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Lee-Davis has talent to attain lofty goals

Published: September 01, 2009
By Charlie Leffler
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  In his second year with the Confederates, head coach Jason Meade has Lee-Davis miles ahead of where they were coming into last season. “We’re not even in the same ball park,” he said. “We’re so far ahead of last year that it’s hard to even put it into words where we are with the foundation like we have.” Such a statement should cause everyone on this year’s Lee-Davis schedule to take notice. Last season, the C-feds proved a challenge to nearly every team it played and only fell due to the lapses one would expect under a first year head coach. This year, those lapses should be eliminated. “This is becoming the program that we set off to build here,” Meade said pointing out that the players and coaches are all on the same page coming into the season. “We dated last year and we’re married to each other right now.”

OFFENSE

  Throughout the fall camp a battle for the starting quarterback position was close between senior Phillip Gardner and junior William Coalson because each brought a particular talent to the field. While Gardner has a strong arm as a pocket passer, Coalson is mobile and opens up an option attack for the C-feds. But unlike last year when both Gardner and Will Burton split time on the field, which admittedly caused some cohesion problems on offense, Meade did not want go into the season without naming a starter. So following their scrimmage against Douglas Freeman last week, Gardner edged Coalson for the starting nod largely due to the experience he gained on the field last year.

  But the role of starting quarterback will be less pressured this year because the strength of the Lee-Davis offense rests in the able hands of their skill players. Seniors Will Connerley, Charles Griffin and Brandon Angus along with juniors Tucker Walton, Justin Becker, Devonte Scott, Chance Stone and sophomore Shane Reynolds will give the C-feds multiple options for moving the ball down the field.

  “I would take our group of skill kids over any other group of skill kids that I’ve coached in terms of ability and coachability and talent and toughness,” Meade said. “That’s a good, good skill group.”

  And such a group has Meade savoring the possibilities and should make for exciting football. “The puzzle pieces for what we can do offensively from the skill set are about as many as I’ve been around in the 10-11 years I’ve been coaching football.” 

  At tailback Walton will act as the primary ball carrier but he also has the ability to move to the slot. Scott will also put in time carrying the ball.

  Though go-to receiver TJ Harvey is gone from last season there should be no drop off when it comes to catching the ball.  Connerley could have a breakout year simply because the coaches will turn to him more than in the past. “We didn’t put him in a position to help us on Friday night,” Meade said this year will be different. “We’re going to put him in a position to help us on both sides of the ball.” Furthermore the athletic ability of Angus and Griffin will spread the attack.

  Also contributing at receiver and tailback will be junior Caleb Wyatt.

  And having a multi-pronged attack may prove vital because the C-fed O-line will be largely inexperienced. Senior Matt Doty stepped up in the off season by cutting fat and adding muscle to be a force on the line. “We’re expecting really, really big things out of Matt Doty,” Meade said. But outside of Doty youth will occupy the line.

  This year’s center will be a new player and Meade will go with either senior Dylan Harvey or Erin Palino. “It’s not an area of concern but it’s an area of question,” he said.

  Sophomore Bobby Gardner will take on the right tackle slot.
  “We’re going to have a lot of inexperience on that offensive line,” Meade said. “It’s going to be how good can we get those guys in the time before we play.”

DEFENSE

  What excites Meade on defense is that the outstanding skill set from offense carries over to the other side of the ball. Brandon Angus, Will Connerley, Chance Stone and William Coalson will all play important roles bringing speed and athleticism to the defense.

  After starting 10 games last season as a sophomore, Brandon Robinson will be back at inside linebacker. Senior John Alexander and junior D.J. Doane will battle it out for the remaining linebacker position.

  At outside linebacker, Meade likes what he’s seen from Benedictine transfer sophomore Zachery Yates as well as sophomore Jesse Smith who came up from the JV squad.

  The C-feds return only one starter on the D-line but Meade likes the talent he has seen there. Junior Calvin Davis is back and has taken on the role as the D-line leader. Fellow junior John Munn saw substantial minutes last season.

  Like the offensive front, Meade has questions but not concerns on the D-line. The coach expects senior Josh Rogodzinski to be a solid contributor along with Matt Doty moving over from the O-line.

  When it comes to the secondary, Meade may use a multitude of players in rotation due to his depth of talent. “We’re going to have kids who are going to play corner, play safety, play outside linebacker,” he said. “We’re trying to build in more functionality, being able to move those kids around a little bit more so we don’t get locked in.”

  As far as an overall leader on defense, Meade is turning to Connerley who had shown a willingness to accept the role during camp. “Will Connerley is going to lead those kids and those kids follow him,” Meade said. “And they follow because they know he cares about them.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

  Special teams were not so special for Lee-Davis last year, but that should change with this season. Meade moved Coach Ken Wakefield into the defensive coordinator slot so he could take over the role of special teams coach himself. “Our goal is to have the best special teams unit in the Central Region,” Meade said. To do so, Meade will use only his top players. “We’re going to play with the best of the best,” he said.

  Once again the C-feds skill set will play vital roles. “We look for those kids who can run, who can strike, who are physical and athletic,” Meade said. “The skill set that we have follows through three fazes, offense, defense and special teams.”

  Brandon Angus will handle kickoff and punting duties. Though Angus occasionally faltered last season, Meade said it was not due to the pressure of the position. “Brandon Angus is a gamer,” Meade said. “Pressure doesn’t get to him. He doesn’t have a bad kickoff due to pressure. He goes up there and has a bad kickoff because he’s a raw athlete and he’s not always taking the proper steps.”

  Because he has shown consistency throughout camp, Will Castelvecchi will take on PAT and field goal duties. 

INTANGIBLES

  The key to the Lee-Davis season rests largely on their team mentality. Meade believes he has all of the components necessary to beat any team on his schedule. The only thing that could prevent such an outcome is the players themselves not believing they possess such abilities. “We’ve got to understand that we can play with anybody in the Central Region and the state of Virginia,” Meade said. “Once we get our on-the-field confidence, we’re going to be right there with Highland Springs and Varina. Our kids need to understand that.

  “I think, in my mind, the ball bounces the right way there’s no reason we can’t be 10-0,” Meade said. “The ball bounces the wrong way a couple of times, in my mind we’re still 8-2, 7-3…I know we can beat Varina. I know we can beat Highland Springs. It’s just selling that to the kids.”

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