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 - Sherando Warriors
What to Know: Last year marked the first time since 2008 that Sherando failed to post a winning record. The Warriors went 5-5, suffering four of those losses by seven points or less, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003, Head Coach Bill Hall's first season at the helm. However, expect more cheering in Stephens City this fall with seven starters back on offense and seven back on defense for a squad that plays five of its first seven contests in front of the home fans.
Steering the ship offensively will be junior signal caller Hunter Entsminger, who was a 2nd Team All-Conference 21 selection after completing 63.9% of his passes for 1337 yards and a 15-4 TD/Int. ratio last year. He's the grandson of former Washington Redskins kicker Mark Moseley, the 1982 NFL MVP. There will be weaponry at Entsminger's disposal with 1st Team All-Conference senior wideout Aaron Banks and junior running back T.J. Washington, chosen 1st Team All-Conference at kick returner.
Although the Warriors have to replace three-time All-State performer Dylan Rivers, who's now at Virginia Tech, the linebacking core figures to be more than adequate with a trio of returnees in junior Joseph Doleman, senior Michael Perry and senior Joe Kelliher in their 3-4 scheme. Those three combined for 122 tackles, 13 for loss, a season ago, and Doleman earned Second Team All-Conference honors. Perhaps their biggest impact player on defense is junior lineman Isaiah Allen, a 2nd Team All-Region selection who's as agile as he is hard to block.
Final 4A Rankings for 2016:
#1 - Salem (13-1)
#2 - Dinwiddie (14-1)
#3 - Lafayette (13-1)
#4 - Dominion (10-3)
#5 - Woodgrove (12-1)
#6 - Lake Taylor (11-2)
#7 - Eastern View (12-1)
#8 - William Byrd (10-3)
#9 - Chancellor (9-3)
#10 - Amherst County (9-3)
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