by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@sbgnet.com
(804) 240-2191
It was a dream season for Varina and first-year head coach Stu Brown in 2008.
It’s 2009, and Brown is wide awake, remembering his dream, but not liking the ending.
“We’re coming off a loss,” Brown said matter of factly. “So we think about the loss we had last year. That’s the last thing in our memory bank. We needed to get back out here for all of us.
“That just sat in our craw and to be honest with you, we felt that the team that we lost to was more fundamental than us. This is the first chance we had to come out here and correct it.”
Wow, that’s from a coach of a team that went 12-1, won the Central Region, Division 6 title and fell in the state semifinals.
Oh well Central Region, no “we can’t be beat blues” in Blue Devilville. Varina is as motivated as ever, and perhaps as talented.
It starts with West Virginia commits Trey Johnson at running back, and the big Marquis Wallace up front offensively and defensively. Look out for Johnson to use his terrific speed at cornerback as well.
QB Herman Norrell had a good year as a junior. Look for his senior campaign to be much more consistent, and for him to be much more confident pulling the trigger.
Why not when you have receivers like Division I-recruit Jerel Harrison snagging passes?
The offense, returning seven starters, is just looking like a potent group.
“We’ve got more speed,” Wallace said. “Everything is speed. Offensive line, speed. Wide receivers, speed. Trey Johnson, speed.”
The defense returns four starters, starting in the middle with Addonis Robinson, who had an all-district year in ’08.
That number doesn’t include Wallace, who the coaching staff believes can play offense or defense for the Mountaineers, or Johnson.
It does include Nick Taylor, about to turn in his fourth year starting at free safety on the varsity unit, a feat not many have turned at Varina.
He’s in company with the likes of Kevin Lewis and Michael Robinson, now with the San Francisco 49ers.
“I started my freshman year and started off with a bang with a region championship,” Taylor said. “Sophomore year, disappointing for Varina standards, 7-3. But we got back last year, another region championship.
“This year we want to take it a step farther. We want to get to that state championship, that’s our goal.”
Added Brown: “The last thing I want us to do is read our own publicity. Yeah, we’re all good, but we’ve got to get better. There’s a lot of good teams in this region and they’re all equal to us.”
ALL ABOUT VARINA
Key players: Trey Johnson, RB, Sr.; Marquis Wallace, OL/DL, Sr.; Nick Taylor, FS, Sr.; Herman Norrell, QB, Sr.; Jerel Harrison, WR, Sr.; Addonis Robinson, LB, Sr.; Davon Cook, OL, Sr.
Key losses: T.K. Hester, CB (William & Mary); DeAntre Rhodes, DT (Virginia Tech); Bobby Smith, WR (Virginia); Sakori Wilson, OL
Fast fact: Varina has been to the state tournament 14 times.
Big game: at Highland Springs, 11/12, 7 p.m. This is a THURSDAY night game.
Outlook: The Blue Devils are loaded again and have plenty of experience from a very successful unit. A very difficult schedule should have the Blue Devils battle tested come November. Look for a Highland Springs-Varina tilt to decide the Capital District crown once again.
CAN’T-MISS VIDEO
Stephen Lewis’ take on the Blue Devils
RB/CB Trey Johnson interview
OL/DL Marquis Wallace interview
Coach Stu Brown interview
FS Nick Taylor interview
MUST-SEE LINKS
2009 Schedule
2008 Schedule/Results
Back to 2009 Football Camp Tour
Team Page
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