Looks like the Cavs will field a very young team this year. Especially at the skill positions. With 2 year starting qb, Ryan Huffman electing not to play this year as he concentrates on his baseball career as he will be playing at VMI, it leaves the offense in the hands of 6'1 185 lb sophomore Lance Alfonso. I actually think this kid will do very well. Good size and his arm looks strong from what I've seen. He did go to camp at FSU this summer and also worked out with former Hanover and VT star and current LA Ram, Sam Rogers. The lead rb this year will be another sophomore in 6'2 180 lb Corey Stewart. Last year as a freshman he started on defense. Look for him to be a tough inside runner with his size. Lining up at wide receiver and also in the backfield a lot will be yet another sophomore in Marc Gresham. This kid will be the playmaker on offense. When he got his chance last year, he shined and I look forward to him taking it up a notch this year. The other wide receivers who are listed as starters include 2 more sophomores and senior John Williams who played the position last year. Definitely a lot of youth at the skill positions but KW is blessed with 4 returning offensive linemen led by 6'2 275 lb Tommy Riffe, who has been to camps at UNC and UVA this summer among others. The line also has decent size with the smallest being 200 lbs. I think they will be the key this year, especially early on. Defensively the Cavs should be led by Riffe and Thomas Cook at defensive end. The linebackers have talent but are also young. Look for sr Tyler Kirby to lead them from his inside linebacker spot. The secondary should be solid yet also young as all 4 listed as starters are sophomore, led by Stewart at safety and Gresham at corner.
While the Cavs play in the traditionally weak Tidewater, they have a pretty solid non district schedule. The opener this Friday is at Prince Edward, a team in not too familiar with, then they play Bruton, Essex, Washington and Lee and Central Woodstock to wrap up the non district portion. In the district, they have won 8 straight titles and 40 consecutive games. But with the youth of this team and a veteran team at West Point and what should be an improved Middlesex team, if anyone wants to take the crown then they better do it this year because obviously this team is very young, but they will only get better and KW has plenty of stars in waiting including a bunch of talented 8th graders even on down to the youth level. With that said, it truly is hard to predict how the Cavs will finish this season. I think there are 4 key games that could be tossups that could be the difference. One is Friday night against Prince Edward and then against W&L, and the two district games against Middlesex and WP. I think it will be tough against a loaded Essex team and Woodstock will be tough as well. I give them wins over Bruton, Mathews, Charles City and King and Queen. That leaves them at 4-2 with 4 tossups in my opinion. If the cards fall right then I can see them at 8-2, if they don't it could be 4-6. With that said, KW hasn't had a losing record since the mid 70s and I don't see it happening this year either. It's hard to tell how young guys react. They could wilter under the pressure or they could play care free. I like this group of kids and think they rise to the occasion. I predict a finish of 7-3 and a 9th consecutive district title although the WP game will be a good one and will come down to the wire. There might be growing pains along the way but the future is definitely bright in Central Garage. I haven't been to many jv games in recent years but I coached the crop of rising 8th graders and think the world of them and I think between them and the group of kids behind them, they'll bring another state title to KW before they graduate. So while I haven't been to many KW games for a few years because of ties to Essex and helping them out and a few other things, I'd never turn my back on any of the kids, especially the ones I coached, so this year I return back home. Looking forward to an exciting season even though I'm disappointed that for the first time in years I won't be involved in some capacity as a coach or just volunteering, I will use this year to enjoy being a spectator. Hope everyone has a great season and more importantly a healthy one.
While the Cavs play in the traditionally weak Tidewater, they have a pretty solid non district schedule. The opener this Friday is at Prince Edward, a team in not too familiar with, then they play Bruton, Essex, Washington and Lee and Central Woodstock to wrap up the non district portion. In the district, they have won 8 straight titles and 40 consecutive games. But with the youth of this team and a veteran team at West Point and what should be an improved Middlesex team, if anyone wants to take the crown then they better do it this year because obviously this team is very young, but they will only get better and KW has plenty of stars in waiting including a bunch of talented 8th graders even on down to the youth level. With that said, it truly is hard to predict how the Cavs will finish this season. I think there are 4 key games that could be tossups that could be the difference. One is Friday night against Prince Edward and then against W&L, and the two district games against Middlesex and WP. I think it will be tough against a loaded Essex team and Woodstock will be tough as well. I give them wins over Bruton, Mathews, Charles City and King and Queen. That leaves them at 4-2 with 4 tossups in my opinion. If the cards fall right then I can see them at 8-2, if they don't it could be 4-6. With that said, KW hasn't had a losing record since the mid 70s and I don't see it happening this year either. It's hard to tell how young guys react. They could wilter under the pressure or they could play care free. I like this group of kids and think they rise to the occasion. I predict a finish of 7-3 and a 9th consecutive district title although the WP game will be a good one and will come down to the wire. There might be growing pains along the way but the future is definitely bright in Central Garage. I haven't been to many jv games in recent years but I coached the crop of rising 8th graders and think the world of them and I think between them and the group of kids behind them, they'll bring another state title to KW before they graduate. So while I haven't been to many KW games for a few years because of ties to Essex and helping them out and a few other things, I'd never turn my back on any of the kids, especially the ones I coached, so this year I return back home. Looking forward to an exciting season even though I'm disappointed that for the first time in years I won't be involved in some capacity as a coach or just volunteering, I will use this year to enjoy being a spectator. Hope everyone has a great season and more importantly a healthy one.
