by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@sbgnet.com
(804) 240-2191
At first glimpse, yeah, Clover Hill should have a difficult football season.
QB Josh Bailey, WR Chris Smith and OL Anthony Davis are all playing collegiate football after helping the Cavaliers to an 8-2 record and 40 points per game.
But after a couple of glimpses of practice, the cupboard is very young, but definitely not bare in Cavalier land.
Start off with Joel Caleb, a second-team all-Dominion District selection as a freshman. He has the ability to play every skill position on offense and expect to see him move around in games.
But maybe not too much at quarterback.
Craig Sprouse, a junior, throws a very tight spiral, is athletic and expects to step in right where Bailey left off.
“I’ve got a lot of great weapons around me this year,” Sprouse said. “I feel as long as I do my job we can get everything done. We can be better than we were last year.”
Andrew Oliver is another talented player at wide receiver and one of a few seniors expected to make an impact. He won’t come off the field.
Christian Conklin is another senior at tight end.
Defensively the unit is anchored by all-district performer Mo Gross, a load to move at nose tackle. He’s a junior.
So is Deonte’ Strothers, an athletic player up from JV who O’Hare is looking to cause havoc in backfields from the edge.
Caleb leads the secondary and Oliver the linebackers.
“We’re young. We lost some very good players, there’s no question about
it,” Clover Hill coach Sean O’Hare said. “The big thing is going to be
getting our young kids up to speed. It’s going to be how quick our kids
mature and how we can play past this youth.”
ALL ABOUT CLOVER HILL
Key players: Joel Caleb, So., ATH/CB; Mo Gross, Jr., DL; Andrew Oliver, Sr., WR/LB; Craig Sprouse, Jr., QB; Christian Conklin, Sr., TE/DE; Deonte’ Strothers, Jr., WR/DE/LB
Key losses: Josh Bailey, QB (Lackawanna JC); Chris Smith, WR (Yale); Anthony Davis, OT (Towson)
Big game: at Monacan, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m.
Outlook: Clover Hill’s a young team. But region watchers may be surprised when the Cavaliers challenge in Division 5.
CAN’T-MISS VIDEO
Stephen Lewis’ take on the Cavs
Coach Sean O’Hare interview
WR/CB Joel Caleb interview
WR/LB Andrew Oliver interview
QB Craig Sprouse interview
MUST-SEE LINKS
2009 Schedule
2008 Schedule/Results
Back to 2009 Football Camp Tour
Team Page
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