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Countdown to Kickoff: Sherando Warriors

Sherando driven by 2017 state semifinal season
  • By ROBERT NIEDZWIECKI The Winchester Star
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Running back T.J. Washington led Sherando last season with 1,545 yards and 18 touchdowns on 229 carries. Washington also was dangerous as a receiver (43 catches, 611 yards, 11 TDs) and a kick returner.

Winchester Star file photo

STEPHENS CITY — After missing the playoffs in 2016, district and region titles made 2017 a storybook year for the Sherando football team.

The ending could have used a little work though, and the Warriors hope that everything they’ve gone through in the past year leads to the ultimate goal.

“We lost by 35 points [in our last game],” said Sherando senior quarterback Hunter Entsminger, referencing the Warriors’ 49-14 Class 4 state semifinal loss to Salem, which went on to win its second consecutive state championship. “I think everybody after that game, all the people that were coming back were like, ‘We can’t do that again.’ Nobody wants to have that feeling.


“I wasn’t there much in the weight room [in the offseason] because I had a lot of baseball stuff I had to do. But I know we had the same people in and out every day, doing what they need to do in the weight room, getting better, getting stronger, getting faster, working on all the little things they needed to do.”

With the drive and talent (seven returning starters on both offense and defense) that Sherando possesses, the Warriors just might have what it takes to reach their fifth state championship game in their 26-year history. Sherando is 0-4 in title games, with its last appearance coming in 2013 in a loss to Dinwiddie.

“I just think the mental focus and commitment level of our team is one of the things I’m always gauging,” Sherando coach Bill Hall said. “This team checks the boxes of, ‘Do they have enough athleticism, do they have enough speed, do they have enough size?’

“Those things really mean nothing if you don’t bring the right attitude, the right desire to the table. Those are the things I’m trying to keep my finger on for a pulse to make sure they have those things. And they’ve done a really, really good job in those areas.”

Entsminger is back after a 2017 season in which he earned Class 4 all-state second team honors in addition to being named the Offensive Player of the Year for Region 4C, the Class 4 Northwestern District and The Winchester Star. Entsminger set school records for completions (164, on 238 attempts), passing yards (2,736) and TDs (33) last year while throwing only six interceptions. He also had 95 carries for 353 yards (3.7 average) and four TDs.

Sherando — which averaged 41.1 points and 391.8 yards per game last year — also returns a dynamic and versatile pair of running backs.

Senior T.J. Washington — a first team All-Region 4C selection — had 229 carries for 1,545 yards (6.7 average) and 18 TDs, and he also caught 43 passes for 611 yards and 11 TDs. Washington’s 33 touchdowns produced a school record for points (198).

Senior JoJo Doleman had 58 carries for 372 yards (6.4 average) and eight TDs to earn second-team all-district honors. He added 308 yards and three TDs on 19 receptions.

The Warriors lost all-state second-team wide receiver Aaron Banks (school-record 60 catches, 1,060 yards, 12 touchdowns, now a defensive back at Richmond), but Hall feels Entsminger will have a number of strong options he can throw to. This group includes senior Nick Mazza (three catches, 114 yards, one TD) and sophomore Keli Lawson, who had a strong freshman year for Sherando’s basketball and track and field teams. Washington can also be used as a slot receiver.

Sherando’s offensive line loses all-region selection Isaiah Allen, a senior who elected not to come out for the team this year. But the Warriors do bring back starters Nick Corbit (senior, left tackle, first team All-Region 4C), senior center Daniel Boespflug and senior left guard Joel Santmier.

Sophomore Keith Gouveia (right tackle) and senior Jacob Raymond (right guard) were also leading candidates to start heading into Sherando’s first scrimmage against Musselman (W.Va.) on Aug. 11.

Sherando’s front also features an honorable mention all-district selection in Hall’s son Will. A senior tight end, Will Hall had nine catches for 209 yards and two TDs in 2017.

On the defensive line, Allen was also an all-region selection at tackle. Sherando still features a second-team all-district defensive end in Corbit (30 tackles, 5.5 for loss). The Warriors also bring back another starting defensive end in senior Austin Covert (31 tackles, 8.5 for loss).

A tackle, Santmier (18 tackles) was a key figure last year when the Warriors played a 4-3 defense. Raymond and Gouveia should also play a big role at the tackle positions.

Sherando loses a couple of multi-year starters from its linebacking corps in Michael Perry (now at NCAA Division II Charleston) and Joe Kelliher, but the Warriors have every reason to feel good about this unit with the players they have back.

Doleman — who has a scholarship offer from NCAA Division I Marshall — was an all-state first-team selection as well as a Region 4C and Class 4 Northwestern District Defensive Player of the Year in 2017. He had 80 tackles (14 for loss) and three sacks.

After playing on the inside last year, Doleman will play on the outside like he did as a sophomore.

“Because of who we have inside, we feel like we can have JoJo play on the outside and constrict space,” Hall said. “We’re doing that because we have a lot of confidence in the guys inside.”

Junior McKinley Dean (20 tackles) — who started for an injured Doleman in last year’s Region 4C championship win over Liberty — will move into the starting lineup as Sherando’s Mike linebacker.


“He’s a hard worker,” Hall said. “He was with us in the winter offseason program, and when he played baseball in the spring he was in at 6:30 in the morning lifting. He’s really smart and very coachable, and he’s put himself in a position to be successful.”

Playing next to him will be junior Payne Bauer, an honorable mention all-district selection who led Sherando with 110 tackles (22 for loss) and added 5.5 sacks last year.

When Sherando’s in a 3-4 formation, Lawson and senior Marcus Loveless can also play outside linebacker. Strong safety Chacau Campbell can also move up to play outside linebacker.

Someone who could see time in a reserve role at inside linebacker is Josh Rivers, a senior who is playing football for the first time at Sherando. Rivers is the younger brother of Dylan Rivers, a sophomore linebacker at Virginia Tech.

Sherando’s secondary loses Banks after he earned first team all-state honors as a free safety.

The Warriors limited the use of Washington (two interceptions) on defense last year, but he and honorable mention district selection Malachi Doleman, a senior who had 68 tackles and four interceptions in 2017, are strong options at the cornerback positions. Mazza (17 tackles, one interception) is among the other players should also factor in at cornerback.

Junior Jabril Hayes (19 tackles) who backed up Banks last year, will step into the free safety position. Campbell will play strong safety. Senior Cannon Varnau could also factor in at the safety positions.

On special teams, Sherando features a second-team all-state punt returner in Washington, who brought back 16 for 345 yards (21.6 average) and three TDs in 2017. Washington was also an honorable mention all-district kickoff returner (13 for 338 yards, a 26.0 average, and 1 TD).

Taking over for graduated first-team all-district kicker Stone Garver will either be sophomore Jack Hendren, an addition from the soccer team, or junior Luke Waits. At punter, Entsminger is back after he shared duties with Garver last year. JoJo Doleman can also punt.

Sherando opens its season at 7 p.m. on Friday at James Wood.

— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at rniedzwiecki@winchesterstar.com
 
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