Throughout the month of August, VirginiaPreps.com will begin previewing the upcoming 2018 High School Football season. As part of our comprehensive coverage, we will be counting down the Top Ten Rankings for each classification.
#1 - Lord Botetourt Cavaliers
What to Know: Since Jamie Harless arrived as Head Coach in 2012, Lord Botetourt has experienced nothing but postseason play. Their finest run came in 2015 when the Cavaliers went 13-2 and reached the State Championship game, where they were taken down by Magna Vista. Last year's Cavs squad got hit with a rash of injuries, yet still managed to go 10-3, falling to Staunton River 49-31 in the Region 3D Championship. Don't expect the well at Lord Botetourt to dry up anytime soon; their junior varsity team hasn't lost a game in five years, outscoring foes 730-182 since 2016.
A total of 16 players with starting experience, 10 on the offensive side of the ball, are back in the fold for Harless and company. This is quite possibly the strongest and fastest team they've had, featuring an imposing offensive line four returning starters, anchored by All-State 1st Team right tackle and VIrginia Tech commit Jesse Hanson (6-5, 300). Sophomore LT Colston Powers (6-5, 290) is drawing Power 5 attention, while senior RG Meade Mayo (6-0, 285) and senior LG Grayson Evans (5-10, 220) are sturdy blocks as well.
Comforted most by having that offensive line should be senior QB Preston Martin (5-9, 160) , a dynamic runner and thrower who'll do damage with his arm and legs as long as he stays healthy. On track to set VHSL rushing records after just one season of play is sophomore tailback Hunter Rice (6-0, 215), a physical specimen that rushed for 1879 yards and 23 touchdowns during his freshman campaign to earn 2nd Team All-State honors. His brother, senior kicker Trey Rice (5-7, 130), is also an asset on special teams.
Besides having a workhorse in Rice to hand the ball off to, Martin has a reliable support cast with senior receiver Jake Dewease (6-0, 195) and junior wideout Evan Eller (6-0, 200), plus the likes of senior Brett Meachem (5-11, 225) at h-back, junior Ethan Clower (5-10, 195) at fullback and senior Adam Eller (6-1, 215) lining up at tight end. Dewease, who had two interceptions against Staunton River during the regular season, was a 1st Team All-Region performer at defensive back. Meachem is back at his original school after starting on both sides of the ball at Turner Ashby last year.
Not only should the offense be more explosive and balanced than they've ever had, their defense possesses a significant amount of size, speed and intelligence to reduce the 17.5 points per game surrendered during the 2017 campaign. Certainly replacing a four-year starter and All-State performer in Noah Overstreet on the d-line won't be easy. That being said, there's depth at each level of the defense and great potential behind those projected starters. Hanson and Mayo will help out senior DE Drew Wiley (6-0, 225) up front.
At linebacker, Hunter Rice doubles as a playmaker there to go with Clower, Adam Eller and senior inside 'backers Dylan Fralin and Cam Moss (6-1, 180). Evan Eller turned in a strong sophomore season with 68 solo tackles, nine stops for loss and eight pass breakups from his strong safety spot. Dewease will handle the other safety position, while Martin takes over at a corner with several others competing for the starting corner job opposite him.
On the schedule this season, many will be intrigued by their home opener against Class 4 Blacksburg (Aug. 31), led by UVA commit Tiquest Terry. Beyond that, the two teams that beat them last year - Staunton River and William Byrd - graduated record-setting rushers in Grayson Overstreet and Larry Basham, respectively. A trip to reigning West Virginia State Champ Bluefield on October 12th figures to be their toughest game until the playoffs. The Cavs are hands down the favorite in Region 3D with most anticipating a showdown between them and Heritage-Lynchburg in the State Semis come December.
Other Class 3 Top Ten Previews:
#2 - Hopewell Blue Devils - Read More Here
#3 - Phoebus Phantoms - Read More Here
#4 - Heritage-Lynchburg Pioneers - Read More Here
#5 - Norcom Greyhounds - Read More Here
#6 - Brookville Bees - Read More Here
#7 - James Monroe Yellow Jackets - Read More Here
#8 - York Falcons - Read More Here
#9 - Magna Vista Warriors - Read More Here
#10 - Southampton Indians - Read More Here
Final Class 3 Rankings for 2017:
#1 - Hopewell (11-4)
#2 - Heritage-Lynchburg (13-2)
#3 - Staunton River (13-1)
#4 - Phoebus (11-1)
#5 - Lord Botetourt (10-3)
#6 - Brookville (10-3)
#7 - Monticello (9-3)
#8 - York (9-4)
#9 - Magna Vista (8-4)
#10 - James Monroe (7-7)
Matthew Hatfield serves as Publisher for VirginiaPreps.com, part of the Rivals.com Network, and is a regular contributor to the ACC Sports Journal. 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 to Noon on ESPN Radio 94.1.
