by Seneca Contomanolis
DigitalSports Richmond
scontomanolis@digitalsports.com
Nothing comes easy in the Dominion District.
Midlothian coach Dave Cooper knows this all to well. He hopes his team does, too.
“They’ve got to understand that we can’t show up and win games,” Cooper said. “We have to give great effort, we have to play hard, we have to execute. Those are all things we can only work on right now in practice.”
A Trojans team with only seven seniors last season managed a 2-8 overall record. This year with a lot more experience and a strong team chemistry Midlothian hopes to play better on Friday nights.
“I think potentially we can give a lot of people fits in the Dominion,” Cooper said. “Wins are out there for us, we just have to go out and get them.”
Quarterback Josiah Shelton returns at quarterback for the Trojans. The junior has a lot of athletic ability and should be a dual-threat with the ball.
Senior Bryce Lilly will be in the backfield with Shelton at running back. Lilly is a big back at 6-2, 215 and will be hard for opposing defenses to bring down.
“He is hard-nosed and tough, a good all-around football player,” Cooper said.
The wide receiver unit is inexperienced and depending on how juniors Charles Poindexter, Robert Jones and Mitchell Pereria develop may be a huge factor in how the offense performs.
On both sides of the ball the line is young. Senior center Callen Larus is the most seasoned and will have to lead the group.
Junior linemen Danny Klein (6-5, 260) and Matt Arkema (6-4, 285) will be asked to play a little both ways giving Midlothian great size.
The defensive end positions are held down by returning senior starters Daniel Mullally and Neil Mulvany. Lilly is at linebacker but the rest of the linebacker spots are still up for grabs.
Perhaps the strongest area on the whole Trojans team is their secondary. All four starters return with three-year starters Chase Delans (FS) and Jimmy Krahe (SS) leading the way.
“It’s nice to have more experience,” Delans said. “Last year we were just trying to get the coverage down. Now that we are basically playing the same coverage it will be nice to know what we are doing more.”
2007 record: 1-7 Dominion District, 2-8 Overall
2008 schedule 2007 result
(all games at 7:30 p.m., unless noted. Click team for their preview!)
Aug 22 – at Deep Run, 6 p.m. (scrimmage)
Aug. 28 – Atlee, 6 (scrimmage)
Sept. 5 – at Meadowbrook L, 45-3
Sept. 12 – Cosby L, 27-6
Sept. 19 – George Wythe W, 21-8
Sept 26 – Benedictine W, 14-10
Oct. 3 – L.C. Bird L, 38-0
Oct. 10 – Clover Hill L, 40-0
Oct. 17 – at Huguenot L, 27-21
Oct. 24 – Monacan L, 14-0
Oct. 31 – at Manchester L, 35-14
Nov. 7 – at James River L, 40-0
Big games: All of them. If Midlothian wants to make some progress this season they are going to have to play every game like it is their last.
Key players: Josiah Shelton, QB, Jr.; Callen Larus, C, Sr.; Danny Klein, OL/DL, Jr.; Matt Arkema, OL/DL, Jr.; Chase Delans, FS, Sr.; Jimmy Krahe, SS, Sr.; Bryce Lilly, RB/LB, Sr.
Key losses: Ryan Kearns, T; Harrison Pisecki, G; Robbie White, DL
The skinny: The Trojans are older than last season but still have a lot of youth. This season could be a stepping stone to next year’s success.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE CENTRAL REGION FOOTBALL PREVIEWS!
Processing your request, Please wait....
