Denbigh @ Dinwiddie Preview
August 25, 2017 7:00 pm
August 25, 2017 7:00 pm
Coaches:
Dinwiddie: Billy Mills, 101-34 in 11 years at Dinwiddie (2006-2017).
Denbigh: Marcellus Harris, 33-61 in 9 years at Denbigh (2008-2017).
Teams:
Dinwiddie: 14-1 in 2016 (lost to Salem in state championship), 46-8 since realignment in 2013 with four playoff appearances (11-3). Points for 701, Points against 196 in 2016.
Coach Billy Mills a former Emory and Henry linebacker will start his 12th season as the leader of the Generals. Coach Mills took over an under achieving Dinwiddie program in 2006 and has had 9 consecutive winning seasons. He has 11 seniors returning from a team that advanced to the 4a state final in 2016.
Key players: Zyan Sturdivant - RB, K’ymon Pope – QB, K’ Vaughan Pope WR/MLB, and Joseph Tyree RB/OLB.
Offensively, K’ymon Pope takes over at quarterback for the Generals. Pope was 4-13 with 1 touchdown passing and ran for 92 yards as a backup in 2016. He is a very a very elusive runner and has a strong arm. Zyan Sturdivant, running back amassed 1,767 total yards last season with 22 touchdowns. Sturdivant can run inside and out. He scored from 50+ yards in five consecutive playoff games last season. Sophomore, wide Receiver, Josiah Williams is very fast with excellent hands. He had 15 catches for 293 yards and 2 td’s as a freshman. The offensive line returns three starters and has nice size.
Defensively, the Generals will be anchored by Ohio State linebacker commit K’Vaughan Pope. Some say Pope may be the best player to ever put on a Dinwiddie jersey. It’s hard to argue when the young man led the team in tackles and scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams. Pope is a hard hitting middle linebacker who can blitz or defend the pass as good as any high school player I have ever seen. The defensive line returns two starters in Cody Mills and Omar Tyson. The linebacking corps is the strength of the D and is very deep with Pope, Joseph Tyree and Jordan Bracey. If there is a weakness it’s the secondary, but recent scrimmages have proved this group will get better as the season progresses.
Dinwiddie’s special teams play will be very sound with Todd Anspach kicking and punting. During the scrimmages Anspach demonstrated a powerful leg by connecting on field goals of 33 and 41 yards. He also averaged 42 yards a punt. Josiah Williams will handle to return duties and is capable of taking the ball back on every touch.
Denbigh: 3-8 (lost to Lafayette in first round of playoffs), 18-26 since realignment in 2013 with 3 playoff appearances (1-3). Points for 132, Points against 403 in 2016.
Coach Harris, a City of Newport News Councilman and former East Carolina wide receiver will start his 10th year at the helm of the Patriots. In 2013, Coach Harris led Denbigh to the first playoff appearance since 1969. He has 11 seniors returning from the 2016 team that made the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Key players: Alex Holiday – DE, Kendell Patterson – DE, K. Patterson– T, and Deon Sparks – RB.
Offensively the Patriots will be led by junior, J. Hughes and Deon Sparks. J. Hughes and H. Tyriq vying for the starting quarterback duties. Coach Harris could utilize a platoon sytem until one or the other wins the job. Sparks played wide receiver last season, but is being moved to running back to add experience to a very young backfield corps. OT K. Patterson will provide leadership for a young O line. The Patriots run the spread and will look to combine a quick hitting passing game with a misdirection running game.
The defense will be anchored by two talented defensive ends Kendall Patterson and Alex Holiday. An article written for 757 Sports indicated Coach Harris believes these two are expected to be all state candidates in 2017. Nature Russell is the top returning defensive back.
The Skinny:
These two teams have never played and Denbigh’s first trip to Dinwiddie could be unhospitable. The Patriots two sound defensive ends could provide difficulties for the Generals offense, but I look for the Generals to pound the rock and wear down the Denbigh defense. With Dinwiddie’s sound front seven the Patriots will have to rely on the pass to stay in or win this game.
Coach Harris appears to have the Patriot program headed in the right direction, but it will not be enough on Friday night. Dinwiddie wins this one and unfortunately, the horse may get a strenuous workout. Good luck to both teams.
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