Saints look to take final step Last season’s 10-2 record and St. Anne’s-Belfield’s trip to the VISAA Division II state final was the culmination of a complete about face by the Saints’ program as they built from an 0-10 record during many of the current seniors’ sophomore year. While several core members of that squad, including prolific quarterback Lee Parkhill and stalwart linebacker Minor Smith, graduated, the Saints appear poised to put together a pretty solid encore to last season’s incredible effort. The core for the Saints this season starts much as it has the last two years, with Kareem Johnson and Jalen Harrison on the boundaries. Johnson and Harrison have owned the edges at both wide receiver and defensive back the last two years for the Saints, and their impact should only increase. Johnson emerged as a pass rushing threat in the box last season and could be used that way again this year. Both should factor into the return game in some capacity and they’ll give whoever settles in at quarterback to replace Parkhill a pair of explosive, sure-handed targets that can score from anywhere. Harrison went for 779 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air last year, leading the area in receiving TDs while Johnson had 605 yards and eight touchdowns on 31 catches. He also threw in four
touchdowns in the return game and on defense. Tight end Campbell Miller should also continue to be a factor in the passing game. He scored on nearly half of his 13 catches on the season, finding the end zone six times while picking up 312 yards. John Woodson should shoulder more of the load in the ground game, but he’ll have to do so with some new faces up front after Bredt Stockwell and Gideon Elron graduated. Look for senior Woods Gibbons to take more of a leadership role in the trenches along with returning center Joe Upchurch, who’ll also be a factor on defensive line. Joining Johnson and Harrison in the secondary will likely be Miller and Lucas, with Lucas returning from an injury last season. Woodson should be ready to provide pressure on the edge much as he did last year. The Saints have opted for speed and quickness defensively the last couple of years in lieu of size, and it has paid dividends with the versatility of players like Woodson and Johnson, who can make an impact all over the field. The Saints are obviously no longer rebuilding after two straight playoff runs. They’re looking to load up, and with this group in place they certainly seem ready for another strong campaign. ✖
ST. ANNE ’S -BELFIELD
SAINTS
OLD DOMINION CONFERENCE, 2014 RECORD: 10-2 9/4 9/12 9/18 9/25 10/2 10/9 10/23 10/30 11/7
@ @ vs. @ vs. vs. vs. vs. @
Hargrave Christchurch St. Christopher’s Trinity Episcopal Nansemond-Suffolk North Cross Covenant Virginia Episcopal Blue Ridge
WHO’S GONE: LEE PARKHILL (QB), MINOR SMITH (OL/LB), BRODIE PHILLIPS (RB/DB) WHO’S BACK: CAMPBELL MILLER (TE/QB/ DB, PICTURED BELOW), KAREEM JOHNSON (WR/DB/RS), JALEN HARRISON (WR/DB/ RS), JOHN WOODSON (RB/DL), LOGAN LUCAS (ATH), JOE UPCHURCH (C/DL), PATRICK BLAKE (PK), WOODS GIBBONS (OL/DL) WHO’S NEW: BOBBY NICHOLSON (QB)
WOODBERRY FOREST
Tigers start with loaded roster
TIGERS
Woodberry Forest coach Clint Alexander faces an interesting challenge each year in constructing the Tigers’ schedule. With only a handful of Prep League opponents a set part of the slate, each year he has to hunt for opponents. This year, he’s put together a whopper of a schedule. The Tigers play Bishop McNamara, 4A North Carolina state champion Pinecrest, IAC Champion Bullis (Potomac, Md.) and Avalon School along with their usual round robin of top-flight in-state prep schools like Liberty Christian Academy, Fork Union and Collegiate. It’s a doozy, but the Tigers might just have the kind of deep, talented squad a program needs to navigate those kind of waters. That starts with junior quarterback Lindell Stone. The Texan signal-caller is back as the Tigers’ starter with scholarship offers from UCLA, Virginia, West Virginia and Purdue among many others. In his two years at Woodberry, Stone is undefeated as a starter. He’ll also have senior Zack Roderick to throw to as the senior returns after catching 33 balls last year for 392 yards and four touchdowns while John Kirven, a junior tight end with an offer from UVa, should also factor into the passing game. Newcomer junior
9/4 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/3 10/9 10/17 10/24 10/31 11/6 11/14
Terrel Jana will join the mix at wideout. Protecting Stone are three returning starters up front in Stanford commitment Clark Yarbrough and fellow seniors Jack Sari and Darby Henagan. Running back has some question marks with the graduation of current Columbia tailback H.T. Minor, but talented athletes like Lionel Johnson and others will likely fill that spot nicely for the Tigers. The secondary, as it so often is, is loaded for the Tigers despite the graduation of Prep League MVP Nathaniel Tyrell. Logi Portugal returns as does Michael Davenport at free safety. Look for Khalid Thomas to potentially have a breakout year as a sophomore in that unit while Bebe Olaniyan joins the defensive backs likely as a strong safety. While there are several holes to fill at linebacker, Joseph Stephenson was an all-state performer in the middle last year and Ryan Grady has an offer at Army and can cover the entire field with his speed. As the new defenders in the front seven like Derek Lora and Billy Solms find their footing, the Tigers’ offense will need to be ready to roll out of the gate. Sure, it’s a tough schedule. But this group of Tigers will be prepared to handle the pressure. ✖
PREP LEAGUE, 2014 RECORD: 8-1 vs. @ @ @ vs. @ vs. @ vs. vs. @
Bishop McNamara Pinecrest Bullis Liberty Christian Avalon Collegiate Trinity Benedictine St. Christopher’s Fork Union Episcopal
WHO’S GONE: H.T. MINOR (RB), COLE MARTINI (OL), NATHANIEL TYRELL (DB/RS) WHO’S BACK: ZACK RODERICK (WR, PICTURED BELOW), LINDELL STONE (QB), CLARK YARBROUGH (OL), MICHAEL DAVENPORT (DB), LOGI PORTUGAL (DB), LIONEL JOHNSON (RB/OLB), JOSEPH STEPHENSON (LB/SS) WHO’S NEW: KHALID THOMAS (QB/DB), JOHN KIRVEN (TE)
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