by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
Who is Mac Leighton?
A guy bold enough, confident enough and ambitious enough to take 0-10 J.R. Tucker and try to turn the Tigers into a respectable program.
“The biggest challenge here is not to try to get the players, but to try to boost morale and change the overall culture,” Leighton said. “That is the first objective I have as the head coach is to come here and change the entire culture, change the way that we approach football.
“Not only out here on the field but also in the school building as well.”
The Tigers scored 29 points total last season, as nine of their 10 opponents scored 30 or more points in their wins over Tucker.
Participation is usually decent, but not great for a Division 6 team.
Though the numbers are not overwhleming, Tucker is beginning to get the school’s best athletes out on the football field.
Basketball standout Orlando Irby has joined the fold. Track standout Quran Page is on the gridiron as well.
It’s a wonderful sight to Leighton, who at 30 years old is one of, if not the, youngest coach in Division 6 in the commonwealth of Virginia.
Before coming to Tucker he was the defensive coordinator at George Washington-Danville, a program that plays for championships consistently.
Leighton, a former Randolph-Macon player, is hoping to bring the same kind of success to Tucker at some point. But baby steps are what Leighton and the Tigers are taking.
“We’ve got a lot to work on, but we’ve got a lot to work with,” Leighton said. “That’s not a bad problem by any means.”
Leading the way for Tucker is Zach Midulla (6-2, 230), one of the top defenders in the area.
He’ll play on the team’s strong side sometimes at linebacker, sometimes at defensive end, with DL Josh Nuckols, a weight-room warrior this summer.
On the other side of them is Irby at DE and Page at LB to form a speedy weak side. Up the middle, Chris DeLeon is at linebacker to provide the thumping with captain Andre Biel.
Tucker’s QB should be Jerred Bennett, entering his second year as a starter. He’s a junior. A number of players will get carries and see passes, and Leighton is pleased with that.
“I’m definitely very excited about this challenge.”
2007 record: 0-7 Colonial District, 0-10
Overall
2008
season 2007 result
(all games at 7:30 p.m., unless noted. Click team for their
preview!)
Sept. 5 – Benedictine
L, 0-30
Sept. 12 – Hanover
L, 0-53
Sept. 19 – Henrico
L, 0-44
Sept 26 – at Patrick Henry L, 0-61
Oct. 3
– at Mills Godwin L, 16-40
Oct. 10 – Hermitage
L, 0-44
Oct. 17 – at Douglas Freeman
L, 0-33
Oct. 25 – John Marshall L, 0-56
Oct. 31 – Thomas Jefferson, 5 p.m. L, 6-21
Nov. 7 – Deep Run
L, 7-68
Big games: All. Hey, Tucker needs to get on the winning side. All games are big when you are trying to end a losing streak.
Key players: Zach Midulla, LB/TE, Sr.; Josh Nuckols, DL; Jerred Bennett, QB, Jr.; Andre Biel, LB; Chris DeLeon, LB; Orlando Irby, DE; Quran Page, LB.
Key losses: Tyree Harris, RB; Chaz Coleman, DB; Jeremiah Horn, DB; Buddy Bryant DL
The skinny: Early success is a key for Tucker. The players are buying into Leighton’s program. Something as small as scoring first against Benedictine in the season-opener or even winning that contest can do wonders for the Tigers’ confidence.
GALLERY!
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