by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
With the amount of college scholarships Hermitage’s football seniors earned last season, there should be some kind of drop off.
But that’s not likely in 2008. The Panthers have plenty of capable players remaining, and expectations are sky high, as usual.
“We graduated a lot of seniors,” coach Patrick Kane said. “We have a lot of seniors playing for us this year but they’re a little inexperienced, so that’s a big test.”
Theron Norman is one of them.
Yes, he’s an all-DigitalSports candidate at safety and has already committed to Virginia Tech, but he’s never started a game at quarterback, though he was very capable.
He battled Tech’s Ju-Ju Clayton in many camps, splitting time with Clayton in his sophomore season. But Clayton won the job last season as Norman concentrated on safety and got some backup reps.
But now he’s the man and looks quite ready for the gig.
“He’s been practicing and practicing quarterback for three years,” Kane said. “He’s been getting a lot of reps just not a lot of game time. He had a lot of 7-on-7 this summer. I think he’s ready to go. I think he will surprise a lot of people by how quality a quarterback he is.
“Some people are thinking about him as a free safety in college, but they might be surprised at his skills as a quarterback as well.”
His top target is Duan Perez-Means, also Virginia Tech-bound. He gave DBs and LBs fits last season and will continue to do so.
Double him and Matt Snead will tear you up with his sharp route running and stellar hands.
Ronnie Hill and Tevonence Lancaster anchor the line at guard. It is not as huge as in years past, but its big enough and more athletic.
Lancaster was an all-Colonial District selection. Justin White will certainly be missed in the backfield, but Quintin “Q” Claiborne will do his best to fill in.
Defensively, Kane believes this is the fastest group he’s had. No one runs slower than a 4.8 40-yard dash, led by Norman at free safety and an experienced group of LBs.
Junior Daryl Howell (6-2, 225) leads the way in the middle and is sure to get serious looks this season. Akeem Hardy provides experience and speed at OLB.
Abu Kamara leads the interior line while Perez-Means will continue to dominate at end.
Steven Reynolds steps in at punter and kicker.
2007 record: 7-0 Colonial District, 11-2 Overall
2008 season
2007 result
(all games at 7:30 p.m., unless noted. Click
team for their preview!)
Sept. 5 – at Lee-Davis
W, 44-20
Sept. 12 – Meadowbrook
L, 20-30
Sept. 19 – at Varina
W, 24-7
Sept 26 – Mills Godwin
W, 31-7
Oct. 3 – John Marshall
W, 56-14
Oct. 10 – at J.R. Tucker W, 44-0
Oct. 17 – Thomas Jefferson W, 55-18
Oct. 24 – Douglas Freeman W, 45-0
Oct. 31 – at Deep Run W, 35-7
Nov. 7 – Patrick Henry W, 56-7
Big games: Deep Run and Patrick Henry. There is a good possibility that Hermitage will hold an unbeaten district record going into the last two weeks of the season. Both of these matchups could decide the Colonial’s automatic bid.
Key players: Theron Norman, QB/FS, Sr.; Duan Perez-Means, DE/TE, Sr.; Daryl Howell, MLB/TE, Jr.; Matt Sneed, WR, Sr.; Michael Johnson, SS, Sr.; Abu Kamara, DT, Sr.; Ronnie Hill, G, Sr.; Tevonence Lancaster, G, Sr.; Devon Jackson, DE, Sr. (11 sacks last season)
Top newcomer: Curtis Grant, OLB, So.
Key losses: Ju-Ju Clayton, QB/LB (Va. Tech); Justin White, RB (Shepherd); Ernest Lynch, DT (VMI); Justin Carr, CB (Towson); Dominique Booker, CB (Towson); Jamel Davis, DE/TE (Coastal Carolina)
The skinny: Hermitage is senior-laden, but inexperienced. Many of the seniors have played before, but have never been in starting roles. A tough, tough nondistrict schedule should help the Panthers get up to speed for their challenging games in the Colonial District. Don’t count Hermitage out.
GALLERY!
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