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.
#2 - Phoebus Phantoms
What to Know: With seven State Championships since 2001 and 16 consecutive seasons in which they've advanced in the playoffs, the Phoebus Phantoms are one of the most accomplished football programs in VHSL history. Coach Jeremy Blunt has continued on the winning tradition established before him when he was a player, but they are far from satisfied with losing each of the past two years in the State Semifinal rounds to eventual Champs Magna Vista and Blacksburg. Finishing first is the ultimate prize they're pursuing.
Phoebus brings back a lot of experience on offense, beginning in the backfield with 2nd Team All-State performer Daniel Wright (178Att. 1162Yds. 15TD's) and 2nd Team All-Region running back Daequan Fleming (122Att. 744Yds. 5TD's). Seniors Kameron Wilson, Jamal Waheed, Tim Young (6-4, 308) and junior Donovan Cooper all started games on the offensive line. Young, a 1st Team All-Conference 27 pick, anchors that unit.
Sophomore Chris Daniels moves up from the junior varsity ranks and will be the starting quarterback. Blunt likes his command in the huddle and savvy, helping the Phantoms win a pair of 7 on 7 passing tournaments during the summer. Capable receivers are in place with junior Barry Hargraves and senior Dequandre Edwards, both of whom got playing time in 2016. What separates Phoebus from most of the schools at the Class 3 level is their tenacious defense, which pitched five shutouts last year.
Johnathan Gregory (Norfolk State), the 3A State Defensive Player of the Year, departed along with two other All-State defensive backs in Deshawn Pope and Andre Jackson. However, the secondary figures to remain in top-notch form with lanky safety Damion Charity, a scholarship player with offers from multiple including Old Dominion, patrolling the back end. He's flanked by highly regarded sophomore Thailand Baldwin and transfer Latrelle Smith, a two-year starter at Tabb who has thrived at corner throughout the off-season.
Senior Darrell Bryant (61 stops) moves from outside linebacker to strong safety and has a knack for making plays. Kareem Wilson is the anchor at middle linebacker, where he'll be joined by Wright at the 'Will' spot and Edwards at the other outside 'backer position. At d-end, Juan Purdie will spearhead the pass rush and cause problems off the edge with his quick twitch. By playoff time, Phoebus will be battle-tested playing in the usually rugged Peninsula District and a trip to Norfolk to take on Lake Taylor, who has beaten them by 82 points combined the last two meetings.
#3 - Staunton River Golden Eagles - Read More Here
#4 - Magna Vista Warriors - Read More Here
#5 - Hopewell Blue Devils - Read More Here
#6 - Heritage-Lynchburg Pioneers - Read More Here
#7 - James Monroe Yellow Jackets - Read More Here
#8 - Brookville Bees - Read More Here
#9 - Norcom Greyhounds - Read More Here
#10 - Abingdon Falcons - Read More Here
Final 3A Rankings for 2016:
#1 - Blacksburg (10-5)
#2 - Staunton River (13-2)
#3 - Phoebus (11-3)
#4 - Hopewell (10-4)
#5 - Rustburg (10-3)
#6 - Brentsville District (10-3)
#7 - Heritage-Lynchburg (8-5)
#8 - James Monroe (9-3)
#9 - Lakeland (7-6)
#10 - Brookville (9-3)
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 10AM on ESPN Radio 94.1.
