Rams

Charles

Lafayette

New Kent: The Trojans

lose several key all region performers, including both way all

region winner George Jones (RB/DB) who also won all state honors

as well as the District MVP award, but will return a very

competitive team for Coach Fred Birchett. Travis Lee may be

ready to fill the Jones slot at running back, but the Trojans

will continue to use multiple backs and RUN the ball.  The

team has a lot of playoff experience after making a strong last

season in losing in the Division 3 State Championship game to

Liberty (Bedford).

Lafayette: The Rams are poised for another

strong season, returning 8 starters on both offense and defense,

including two running backs (Todd Reyher - an all region

performer last season, and George Pittman - only a rising

sophomore).   Ryland Wilson also returns

at WR/LB, and could be one of the best players in the district,

if not region, he teams with Reyher on defense to give the Rams

a solid LB duo.  Rising sophomore QB Kyle Hughes could be

one the the best football players that this traditional power

has ever produced. After losing only 5 starters off of last years team that went to the state finals

before losing to Heritage (Lynchburg), the team is poised for

post season play again this season.  A regional rematch

against Powhatan will likely determine one of the state

semifinalists.  Last season Ross

Pinkett was named the AA Defensive Player of the Year and made

first team all state for the second straight year. 

Southampton: Will field a very good

football team again in `03. A strength will be the offensive

line and one area of concern is the runningback position. The Indians have an impressive QB (Todd

Faison) and WR (Marcus Hill), both all region performers last

season. One of the key offensive lineman returning is Donte

Smith (OT/DE).  On defense they did lose all region pick Vernon Bryant (LB)

but have starters returning in the secondary in Hill, Richard

Davis and Tyson McClenny.  

York: Coach John Ashley told

VirginiaPreps that his team should be able to put points on the

board this season.  Junior Stepehn Ott returns at QB along

with runningbacks Charles Brown-Rich and Mike Leccadito

(JR).  "We had to replace our defensive line and our

secondary" said Coach Ashley.  "Also our kicking

game is going to be a big question mark" he added. 

Good news for Opp and Brown-Rich is that 3 of the 5 starting

offensive lineman return.  "Brown-Rich will have to

carry the load" said Ashley.   On defense the

Falcons have good, young linebackers returning (Leccadito, Tracy

Poulsen and Jose Smith) along with DE Ryan McNally. 

Brown-Rich will also place in the secondary along with Joe

Tierney.  If the defense comes up strong, York could move

up in the District and contend for a playoff spot. To keep teams

from keying on Brown-Rich at RB, a 'go-to' WR needs to emerge.

will be led by Paul Louden and Marcus Haywood (DB), both

seniors..  Louden, a  linebacker,  is a tackling

machine is also effective in the Panthers offensive scheme as a

tight end.  Haywood will also be a featured back in the

Bruton Wing-T attack.  Led by one of the district's best coaches in Kyle

Neve, the Panthers will have to work hard to unseat the teams

picked ahead of them in the district.  "We will have

most of our skill position players back," Coach Neve told

VirginiaPreps.  He added, "We should be strong at

running back and should have good depth there".  On

defense the Panthers return 9 of 11 starters. Other key players

returning are Marques Hayward (DB) and Roberto Rojas

(OL/DL). 

Grafton: Coach

Walton told VirginiaPreps "We should be ahead defensively

when our season starts.  Hopefully, that will keep us above

water until our offense jells".  Key players on

offense will be Jamal Meekins (RB), Cody Hayes (QB), and

Darrieus Ramsey (WR/RB).  On defense the Clippers will look

to Matt Small (LB), Meekins (DB), Hayes (LB) and Ramsey

(DB). 

Poquoson will also be a tough team to face, thanks to

outstanding tailback Josh Zidenburg. There quarterback should

also be back healthy which should help.

Jamestown is one of the highest scoring teams in the Bay Rivers

District, led by the play of wideout Terrell White and QB Danny

Asip.  Another that compliments the offense is Brad Boyd

(WR).  With most of the experience graduating in the

offensive backfield, the following will battle for playing time:

Andre McLaughlin, Rudi Arrington, Tommy Patton and Marcus &

Macellus Stepney.  The offensive is run out of the pro

set.  The strenght of the defense will be the backfield,

with White, Dustin Hitt, Marcellus Stepney and McLaughlin

returning.  Returning at LB is Jamahdia Gaines.  The

defense features the '50 set' scheme.