NNK District Talk

[NNKD4L]

OK, Who's Who in the NNK this season?

Northumberland- Returning Delvin Palmer and several skill players this season. They have plenty of speed for open field running and a Coaching staff additions that may help their defensive secondary.

W&L- TRANSFER QB from King George looking to take the helm of Taylor's offense this season with a talented RB and good receiving corp. Will Taylor bring more of his late season Option Offense that stunned CB in the upset in the playoffs?

Lancaster- With many players returning this season that were injury proned last year, do the Devil's make an noise this year? maybe a few Basketball players actually play some football this year.

Essex- With graduating several starting seniors last year, do they have the reserve to seal up the NND again as competition rises in the district? Will RB Dameron be able to get that 1,000 yrd season or will they find a way to get the ball in the air?

Rappahannock- With the much anticipated return of QB Gaines, will the Raiders have the horsepower up front to give him the time to work his skills? With a strong first half against Northumberland last year and late Second losses to W&L, can they right the ship and contend?

Colonial Beach- Can the Drifters find a way to regain their spot from the 2016 season? Last year's 2pt loss to Essex after jumping out to a nice lead by halftime, only to see it fall in the final minutes of the game was their only NND loss in regular season.

Guess any of the games this year in the NND can be a GOW. Good luck picking winners

 

[uvacavs1]

I agree that this season should be quite exciting - maybe more than usual.

The NND looks to be the toughest district in Class 1A Football again this year.

4 NND teams (definitely three) will be State Top Ten material in 2018.

Essex, Northumberland, W&L, and CB will be very strong.

Also, I think Rappahannock will be competitive - the Raiders are just stuck in a powerhouse district and will need non-district wins to sure up seeding for the playoffs.

Lancaster should show improvement as well as they have more and new administrative support for the football program now.

Should be an interesting season indeed.

 

[NNDanalyst]

Rapps QB last name is Gaines not Dameron.

 

[NNKD4L]

Rapps QB last name is Gaines not Dameron.

Sorry, I got the KJs mixed up between them and Essex. I fixed it

 

[NNDanalyst]

Rapp returns 80-85% of their starters. They should be much improved record wise with the experience gained from last year. As noted, they did give NHS a run for their money last year (without Gaines) in the 1st half before NHS pulled away in the 2nd half. I bring that up to say, everyone talks about the athletes that NHS has but Rapp has just as good of talented core of athletes as anyone in the District (IMO) but they were just really young last year.

 

[Raider_Man]

Northumberland - Palmer is pretty much that team, shut him down and they have nothing else

W&L - they have some talented WR & a good RB but got bailed out a lot by Bell last year. Don't think they new qb is any resemblance of Bell

Colonial Beach - Had some young studs at RB last year and should be just as good this year. Only thing is they will be one dimensional on offense.

Essex - Has a stud RB in Dameron and prob the best D line in the district. Secondary & LBs will be their weak spot.

Rapp - Should get back on the right side of .500 with a good core of WR/RB & QB. QB had the 2nd best stats in the district as a freshman and missed the last 2 games of the year. Sleeper player to watch is Lawrence Reed.

 

[uvacavs1]

Several folks have commented that all that Northumberland has is Delvin Palmer. I am going to counter that perspective but first give the kid his props. NHS' Palmer is an amazing player to observe I will give you that. He is worth the price of admission that's for sure.

For example, Palmer made so many outstanding plays at West Point last year in the NHS big playoff win that I actually felt bad for the WP coaches and kids. WP had obviously prepared well for him and had guys in position - all over. Palmer just makes plays that make you go wow....

Now, Essex has the athletes to stop him or at least contain him, WP and many other teams just did not.

 

[NNDanalyst]

Essex Has or Had the athletes?

 

[uvacavs1]

Having said the above, Palmer was injured in the 1st game of last year's campaign. He missed almost 5 games.

Northumberland won 4 of them (mostly lopsided victories - lost away to private school power Trinity). One of those victories was away against a solid Middlesex team (very exciting). The other teams may have been so so, but how many teams would love to start 4-0 without their "star."

NHS has many other skill players that should emerge this season. The D has some strong talent. Lots of seniors and returning starters (JV program was good too last season for like 2nd year in a row).

Coach Lewis has done a great job. Turnout has been in the mid 50s this week. Pretty good for a 1A school that only recently has had success on the gridiron.

I think if Coach Lewis (now in his 2nd year as head man) and his staff can continue to create the structure, practice rigor and discipline (cut down on the foolish penalties etc) plus make those vital halftime adjustments, the Indians can be a top Neck and State team this year. (Still not sure if they could upset Essex, but there is always hope...).

 

[uvacavs1]

Essex Has or Had the athletes?

Both.

 

[NNDanalyst]

They didnt exactly have murderers row during that stretch.

Just curious, besides that D line, what other stand out athletes does Essex have?

 

[uvacavs1]

They didnt exactly have murderers row during that stretch.

Just curious, besides that D line, what other stand out athletes does Essex have?

Really? (to both the comment and the question)

a) I clearly stated that NHS started 4-0 without their star against mostly (what is considered by many to be) so so competition. However, one of those wins was against Middlesex, a playoff team, who was solid as you know as they beat Rapp last season.

b) every year it seems that you say that Essex lost all their top talent and will be down this season-

And every year, the Essex Football program reloads with great athletes and wins the NND- the only time Essex falters is when they have had a coaching issue - now with the highly successful Coach Jones in his third year at Essex (2nd as HC), Essex will be rolling big time as usual.

 

[NNDanalyst]

Man ok lol Clearly in other post I said Essex is the front runner of the NND but you still never answered the qurstion. I guess it doesnt matter in the grand scheme of things.

 

[HighestPoint]

Really? (to both the comment and the question)

a) I clearly stated that NHS started 4-0 without their star against mostly (what is considered by many to be) so so competition. However, one of those wins was against Middlesex, a playoff team, who was solid as you know as they beat Rapp last season.

b) every year it seems that you say that Essex lost all their top talent and will be down this season-

And every year, the Essex Football program reloads with great athletes and wins the NND- the only time Essex falters is when they have had a coaching issue - now with the highly successful Coach Jones in his third year at Essex (2nd as HC), Essex will be rolling big time as usual.

I don't want to take anything away from Northumberland or Middlesex. But Those first four games are four games that the Indians should have no trouble going 4-0 in again this year (even without Palmer). Middlesex may have been the best of that bunch but they weren't a great team. You sum it up with solid. But they barely beat Northampton who had been historically bad in recent memory. Northumberland also didn't run away from that same team.
That being said hopefully Palmer stays healthy all year in his senior year. If he does Northumberland should make some noise and come in as the #2 team in the NNK behind Essex, barring a loss to CB who can beat anyone on a given Friday with that system.

Does Northumberland still have those two big backs?

 

[Jdavis54]

On that Northampton game they were literally playing in a hurricane. Fumbles is what kept it close. No joke they turned the ball over on four consecutive plays to one another.
If your talking about Mothershead and chinn they were seniors. Northumberland lost most of there size last year. That will be the toughest part for them this year finding there replacement.

 

[nnkalumni2]

I think he’s referring to the backfield. Keon Redmond was the starting back last year and will be returning. Jerquist Morris who was 1st team linebacker last year and track standout will be playing RB this year as well. Still got other guys like Kelley who was Palmer back up last year as a sophomore played great, plus the Saunders kid .I understand those first four games was so/so competition but if Palmer is all Northumberland has Northumberland should’ve at least struggled in one of those games right ?

 

[nnkalumni2]

Northumberland coaching staff has improved to I believe they have 2 former players from Essex that Coach jones coach ;on Northumberland coaching staff one actually was on that state championship team for Essex . Huge pick ups from Coach Lewis

 

[NNDanalyst]

Okay so this thread makes much more sense now lol

 

[Jdavis54]

Okay so this thread makes much more sense now lol

What's that supposed to mean? Lol

 

[uvacavs1]

Just a fyi for those interested - (info not on VHSL Master Schedule)

Northumberland's 1st home game is on a Saturday not Friday.

Surry at Northumberland on Saturday, August 25th at 2 pm.

It looks like all other old Region A games are on Friday at 7 pm.

I will probably check out the 2A Nandua at Rappahannock game.

 

[Essex Trojan1]

Just a fyi for those interested - (info not on VHSL Master Schedule)

Northumberland's 1st home game is on a Saturday not Friday.

Surry at Northumberland on Saturday, August 25th at 2 pm.

It looks like all other old Region A games are on Friday at 7 pm.

I will probably check out the 2A Nandua at Rappahannock game.

Thanks for the update. Since Essex plays at Sussex that Friday night, I’ll be able to catch the Surry @ Northumberland that Saturday. Since Essex will be playing both Surry and Northumberland later in the season, I’ll get a peak at both teams in the early stage of the season.

 

[uvacavs1]

Sounds good!

I wish that Essex at Sussex game was in Tappahannock. Great matchup early on!

I will be happy to pull for Rappahannock that night - hope they have the band going (they rock and roll!) but probably not yet since before school starts up. Rapp Football should be much improved this year - I hope so.

Yes, we may see a few of the old Essex crew at Northumberland v Surry - maybe a couple other Neck folks too...

 

[trutiger16]

Thats a huge game for Northumberland,they if want to be consider legit , should dominate Surry 50 - 6, anything less. A true statement game for the Indians !

Essex will defeat Sussex , but it will be a tremendous experience for the Tigers if they can keep it somewhat close say 32- 18 , if Sussex gets trounced like 50 -12 could be confidence killer for the young Tigers. Sussex must slow down the Essex run game and make Essex pass the ball, Essex seems to me to be a team who would rather pass. I will say the Sussex Coaching Staff will have a solid game plan in place to give the Tigers a chance. Many of the young Tigers are very fearless and athletic an attribute they will serve them well against the best team in 1a.