Throughout the month of August, VirginiaPreps.com will begin previewing the upcoming 2019 High School Football season. As part of our comprehensive coverage, we will be counting down the Top Ten Rankings for each classification.
#10 - George Wythe Maroons
What to Know: The 2018 campaign was expected to be somewhat of a re-build for the George Wythe Maroons, who shook off early lopsided losses to State Playoff qualifiers Radford and Chilhowie to go 7-5 overall, winning at least one postseason game for the fourth time in five years under Head Coach Brandon Harner. Under Harner, the Maroons have gone 42-18 overall. Another winning season, even with their first four games this year coming against Class 3 or Class 2 schools, seems probable. After all, they haven't finished .500 or below since a 2-8 mark in 1996.
One of the most dynamic players at the Class 1 level will be senior RB/DB Ravvon 'Scrappy' Wells (5-9, 165), chosen 1st Team All-Mountain Empire District on both sides of the football as a junior. Not only is Wells terrific from his safety spot, but he averaged 8.3 yards per carry as a sophomore running the ball, then followed that up with more than 1200 yards on the ground and 17 touchdowns a season ago. Harner believes the offensive line can be better this year because of more experience.
Up front, Wythe brings back three starters on the o-line with senior tackle Dorrien McMillian (6-0, 220), junior tackle Dorran Harmon (6-2, 250) and junior guard Nick Martin. Seniors Nigel Skinner (5-10, 300) and Javion Jackson (5-9, 260) are the new starters on the front. A proven quarterback will help this offense stay balanced, too. Senior QB Cole Simmons (6-1, 170) threw for 1655 yards and 16 touchdowns last year to earn 2nd Team All-District honors. That included 248 yards through the air in their playoff loss to Galax.
Simmons isn't a one-trick pony either; he also ran for 700 yards and nine scores, so he can make things happen with his feet. A trio of juniors in Braydon Thompson (6-1, 170), Davion Tillison (6-2, 175) and Jude Reigelsperger (5-8, 160) will make up the receiving core along with senior wideout Dayson McMillian (5-9, 190), their likely big-play threat.
Flipping over to the defense, the Maroons have seven starters returning, though top tackler Caleb England is gone. Besides Wells on the back end, they'll lean heavily on the linebacker core with the McMillian brothers, Thompson and Martin. Dorrien McMillian had 67 solo stops through 11 games last year. Harmon and junior Connor Fowler (5-10, 190) highlight a defensive line that entered camp with unknowns at d-tackle.
Reigelsperger is back at one corner, while Tillison is slated to occupy the other corner spot. Any injuries to those main contributors would be a concern for both sides of the ball since there are several two-way starters. A trip to Class 2 title contender Radford right off the bat will be a great gauge as to what kind of damage this Wythe can team in Region 1C this year. Galax has beaten them four straight times and will be the hurdle for everyone, but Narrows, Parry McCluer, Covington and newcomer Grayson County all are expected to be heard from as well.
Final Class 1 Rankings for 2018:
#1 - Riverheads (12-2)
#2 - Chilhowie (14-1)
#3 - Galax (11-3)
#4 - Essex (10-4)
#5 - Patrick Henry-Glade Spring (11-2)
#6 - Northumberland (11-2)
#7 - Narrows (10-3)
#8 - J.I. Burton (9-3)
#9 - West Point (8-4)
#10 - Parry McCluer (7-5)
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