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ER Monday Morning Quarterback 9

Two more
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Eastern Region Monday Morning Quarterback editions left this regular season and
one of them is right here as we recap the latest happenings around the '757',
plus another in-depth conversation with a winning Head Coach in the area
looking for two more wins to get at worst a share of a district title.
 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>
href="http://matthewhatfield.com/Football/2009_ClassAAA_EasternRegion_HighSchoolFootball_Schedules.pdf">2009
Eastern Region Schedule & Results
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:maroon'>Game of the Week:
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>#2 Phoebus 17, #7 Hampton 0:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>Grabbing their 30th consecutive victory over a
Peninsula District team, the Phantoms pitched shutout #18 in the last 29 games
to improve their record to 8-0 this season. 
Leading the way for Phoebus were fullback
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Chaz
normal'> Robinson (41 yards rushing, 39 yards receiving, TD catch and 9
tackles) and quarterback
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Paul Morant (5-10
passing for 71 yards, TD pass and TD run).
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>
href="http://virginiapreps.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1006134">Recap
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>
href="http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/914/861815.WMA">Postgame Audio with
Phoebus Coach Stan Sexton
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>#1 Oscar Smith 38, Nansemond River
12: 
10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>It was another monster defensive performance from
Oscar Smith defensive back Charlie Ricks,
who made three more interceptions to raise his season total to eight, and he
also had five grabs for 67 yards on offense. 
Quarterback Phillip Sims completed
14 of 26 passes for 176 yards and 2TD's, and sophomore tailback
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>J.C. Coleman rushed for a career-high
156 yards on 23 attempts and scored a touchdown.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Ocean Lakes 16, #3
Bayside 6: 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Despite not getting an offensive
touchdown, the Ocean Lakes used an opportunistic defense and strong special
teams play to knock current Beach District leader Bayside from the ranks of the
unbeaten. 
normal'>Reggie Owens made three interceptions for the Dolphins, including
one he returned 36 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to push the Ocean
Lakes lead from three points to double-figures.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>
href="http://virginiapreps.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1006566">Recap
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>
href="http://virginiapreps.rivals.com/photofeature.asp?SID=914&fid=30511">Rod
Johnson's Photo Feature
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>#4 Woodside 43,
class=SpellE>Kecoughtan 13: 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Senior quarterback
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Aaron Evans completed 7 of 11 passes
for 117 yards and 3TD's as the Wolverines cruised past Kecoughtan
and moved their record to 7-1.  In a
losing cause, Melkim
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Reaves rushed for 118 yards and a pair
of touchdowns in the second half to prevent the Warriors from being shutout.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>#5 Grassfield
22, Hickory 9: 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>For the second week in a row,
Grizzlies running back Alfonso Emery took
his first run of the game took the house, sprinting 57 yards for a touchdown and
giving Grassfield, which improved to 6-2 overall, a
record they never relinquished against the sputtering Hickory Hawks, who have
now dropped six in a row.  Emery totaled
103 yards rushing, and fullback Nick
class=SpellE>Warack racked up 91 yards rushing on five carries.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>#6 Lake Taylor 49, Wilson 0:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>The Lake Taylor Titans have now scored nine touchdowns via
their defense or special teams this season and three of them came in a 49-0 shutout
of Wilson on Friday night. 
class=SpellE>Derrion
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> 'Booty' Walton, who finished with
4TD's, returned a punt 45 yards for a score,
normal'>Stanley Walls had a 65-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and
class=SpellE>Torrein
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Edwards scored on an interception
return.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>#8 Norcom 52, Granby 7:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>Accounting for five touchdowns (3 passing, 2 rushing),
Greyhounds quarterback Deandre
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Lamb passed for 109 yards and added 72
yards with his feet in a 45-point rout of the now 2-6 Granby Comets.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
normal'>Demontray Ryland had
2TD receptions and Anthony Blount gained
109 yards on the ground, plus scored his sixth rushing touchdown of the season.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Booker T. Washington 7, #9 Maury
0: 
10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Recording their first defensive shutout since 2005,
Booker T. Washington upset Maury in a game that knocked the Commodores out of a
four-way tie for first place in the Eastern District, and in the process, kept
slim playoff hope alive for the Bookers in Division 5.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
normal'>Donte Capers rushed
for 121 yards to pace the BTW offense, and quarterback
normal'>Dominique Marsh completed 18 passes for 121 yards.
 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>#10 Great Bridge 33, Indian River
19: 
10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The Great Bridge defense created five turnovers,
and the offense, led by junior quarterback Brad
Hudson, rolled up 308 total yards as they improved to 7-1 on the season.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Hudson completed 18 of 35 passes for 190
yards while also rushing for 65 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>#11 Landstown 7,
class=SpellE>Tallwood 0: 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>In a defensive struggle, the
Landstown Eagles held on for a 7-0 shutout of the Tallwood
Lions to improve their record to 6-2 overall. 
Landstown out-gained Tallwood 320-35, but was
stopped four times in the red zone and their only touchdown came on a 76-yard
scamper from Jordan Broadnax.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>#12 Cox 19, Kempsville 13:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>Rallying from a 13-3 deficit against a Kempsville team
using its third-string quarterback, the Cox Falcons moved to 6-2 overall with a
come-from-behind triumph over the Chiefs. 
The Cox ground game rolled up 228 yards rushing, keyed by quarterback
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>D.J. DiNardo and
fullback Devaul
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Peterson, both of whom scored a
touchdown. 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Green Run 27, First Colonial 13:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>Finally being close to 100% healthy after suffering an ankle
injury earlier in the year, Stallions running back
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Dejor
normal'> Simmons accumulated a season-high 182 yards, including 81 of those
yards on a touchdown run in the second quarter, to lead Green Run to a win over
First Colonial.  Quarterback
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>B.J. Waters threw for 130 yards, 80 of
them coming on a touchdown strike to
normal'>Tresmond Johnson,
and ran for 76 yards and a couple more scores.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Salem 47, Princess Anne 0:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>Sophomore running back
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Divante
normal'> Walker ran for 3TD's and freshman quarterback
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Temuchin
normal'> Hodges produced 3TD's (2 passing, 1 rushing) in the
class=SpellE>SunDevils' most lopsided win on the 2009 campaign.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Defensively, Salem pitched its second shutout
of the year and held PA 11 total yards on offense.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Churchland 27, Norview 21:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>Overcoming an 80-yard touchdown run and 69-yard
interception return for a score by Norview's
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Stephen Sims, the Churchland Truckers
remained in a three-way tie atop the Eastern District with Lake Taylor and
Norcom by virtue of their six-point victory over the Pilots on Saturday
afternoon. 
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Jocorey
normal'> Robins and Cedric Cradle
Jr. found the end zone twice apiece in the win for the Truckers (5-3
overall, 4-1 in district play).
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Lakeland 20, Deep Creek 0:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>Forcing a season-high seven turnovers, the Lakeland
defense was in complete control against Deep Creek, shutting the Hornets out
for the first time in school history.  Quarterback
Walter Boykins
of Lakeland threw for 107 yards and scoring strikes to
normal'>Donovan Wright and
normal'>Jaquan
normal'>Demiel, and running back
normal'>Cedric Johnson ran 16 times for 53 yards and a touchdown
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Western Branch 24, King's Fork 6:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>On 12 rushes,
normal'>Leondre Walker gained
198 yards and scored a touchdown on a 56-yard burst to propel the Bruins past
the King's Fork Bulldogs (1-7). 
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Vernon Payne was on the receiving end
of four passes, three going for first downs, for 61 yards, and the Western
Branch defense continues to play at a high level as they've now not allowed a
score for 12 quarters since the lone King's Fork touchdown came on a 93-yard
punt return by Dominique Patterson.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Bethel 42, Menchville
14: 
10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Receiver Stephen
Clark caught four passes for 105 yards and 2TD's from quarterback
class=SpellE>Rashad
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Manley in the Bruins' 28-point win
over Menchville, which fell to 1-7.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
normal'>Rijo Walker returned
a punt 72 yards for a touchdown to give Bethel a special teams spark as they
ran their record to 5-3 before facing Warwick and Phoebus in their final two
regular season games.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Warwick 20, Denbigh 0:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>Quarterback
normal'>Lamonte' Williams and
running back Courtney Hill combined
for 183 yards rushing and 2TD's as the Raiders blanked Denbigh by 20 to
significantly aid their postseason chances in Division 5.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
normal'>Rashard Whitlow was
huge for the Warwick defense, intercepting three passes in the victory.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Heritage 22, Gloucester 19:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>Coming back from a 10-0 half-time deficit, the Heritage
Hurricanes grabbed their first win of the season with a narrow three-point win
over winless Gloucester.  The Canes got a
69-yard touchdown pass from Adore Pope to
Jamar
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Bateman, and Pope ran for the go-ahead
touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:maroon'>Four Questions
class=GramE>To Ponder:
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>#1:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Crabbers Slipping?
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>Hampton is no longer the power or threat they once
were.  The question is will this be a
temporary or permanent view?  My guess is
closer towards temporary.  They lack an
explosive running game, having failed to crack the 100-yard plateau rushing in
five of their eight games.  On defense,
they are giving up 16 points and 246 total yards per game, this one season
after ranking 12th overall in the Eastern Region in scoring
defense.  In other words, for Hampton, a
team that ranked no lower than 7th in the region in scoring defense
from 2000-07, they haven't been an elite defensive squad the past couple
seasons. 
 
After
all, let's keep things in perspective. 
They do have the man coaching them in
normal'>Mike Smith with more victories and state titles than anyone else in
VHSL history, and this year's team does have only 11 seniors.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  This will be the first time since 1976 they
don't finish with at least eight wins during the regular season.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Given their track record, you have to figure
this being just a down year compared to their usual standards, and that they'll
be back and heard from again soon. 
Shoot, they will probably finish 7-3 and everybody is asking what is wrong
with Hampton?  A lot of teams would like
to be 7-3 and consider that a problem.
 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>#2:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Who's The Challenger To
Phoebus? 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Every year the game that Phoebus
always circles is Hampton.  They are
their biggest rival and have beaten them in big games before, but lately, it
has been thorough domination for the Phantoms. 
Phoebus has won four consecutive games in the series by a convincing 104-12
margin.  Both the Phoebus offense and
defense is playing at a different level than most teams in the Eastern Region,
Hampton included.
 
Regionally,
the closest team to them in D-5 now is Lake Taylor. 
Last year the Titans gave Phoebus their closest game, a 14-0 loss for
Lake Taylor in the Division 5 ER Final at Harbor Park in a contest that was 7-0
in the fourth quarter.  Statistically,
the Titans defense mirrors Phoebus, making for a possible showdown once again
in the ER D-5 Championship, provided both teams get there.
 
On a
state level, the clear-cut answer is Stone Bridge.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Sure, the possibility exists that Phoebus
will see Dinwiddie from the Central Region again, a team that the Phantoms
defeated in last December's State Championship. 
But Stone Bridge, which got hammered by Phoebus 38-8 in last year's
State Semis, is the last team to beat Phoebus. 
Since the Bulldogs defeated them in the 2007 State Semis, Phoebus has
won 23 consecutive games, and if the two are to meet again in the State
Playoffs for a third straight year, it'll come in a State Championship setting
in Charlottesville this year.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>#3:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  What Impact Will The Ocean Lakes Appeal
Have? 
10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Ocean Lakes' appeal and whether or not the forfeits
are overturned is going to affect a handful of teams in the Division 6 playoff
race, most notably 'bubble' teams like Cox, Kempsville, Salem and First
Colonial.  With their latest victory over
Kempsville, the Falcons of Cox probably got themselves off the bubble for now,
but really need to beat FC in the regular season finale to feel good about
getting in the postseason.  Also, Kellam
is holding on to slim hopes in Division 5, but they will be completely erased
if Ocean Lakes gets their wins back because it will take away a victory from
the Knights and add a loss on to their record that would significantly damage
their postseason hopes.
 
The
Division 6 playoff picture in general will change quite a bit if Ocean Lakes is
added back to the mix.  And unless Ocean
Lakes gets their wins back, the only undefeated team standing in Division 6 is
defending State Champion Oscar Smith.  A
return of those wins for the Dolphins would put the possibility back in the
equation of Ocean Lakes and Oscar Smith meeting with undefeated records in a
region final.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>#4:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Is There A District Crazier Than The Eastern
District? 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>In a word, no.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
We've seen such surprise results as Maury beat Lake Taylor, Norview top
Booker T. Washington and Booker T. defeat Maury.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Churchland also handed Norcom its only loss
on the year in an overtime thriller. 
With all the zaniness and unpredictability in the league, it still seems
like Lake Taylor is the team to beat and that we may have our answer as to who
the best team is after Friday when they take on Norcom.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Here's why.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
With
their loss to Booker T. Washington last Friday, Maury did a few things.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  One, it put the Bookers back in the playoff
chase for the final spot in Division 5. 
Secondly, it knocked the Commodores out of a four-way tie atop the
Eastern District with Churchland, Norcom and Lake Taylor.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Now Maury can help decide the district title,
potentially even an outright winner if they're able to beat Churchland on
Friday because then the winner of Norcom vs. Lake Taylor would most likely go
on to claim the league title outright.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> By Friday, maybe, just maybe, things will be a
little clearer in this improving, though hard-to-figure-out, topsy-turvy district.
 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:maroon'>One-on-One
Conversation with Norcom Head Coach Larry Archie:
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:maroon'> 
In 2006,
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Larry Archie was hired to be the Head
Football Coach of the Norcom Greyhounds in Portsmouth, VA.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Archie, then 41 years of age at the time,
knew it was going to be an awful tough challenge to restore the pride and
tradition the program had for many years under
normal'>Joe Langston in the 1980's and early 1990's.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  In fact, year one for Archie was rough, going
3-7 overall.  After beginning his tenure
with a 7-13 mark, Archie has since rebounded to go 14-4 in his last 18 games.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
 
This
year, the Greyhounds won their first three district games for the first time
since 1996, and now they are primed to make the postseason for the first time
since 2000.  Archie spent some time on
Sunday discussing his program, the ups-and-downs and a huge upcoming league
game with Lake Taylor on the eve of Halloween.
 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:maroon'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Q: 
At 7-1
Coach, I know you would love to be 8-0 and have won that overtime game with
Churchland, but you have to be pleased with how your team has performed,
especially on defense by holding seven of the eight teams you have played to 13
points or less.  What are your overall
thoughts on the squad to this point?
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Archie:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>"I think one of the things that helps
us is we're a senior-heavy team.  We have
a lot of kids in key places that have been playing for three years, not just on
the team.  The experience that we have
helps us.  We've been in some big games
before and several guys are playing the same positions.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  One of the senior leaders for us is
class=SpellE>Deandre
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Lamb, who's been the starting
quarterback for his third year.  He calls
about as many plays as I do during the course of a game.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  That's been able to help us quite a bit."
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Q: 
Lamb got
off to a sluggish start the first couple games, then he really picked it up
accounting for a bunch of passing and rushing scores in leading the offense.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  On defense, linebacker
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Demontray
normal'> Ryland is a D-I prospect and the returning Eastern District
Defensive Player of the Year.  Would you
agree they've been everything you could ask out of them as senior captains?
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Archie:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>"Yes, they have.  We
talk a lot about let your performance speak for you.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  If you play, you don't have to say a word.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  They've shown through their abilities and
willingness to play the game on Friday night that they are a valuable part of
what we do. 
normal'>Anthony Blount is another one that's been running the ball pretty
consistent.  He takes a lot of pride in
his blocking, and he's been really solid for us."
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Q: 
This
Norcom program used to be a perennial power in the Eastern Region, primarily in
the early 1990's under Joe Langston when
the team was competing at a regional and state level for Championships.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Considering some of the adversity that you
have battled, such as the death of
normal'>Rashawn 'Peanut'
Finney last year and missing the playoffs despite going 7-3 while two teams
with 6-4 records beat your squad out for the final two spots, it hasn't been
easy building this program back up into a contender.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Take me through how that process has gone?
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Archie:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>"One of the things I did when I came to Norcom was an overall
assessment of the program just to see where we are.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  It wasn't so much about the wins and the
losses as it was about the mind frame of the kids.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  I knew it was going to be tough because one
of the toughest things as a coach to do is to teach kids how to win, to get
that mindset that we expect to win now as opposed to hoping to win when we
first got there.  We understand that
winning is a process and it takes a while for you to change some of the
thinking, attitudes and what goes into it. 
It's not a Friday night thing. 
You win the game Monday through Thursday.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  You win games and you turn your program
around in the off-season when you have a lot of guys in the weight room.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  One of the big things too was that our kids
bought in. 
 
I came
from Lake Taylor where I was there for three seasons and in those three seasons
was able to watch Hank Sawyer win
two district Championships.  I had a
formula and that was teamwork.  When our
kids kind of bought into that formula, things started to change for us.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  I think it's just about changing the attitude
about winning, changing the culture.  The
kids have to work hard because nobody is going to give you anything.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Once you do turn the corner, you have to be
willing to take everybody's best shot.  I
think that's one of the things that helped us get to a point where we're able
to win, and also where we're able to do well in games where people are coming
to get us."   
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Q:
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
You spoke earlier on Lamb, Ryland and Blount as the headliners for this
team.  Tell me about a few of your unsung
heroes, guys that have kind of gone unnoticed that you think have been
x-factors or key contributors at times where games have been tight and needed
someone to step up?
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Archie:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>"I think one of the guys that really is not unsung but may
fit that description because most of your offensive linemen don't get much
attention is   
normal'>Robert Jackson.  Robert
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> is a captain for us up front and he
was All-District last year.  It's
unquestioned that he's a coach's son, and he's the son of the Head Coach over
at Salem (also named Robert Jackson).  He's
been real solid for us, checking us into good protections, helps Lamb out a lot
and he's definitely a leader up front on the offensive line.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Carlos
Mills was an All-District performer as a freshman defensive back two years
ago and he still is doing a nice job. 
Carlos also plays wide receiver for us and returns kicks and punts.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Monte
Robinson moved from outside linebacker to defensive back and he's been real
solid.  He's had some picks and I think
he had two or three against Heritage. 
class=SpellE>Kameron
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'> Mack has been real instrumental in the
secondary.  He's a 6-foot-5 junior free
safety and getting some Division I interest, even Virginia Tech likes him a
little bit. 
 
"We have
a real good mix of guys.  A lot of times
people say, 'Hey Coach, you're doing a great job.'
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  But players win games.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  I just happen to be there directing and
orchestrating.  When you have pretty good
players, you'll win more games than you lose. 
We've been blessed to have some guys that can help us win."
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Q:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  
font-family:Verdana'>Upcoming is a huge Eastern District battle with Lake
Taylor and Coach Sawyer's team has been the top dog in this district for a
while.  Even with a loss, your team is in
good shape as far as making the playoffs, but this one could very well decide
who wins the district title, whether it be outright or shared with Churchland.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  What are your thoughts on this upcoming game
and what these last two games mean here as you try to head towards the postseason?
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> 
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Archie:
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
font-family:Verdana'>"One of the things we did we started the very first day of
practice was talk to the guys about the difference between winning some games
and winning Championships.  We did a lot
of paperwork the first day.  We talked about
how a Champion brings it 100% of the time. 
A team that's going to win some games is going to bring back 80, 90,
class=GramE>95 percent.  But as a
Champion, you're 100% all of the time.  We
talked about winning Championships from day one, not just being in games.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  We don't want to go back and say 'well, if we
had or I wish we could've, should've, would've,' and those types of things.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 
 
I think
the overtime game we lost to Churchland, that's a prime example.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  This is the difference between winning some
games and winning Championships.  You
have to be able to win the overtime games, the close games and the games you're
not picked to win.  We talk about winning
Championships and devoting the time and energy towards that goal.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  In our district, it all starts with Lake
Taylor.  Regardless of whoever else is
playing well, they've been the Champion in our district for the last three
years. 
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>   
 
It's
going to be a game where we have to take care of the football and it's going to
be a strong defensive game.  I don't know
that there will be a whole lot of points scored.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  I think it'll be about the team with the best
field position, special teams will play a part and I don't think defensively
either one of us will give up a whole lot of big plays.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  It's going to be a tough game and I know Hank
will have his guys ready.  One of the
things I picked up from him is that their kids expect good things to
happen.  My goal has always been to get
to a point when I've got my guys expecting good things to happen.
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  It took a couple years just to change their
mindset.  We've come ready to play and
done pretty well the last couple years showing up to play."
 
 
Matthew Hatfield has covered Eastern Region Basketball
& Football since 2004 for VirginiaPreps.com - the #1 High School Sports
Site on the Rivals Network.  Check out Hatfield's website -
href="http://www.matthewhatfield.com/">www.matthewhatfield.com - for more
on the pro and college sports scene.  To contact Matthew, please e-mail
href="mailto:hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com">hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com, and
catch him throughout the year on High School Sports Talk on
href="http://www.espnradio941.com/">ESPN Radio 94.1.
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