Another Thomas Dale

football season is approaching and every fall a group of young men take the

field for their final season. The Thomas Dale football tradition relies on these

seniors every year to provide the leadership and experience necessary to

succeed. This year the Knights head into early September with 23 seniors on the

roster. Two of those 23 seniors who hope to make a big contribution are brothers

Will and Joe Sloan.

For Will, a 6’1” 220 lb. linebacker/ fullback and Joe, a 6’0” 152 lb.

quarterback, Thomas Dale football is a family affair. Their father, Bill, played

for the Knights in the late sixties. In addition, two uncles, Bin Sloan and

Gibbons Sloan, donned the maroon and gray uniform. As a result, Will and Joe

agree that playing football for the Knights has always been a goal of theirs.

“Everybody who plays football around here looks forward to possibly playing on

Friday nights for Thomas Dale,” stated Joe.

That possibility is now a reality for Will and Joe, who have played football

together since their little league days in Enon. Last season for Thomas Dale,

Joe started three games at quarterback and is competing for the starting spot

again this year. Will is a solid middle linebacker who also rotates at fullback.

The brothers described the first two weeks of practice as intense and

competitive. “Everybody is battling for a position, there are no guarantees

for anyone,” stated Will. They also stressed that even though the practices

are competitive, team unity is very good. Thomas Dale will need this team

chemistry as they approach a year in which the Central District will be very

solid.

Thomas Dale begins the season with three tough tests against Dominion District

teams Manchester, Clover Hill, and cross Chester rival L.C. Bird. Once the

non-district schedule is behind them, the Knights will enter their Central

District schedule. Joe Sloan believes that this is going to be a very balanced

year in the Central District, “Everybody in our district is going to be tough

this year.” Last season, the four Division 5 Central Region playoff teams all

came from the Central District. Dale’s first three district games are against

three of those four playoff teams: Meadowbrook, defending Division 5 state

champion Hopewell, and Petersburg. After playing at Prince George and home

against Dinwiddie and Colonial Heights, the Knights conclude their regular

season on the road against Matoaca, who also made the Division 5 playoffs last

year.

Even though the schedule is tough, the Sloan brothers believe that this team has

the athleticism and talent to rise to the top of the district. Will Sloan on the

defense this year, “Thomas Dale always has a strong defense. That seems to

have a way of repeating itself and we believe that our defense will be solid.”

On the offensive side of the ball, Thomas Dale will have to replace the Central

Region’s all time leading rusher, Nick Fleming. Joe Sloan on trying to replace

Fleming, “That is a big loss but the guys that backed Nick up have talent and

experience.” Both Will and Joe Sloan believe that Thomas Dale’s special

teams will be strong this season as well.

Even though both Will and Joe Sloan hope to play college football somewhere next

year, they realize that this senior season will be the last of many seasons

spent playing organized football in the Chester area. Together they talked about

the tradition of Thomas Dale football, the coaches who push them to improve and

the loyalty of the fans. “We are proud to play football for Thomas Dale. We

look forward to our senior season.” That season begins for Thomas Dale next

Friday night, September 10th at Manchester.

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