Tonight, it’s the only game in town. There’s no college football. No other high school games. Once again, the Oscar Smith Tigers play on national television, and this time it’s on the big network: ESPN. This is no ESPNU game. You can see it on the big screen, in hi-def. What you’ll miss though, might be the biggest opportunity yet to root on the hometown Tigers against another nationally ranked opponent who comes in determined to embarrass Oscar Smith.
It wasn’t a perfect performance, but the I.C. Norcom Greyhounds looked ready for prime time. Penalties stacked against Norcom, but the Greyhounds controlled the game and cruised against Wilson on Friday night.
The football season kicked off on Friday night and excitement levels were high. New coaches, new faces and new opportunities abounded as teams began the race toward the 2012 playoffs.
The “Turtle” made quick work of the Tallwood Lions Friday night at the Va Beach Sportsplex. Corwin Cutler tossed for more than 300 yards and 4 touchdowns…in the first half.
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?
