Everybody’s undefeated

High school football practices got underway this week and area coaches are excited about the season’s prospects.

Among them is first-year Charlottesville High coach Chris Fraser, who took over the program from longtime coach Garwin DeBerry.

The Black Knights opened practice Thursday, while several other schools, including Fluvanna County and Buckingham County, began tryouts Friday.

“I’m happy — we’re in pretty good shape,” said Fraser, who came to CHS from Smithfield High. “Our enthusiasm level is good, our conditioning is not there yet, but the attitude and effort is an A-plus from the kids.”

Charlottesville, which finished 2-4 in the Jefferson District last season, has the unenviable task of facing two-time defending Group AA, Division 4 state champion Amherst County in its opener on Aug. 29. Fraser knows it is a challenge, but expects his squad to be competitive.

“I expect us to do very well this year. We have a lot of talented players coming back, so our expectations are very high,” Fraser added. “I didn’t take this job to rebuild — I came here to win, and that’s our plan.”

The Black Knights were not the first local team to take the field, however. That distinction went to Louisa County, which opened its first day of practice at 12:01 a.m. on Monday — the earliest possible starting time according to VHSL rules.

The Lions, piloted by coach Mark Fischer, finished 3-7 last year, but won three of their final four games.

This is the second time in recent years Louisa has held its “midnight madness” practice. In 2006, the Lions also started practice under the lights, and that year advanced to the state Group AA, Division 4 title game, falling to Amherst. Louisa opens its season against Eastern View High on Aug. 29.

“The kids were asking about it, and why we didn’t do it last year,” Fischer said. “So, I said, ‘What the heck, let’s start afresh.’ It’s just something to kick this thing off right.”

Other public schools have yet to hold their first practice. Albemarle and Monticello, the reigning Group AA, Division 3 state champion, are slated to begin Monday.