Bayside Marlins
Beach District, 6A-South
Head Coach: Jon White (4th Year)
2015 Record: 7-4 Overall (lost to Cox 42-35 in opening round of the playoffs)

The Bayside Marlins jumped out to a 4-0 start in White's third season at the helm. They then hit a rocky patch, dropping three of their next five games, including getting blanked 20-0 by Cox and surrendering 585 total yards and 58 points to Ocean Lakes. Pitching a 37-0 shutout of Princess Anne in the regular season finale secured the Virginia Beach school's seventh straight playoff appearance.

In the postseason, Bayside ran into Cox again and this time the offense was much better in compiling 331 total yards and 35 points. Unfortunately, the defense got hit for 374 yards and 42 points as their comeback effort fell short. It marked the second straight year that Cox eliminated the Marlins in the playoffs.

Three Division I players graduated from an offense that put up 27.5 points per game in QB Donte Lampley (South Carolina St.), WR Phil Patterson (Virginia Tech) and two-time All-Tidewater lineman Tykee McCullers (ODU). "We have to do well at filling those experienced voids," White acknowledges. Seven players that started on offense, including four on the offensive line - senior OG Kwali Brown (5-10, 240), junior OG Nyjael Faulk (6-2, 312), junior C Tanner Blais (5-11, 210) and senior OT Elisha Mitchell (6-3, 207) - are back. Junior Sebastian Mumford (6-2, 240) is the other o-line starter.

New starting quarterback James 'J.P.' Davis (6-1, 180) isn't completely new to the offense as he saw some time playing behind Lampley a year ago. He'll also be helped by a talented cast of receivers that features junior go-to guy Armani Chatman (6-1, 177) along with seniors Chris Walker (6-2, 180), Julian Harper (5-11, 150) and Richard Smith III (5-9, 160). Chatman accounted for eight touchdowns three different ways a year ago, while Smith had 34 catches for 407 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a junior.

Carrying the load when it comes to the running game will be sophomore Michael Martinez (6-0, 185), who as a ninth grader had 41 rushes for 312 yards and 3TD's. They're looking to develop a #2 back, but the Marlins are well-stocked at the skill positions with sophomores Jayden Curry (5-11, 170) and Tajae Pollard (5-9, 165) as two others that should get opportunities to touch the football.

"This group has developed some camaraderie during the off-season and they’ve accepted their new roles collectively," White says. "Martinez running the ball gives us a chance to be successful. Davis has receivers that are capable of doing some big things, most notably Armani Chatman."

The 232 points Bayside's defense surrendered last year marked the most by the program since 2005 when they finished 2-8 overall and gave up 295 points. "Progressing this defensive group into a cohesive and aggressive unit is paramount. We have guys that have new roles, and the sooner that they reach top performance within that role, the better off we will be," White indicated.

Even with the departure of five seniors and two transfers, the Marlins may actually post better numbers defensively in 2016, believe it or not. That's because they have some valuable components in other areas back, beginning with Brown, a First Team All-Conference Coastal 1 selection, and Mitchell on the d-line. Those two combined for 90 tackles, 14 behind the line of scrimmage, a season ago. Joining them up front are Faulk and senior Treyon Morris (6-2, 190).

At the linebacker spot, Bayside will lean on a trio of juniors in Anthony 'Tray' Jones (5-11, 215), Tyree Dozier (5-10, 200) and Kamal Gardner (5-11, 220) as well as senior Wes Iobst (5-10, 185). Jones is a sure hitter that accumulated 80 total stops as a sophomore. Athletically, the secondary has promise with Smith and Curry at the corner spots, joined by Chatman and Walker, a Second Team All-Conference pick, as the safeties. Senior Zyaire McNeil (5-10, 150) figures to be used in nickel and dime packages.

"We have strength in the middle with Jones at middle linebacker as well as having Mitchell and Faulk on the interior defensive line," noted White. "Walker and Chatman cover and fill well at safety. Smith and Curry have shown to be solid corners for us."

This is a very interesting year in the Beach District, where it's more wide open than we've seen in recent memory. Some aren't expecting much from Bayside because of the pieces that aren't there anymore, most notably the likes of Teradja Mitchell and West Virginia commit Chris Hunt who are now at Bishop Sullivan. However, the opportunity is there for the Marlins to surprise some people and match or increase their win total from 2015, provided a couple of key things occur.

"The annual goal or motto of 'cutting down the turnovers' is the main factor," White commented. "The players are in place, and we have the potential to do something great." He's spot on in the assessment that the offense must do a better job of taking care of the football because their giveaway counts of 24 in '13, 28 in '14 and 23 a year ago plagued them.

All Davis needs to do is manage the game offensively because they want to have an identity of being able to run the ball with Martinez, yet there might not be a more explosive receiver in space in the Beach than Chatman, who has offers thus far from NC State, Rutgers and Virginia Tech. He's a game-breaker comparable in some ways to Anthony Cooper, a multi-purpose standout with the Marlins from years ago.

Bayside's defense played well in scrimmages against Norcom and Norview, perhaps a sign that they will be able to hang in games when the offense isn't clicking. Another plus is an early portion of the schedule where none of their first four opponents finished with a winning record last year, thus another 4-0 start can't be ruled out. "Once this defense has early success and an established level of faith is laid down, I feel that we can control each game we play and affect each team we face," White believes.

Matthew Hatfield has covered football and basketball since 2004 for VirginiaPreps.com, part of the Rivals.com Network, and is a staff writer for Tar Heel Illustrated. Check out Hatfield’s Twitter page for more sports related updates, and you can also read his work in the Suffolk News Herald. To contact Matthew, please e-mail hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com, and don’t forget to listen to him every Saturday at 10 AM on ESPN Radio 94.1, plus watch him on the Cox 11 Sports Report.