Throughout the month of August, VirginiaPreps.com will begin previewing the upcoming 2017 High School Football season. As part of our comprehensive coverage, we will be counting down the Top Ten rankings for each classification.
#10 - Northumberland Indians
What to Know: For only the third time this century, the Indians achieved a winning record, going 7-4 overall. That came after a 5-0 start as Northumberland stumbled a bit down the stretch, bowing out in the first round of the playoffs to Luray, 27-18. Enter a new Head Coach, yet a familiar face in Aaron Lewis, who guided the junior varsity program to a 8-1 record last year and is a former Northumberland standout player. The cupboard is far from bare with 14 returning starters, eight on offense and six on defense.
First Team All-Rappahannock River Conference 43 quarterback Delvin Palmer returns for his junior season to direct a Northumberland attack that won't be lacking for speed. Lewis believes this group can be one of the fastest in all of Class 1, using their tempo and depth to wear down opponents. Seniors Kameron Lee and Keyon Turner ought to see ample time in the backfield as well as junior Terrance Drake and sophomore Derick Smith.
Along the line of scrimmage, the Indians feel optimistic with senior DE/OG Collin Chinn and senior TE/DE/LB Christian Headley - both 2nd Team All-Conference performers a year ago - and senior lineman Austin Mothershead (6-2, 315) back. Defensively, they'll be looking for big things from a number of players with senior DE/LB Jeroul Jackson, senior LB David Christian, sophomore DE/LB Jahiem Owens and junior LB Jerquist Morris all showing considerable promise.
Final 1A Rankings for 2016:
#1 - Riverheads (12-1)
#2 - Sussex Central (12-1)
#3 - Galax (11-3)
#4 - George Wythe (12-2)
#5 - Parry McCluer (11-2)
#6 - Hurley (11-1)
#7 - Altavista (9-4)
#8 - Fort Chiswell (9-4)
#9 - Colonial Beach (9-3)
#10 - Chilhowie (9-3)
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