield for football teams. The Princess Anne Cavaliers are on a multi-season losing streak that’s reached 40 games now over four seasons. Head Coach Ray Gatlin is out to bring that to a stop, and it starts with positive attitude.
In the rough and tumble Southeastern District, Hickory High School Football has been something of an “almost have”. There are always haves and have nots. The state of football is somewhat cyclical, but Hickory has been on the edge of success for years now. Head Coach Jupiter Wilson is an alum of the school and was brought in to get the Hawks over the hump. Could this be the year they get there?
2011 was momentous for Warhill. The newly minted Williamsburg school has only five seasons under their belt and experienced their first winning season and first playoff season last year. What’s in store for 2012?
Wayne Lance has seen more highs than lows while coaching at Atlantic Shores. Though the Seahawks failed to make the VISAA playoffs last year, Lance has seen success in many seasons. So much so that opponents have been reluctant to schedule his team. Because of that, the Shores program has hit the road looking for games. They’re doing a lot of traveling again this year, but Coach Lance expects that his bunch is coming in ready to compete in a big way.
Oscar Smith brought home their second title in four years last year. They now have their eyes set on a repeat. August practices and scrimmages have them looking primed for a return to the title game, but the work they’re putting in now is only the latest of the many steps they’ve taken to get here.
The I.C. Norcom Greyhounds were a team capable of winning a state championship last year. Coach Larry Archie’s team had a great run, falling in the Division 5 Eastern Region Final to eventual State Champion Phoebus. Now it’s time to restart. Does the coach have the winning formula again?
The region’s number one player from the Class of 2013 has made his college commitment. Taquan “Smoke” Mizzell saw his stock rise in the off-season with MVP performance at a series of high profile regional and national events. Now he’s verbally locked in his college destination.