Thomas Dale FB preview

by Seneca Contomanolis
DigitalSports Richmond
scontomanolis@digitalsports.com

To say that Thomas Dale overcome adversity last season might be an understatement.

For a while football took a backseat to the death of friend and teammate Malcolm Piggott.

The departure of many seniors because of the passing, injuries and a 1-5 start could have forced the Knights to throw in the towel.

But Thomas Dale did not quit and won their last four games of the year to earn a .500 record.

“It was a different type of adversity,” Knights coach Vic Williams said. “When you lose your star player a day before practice that’s something we hope we never face again.

“Adversity this year would be going into the fourth quarter tied, maybe an injury they have to overcome. But hopefully they will carry over what they can from last year and build on it.”

The bulk of the offense returns and will be run by quarterback David Williams. The senior started two games as a sophomore and was under center all of last season.

“He is talented and smart. He knows what to do,” Vic Williams said.

Dale East will lead the offensive line at tackle and will open holes for senior running backs Domonique Thompson and Alex Stevens.

Seniors Justin Hunt, Chris Heflin and Jeremy Coleman makeup a strong wide receiver unit for the Knights that caught a lot of balls last season and Vic Williams expects them to be even better.

“It’s looking good, got a lot of different options,” said Hunt of the offense. “A lot of people are fighting for positions but overall we are looking pretty strong this year.”

Defensively Thomas Dale only loses three players from last season’s team.

East again anchors the line while David Williams (FS), Hunt (DB), Heflin (DB) and Coleman (DB) form the secondary.

“That’s excellent because you don’t have to go over the beginner stuff. You can go straight to the coverages and we already know we can hit,” said Hunt of the experience on defense.

Hunt will also play on the special teams returning kickoffs and punts.

2007 record: 5-2 Central District, 5-5 Overall

2008 schedule                                     2007 result
(all games at 7:30 p.m., unless noted)
Aug. 15 – Henrico, 7 p.m. (scrimmage)
Aug. 22 – at G.W. Danville, 4 (scrimmage)
Aug. 28 – at Manchester                           L, 35-14
Sept. 5 – L.C. Bird                                     L, 45-0
Sept. 12 – Varina                                      L, 26-7
Sept. 26 – at Meadowbrook                      W, 19-16
Oct. 3 – at Matoaca                                   L, 35-17
Oct. 10 – Dinwiddie                                   L, 41-6
Oct. 17 – at Colonial Heights                     W, 16-7
Oct. 24 – at Petersburg                             W, 20-6
Oct. 31 – Prince George (Homecoming)      W, 35-14
Nov. 7 – Hopewell (Senior Night)                W, 34-7

Big games: L.C. Bird, at Meadowbrook, Dinwiddie. The Knights will face some stiff competition throughout the season. Taking two of these three games will have them feeling pretty good about themselves.

Key players: David Williams, QB/FS, Sr.; Domonique Thompson, RB, Sr.; Alex Stevens, RB, Sr.; Justin Hunt, WR/DB/KR/PR, Sr.; Chris Heflin, WR/DB, Sr.; Dale East, OT/DT, Sr.; Jeremy Coleman, WR/DB

Key losses: Chili Davis, DB (Campbell); Thomas Withers, DE; Luke Slate, DT

The skinny: Both the offense and defense has a lot of experience playing together. If they can carry over their momentum from the end of last season Thomas Dale will be a force to reckon with.