4
Football
The Daily Dispatch
J.F. Webb
Previous successes triggering anticipation
Friday, August 17, 2012
Aug. 17 Aug. 24 Aug. 31 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 26
@ Burlington Williams Person @ South Granville Franklinton @ Granville Central @ High Point Andrews Southern Vance* Orange* @ Chapel Hill* Northern Vance* @ Cardinal Gibbons*
7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
* 3-A Carolina Conference games
BY KELLEN HOLTZMAN DISPATCH STAFF
Two years ago, J.F. Webb’s junior varsity football team dominated the 3-A Carolina Conference on its way to an unbeaten season. Warrior coach Brian Currin, the only area head coach returning, is banking on that past success translating to the varsity level this season. Brian Currin Webb had a strong year in 2010, finishing third in the league, but a high volume of graduations, combined with a number of injuries, left the Warriors depleted last season. Currin said Webb will hang its hat on its defensive front seven, led by returning all-conference middle linebacker Bryan Smith. The Warrior coach said the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Smith can “definitely play at the next level,� he just needs to find the right fit. “He’s got exactly what you want in a linebacker,� said Currin. “He’s got good size. He’s got good speed. He just has a nose for the ball and wants to go hit somebody.� Smith leads a stacked group of linebackers that also includes Christian Tilley and Rufus Terry (all-conference honorable mention), also returning starters. Sophomore Gearl Majors lines up at one defensive end with senior Matt Hobgood on the other. In between are Eris Hart and Cedric Spence (all-conference honorable mention). Webb’s secondary is less experienced on the varsity level. Seniors James Strong and Deshawn Skipwith are joined by junior Nyqwanza Henderson and junior safety Antonio Bowden. Bowden had a good summer, highlighted by a seveninterception performance at an Averett University summer camp. “He’s really come on strong, has a good nose for the ball,� Currin said. “I’d expect big things from him and of course, he hasn’t started a game.� The Warriors offense should be more diverse this season with dual-threat junior quarterback Corey Evans coming up from JV. Currin expects Webb to go under center more this
WARRIORS • Head coach: Brian Currin, fourth season. • Last season: Webb was 3-8, 1-4 (fifth) in 3-A Carolina Conference. • Leading offensive returner: Deshawn Skipwith (senior wide receiver). • Leading defensive returners: Bryan Smith (senior linebacker), Rufus Terry (senior linebacker). • Flying under the radar: Antonio Bowden (junior safety). • Coach Currin: “This is the group that went undefeated on JV, so they know how to win and we expect big things from them.â€?
season rather than out of the shotgun formation. “With Corey back there and some of our receivers coming back, we can now throw the ball when we feel like it,� Currin said. Skipwith is the top target for Evans. The senior is Webb’s leading returner in touchdowns, receptions and rushing. Henderson, junior Beau Smith and sophomore Taylor Williams will also line up at receiver. The Warriors must replace Chris Billups, who was just short of 1,000 rushing yards last season. Evans and junior Tobiah Lewis will see most of the carries in 2012. “As long as they can keep doing what they’ve shown in the last couple of years on JV and what they’ve shown so far in camp this year, we should have a good year from those two guys,� Currin said. Evans and Lewis have some experience in front of them on the offensive line. All five of Currin’s top linemen (left tackle Si-Kevvs Johnson, left guard Jacob Williford, center Antonio Jones, right guard Cameron Blanchard, right tackle Zach Watkins) started at some point last season. “They get off the ball well and that playing experience from last year helps,� said Currin. Currin believes his starters can compete with anyone, but the team must work on building more depth. “As long as we stay healthy, we’re going to be OK,� said Currin. Contact the writer at kholtzman@hendersondispatch.com.
Daily Dispatch file Rufus Terry (33), one of three returning starters at linebacker, was named all-conference a season ago.
MARK DOLEJS / Daily Dispatch Members of J.F. Webb’s varsity football team are (front row, from left) Corey Evans, Christian Tilley, Rufus Terry, Nyqwanza Henderson, James Strong, Williams Gillespie, Beau Smith, A.J. Royster, Marcus Norwood, Deshawn Skipwith, (second row, from left) Antonio Bowden, Bryan Smith, Tobiah Lewis, Terane Thorpe, Brandon Jordan, Zach Watkins, Bobby Faulkner, Zach Bailey, Si-Kevvs Johnson, Matthew Hobgood, (third row, from left) Cameron Blanchard, Travis Ragland, Gearl Majors, Jacob Williford, Eris Hart, Antonio Jones, Devonta Green, Taylor Williams, Bradley Wiley, (back row, from left) assistant coach Larry Hester, assistant coach Paul White, head coach Brian Currin, assistant coach Lew Wilkerson, assistant coach Kyle Blackwell, assistant coach Tony Midgette, assistant coach Antonio Midgette and assistant coach Bryant Blackwell.
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