PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: High hopes for Saints, Tigers

For the first time in three years, the St. Anne’s-Belfield football team enters the season without a state championship to defend. But the Saints aren’t going about their preseason business any differently than usual.

St. Anne’s will face its usual murderous non-conference schedule, with road games at Fork Union and St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes to open the season and a visit from Prep League power Collegiate in October.

What has changed for STAB is the identity of the offense. The loss of a talented class leaves the team in the hands of a new quarterback and two accomplished runners, but coach John Blake won’t tip his offensive hand.

“We’re going to go with what people give us,” he said. “We’re going to be talented enough in all the skill spots that we’re not going to be playing one-dimensionally — I hope, at least, we’re not going to be that way.

“As the year progresses, we need to be able to run the football. Somebody’s going to get a heavy dose of running the football, eventually.”

“Somebody” will be all-state selection Aaron Clark, who ran for 1,050 yards in just seven games in 2008, or Will McGhee, who filled in admirably when Clark was out with an ankle injury last season. They’ll work behind a line that returns just one starter in Matthew Sewell, who will inherit the role of the line’s leader from Bryan Stinnie, now at William & Mary.

“I think he’s ready to step in and fill the Stinnie shoes,” Blake said. “We’ve got some talent — we just need to get it in the right places.”

Barons look to air it out

While Blake hopes to have his offensive line in order by the time the season starts, one of his school’s Old Dominion Football Conference rivals counts the line as its greatest strength.

It all starts up front as Blue Ridge hopes to improve upon last season’s 5-3 record. Senior K.C. Camp will be joined by 300-pound newcomers Tyrell Chavis and Andrew Holgate on an imposing offensive front.

They’ll be protecting returning starting quarterback Speedy McCauley, a former Albemarle player who will be throwing to a pair of lanky former Patriots in 6-foot-6 Cameron Anderson and 6-foot-4 Andre Roberts. Senior David Coe replaces Denzel Wilson at running back.

Defense will be more of a concern for the Barons, who must replace three all-conference players in defensive backs Wilson and Ryan Smith and linebacker Paul Legros. Senior linebacker Roderick Holloway, a second-team all-ODFC player, will have to take charge as the defense finds its way.

A new era at Covenant

A developing quarterback, an interim coach trying to put his stamp on the program and a move to a new league make Covenant a team to watch in 2009.

The Eagles join Blue Ridge and St. Anne’s-Belfield in the ODFC after competing in the VIC last season. Interim coach Rich Little hopes to build on a season that saw Covenant reach the state playoffs for the second time in school history.

Little replaces Mark Sanford, who left to take the reins at William Monroe, on an interim basis. The school originally hired U.S. Military Academy assistant Dan Baranik to run the program, but he resigned earlier in the summer, citing personal reasons. Little, the school’s head lacrosse coach, was tabbed to run the football program.

His most prominent returning player is junior quarterback Lee Coppock, who will have several inexperienced weapons. Chris Shifflett, Fred O’Connor, Jesse Getchell and Sam Patterson are all vying to replace standout running backs Luke Heinsohn and Andy Colbert.

“For the size of our program and the kids that we have in skill positions, I think we’re going to have to open it up a little bit more,” Little said.

The Eagles will have to hit the ground running under their new coach — 2008 VIS Division II champion Atlantic Shores Christian is their second opponent. Games against Blue Ridge, Virginia Episcopal and Christchurch highlight Covenant’s home schedule.

Will Woodberry repeat in Prep League?

A rain-soaked 6-0 defeat at Fork Union was the only thing standing between Woodberry Forest and perfection in 2008, and the pieces are in place for the Tigers to put up another big year.

Woodberry’s leadership will come from the defensive side of the ball, with a pair of ACC-bound defensive linemen and a safety who could join them.

Duke-bound Aramide Olaniyan and Wake Forest commit Duke Mosby anchor the Tigers’ defensive line while fellow captain Ed Reynolds leads the defensive backs. Reynolds, who is deciding between Duke, North Carolina and Stanford, is one of four returning starters in the Woodberry secondary.

Coach Clint Alexander must replace a pair of offensive standouts in quarterback Chase Boyer and fullback K.G. Gaskins, both now at Richmond. Mammoth tackle Chad Kolumber (6-foot-8, 296 pounds) and center David Sherrerd-Smith return to lead a young offensive line as the Tigers look to keep pace with defending VIS Division I champion Collegiate in a stacked Prep League.

Fork Union hopes to take the next step

Led by a pair of ACC-bound linemen, Fork Union has the talent to improve on last year’s 4-6 finish. But first, the Blue Devils will have to find a quarterback.

A three-way race for the starting job has yet to produce a clear starter as Richard Quittenton, Mitchell Starnes and Fluvanna County transfer Jordan Roach battle it out. Whoever wins the job will work behind North Carolina-bound Russell Bodine and Virginia Tech commit Mark Shuman. Nick Acree, a fellow future Hokie, was slated to start on the line but is now expected to miss the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

“We’re real big and we’ve got experience,” said coach Micky Sullivan. “The trick will be finding guys who can back them up.”

Even without Acree and 2008 leading rusher Ethan Taylor, the Blue Devils should have a strong running game with Louis Litkett and Nathan Lundberg back. Jamal Hunter and Eugene McVey are also expected to contribute in the backfield in addition to their duties at linebacker, where they will be joined by Joe Branch, a threat in the passing game at tight end.

Fork Union hopes to rebound from last season’s 1-3 finish, but faces a difficult slate of opponents including Prep League favorites Collegiate and Woodberry Forest and non-conference powers Benedictine and St. Anne’s-Belfield.

“We’ve got to change our attitude,” Sullivan said. “In athletics, you have to face adversity and fight through it and we didn’t do a very good job of that last year.”