The Beach District has always provided a gauntlet for the teams to run. Because the eleven schools all play each other and only each other, some prosper while others falter. Kempsville last made the playoffs in 2009 and hasn’t finished the season with a winning record since 2005. Head Coach Jamaine Paddyfoot has been trying to right the ship for three years. Will the team break through this season?
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Several enter 2013 FBS competition (or former FBS competition) as the only former 757 player at his school. Some are freshmen, some are veterans with different paths. We’ll spotlight those who have gone off to college on a path less traveled. We’re calling them the lone wolves, attending school with no other players from The 757 and blazing their own trail.
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The Warwick Raiders have had a bumpy offseason. 2012 was the first year in the last six where Warwick didn’t make the playoffs. The squad graduated several star seniors, including running back Cardon Johnson and athlete Josh Butler. Head Coach Juan Jackson didn’t survive the offseason, getting dismissed after his team finished 4-6 last year. New Head Coach Bernard Griffin is breathing life into the program after a dark spring. He’s approaching 2013 with cautious optimism.
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James Madison University head football coach Mickey Matthews begins his 15th season in Harrisonburg during changing times. In six years of the prior 14, the Dukes reached the 1-AA playoffs (now “FCS”) pinnacled by a national championship in 2004. However, they failed to reach the playoffs in three of the last four seasons.
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Old Dominion is continuing their pursuit of the hottest local prospects. Green Run athlete Anthony Scott is a burner. Not only that, but he’s skilled on both sides of the ball. That’s what makes him very attractive to college coaches. Scott holds several offers, including James Madison, East Carolina, West Virginia, and Hampton University. His ODU offer is important, not only because of where he wants to play college ball, but also where he wants to play on the field.
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First Colonial Football has a rich history. Since the school’s opening in 1966, the Patriots have produced some notable football talent and sport a 309-170 win-loss record. Unfortunately, it’s been a number of years since they were a dominant program. In 1991, FC finished 11-1. They haven’t had a playoff year since 1998. That’s bound to change this year.
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William and Mary sent a local to the NFL this year when B.W. Webb (Warwick High School) was selected by the Dallas Cowboys. While that’s unusual, it’s not unusual to see locals on the Tribe’s roster. Grafton wide receiver Jesse Santiago and Landstown quarterback/safety Keanu Reuben signed with the Tribe in the 2013 recruiting class, and this year could be a coming out party for them both. Otherwise, there are a few locals that are already established on the roster, and they’ll be looking for bigger roles this fall.
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The Gloucester Dukes don’t have much of a football heritage to look fondly upon. The Dukes were 0-10 last year and haven’t made a playoff appearance since 1986. Former Head Coach Sonny Merchant left the program midseason last fall and is now an assistant coach under Danny Dodson at Woodside. VHSL reclassification might open the door for the Dukes a little bit, but they’re still playing a tough schedule full of Peninsula opponents. The bar for reaching the playoffs is lowered, but can they manage to earn the wins they’ll need to play in the postseason?
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By all accounts, Tommy Reamon’s Landstown Eagles had an off year last year. After three straight years of playoff runs, the Eagles finished 4-6 and fell short of the postseason. Things are looking up at Landstown. They will have a young team this year, but Coach Reamon is excited about the youth and athleticism on his roster.
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Some expected Phoebus to be shocked by what they would see out of #15 ranked DeMatha (MD). Instead, it was the Stags that ended up surprised by the Phantoms. The 1st Annual Power Recruit Classic was every bit of the powerhouse match up that it had been billed as, and Phoebus walked away with a strong showing, but a loss on the scoreboard.
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