Northumberland Football - High Expectations & Questions

[uvacavs1]

Last season was a banner year for Northumberland Football (and many other NHS sports were highly successful as well in 2017-18).

Will we see a repeat and possibly even improvement this upcoming season for Indian Football? The expectations are high in Northumberland Nation but there are also many questions. Will this underdog success story continue?

Last season the Indians went 8-4 which tied the best record for NHS football since the mid 1990s. NHS finally beat W&L for the 1st time in 21 years and won a playoff game (a thriller at West Point) for only the 2nd time in over 20+ years. Northumberland has also enjoyed back to back winning seasons (2017 and 2016), again for the 1st time since mid the 1990s.

Can NHS Coach Lewis (now in his 2nd year as head man) take the Indians to the next level this season?

 

[uvacavs1]

Many folks may not realize that the Indians had this success last season going 8-4 with 8 of those 12 games being played away....

That includes all the really strong teams the Indians faced. The 4 losses were at Essex (twice), at Colonial Beach and in Richmond at private school power Trinity Episcopal.

The great news if you are an Indians fan is that means this season NHS has 6 of the 10 regular season games in the comforts of home.

This year, the toughest opponents come to NHS- Surry, Middlesex, Christ Church, Essex, W&L, and Colonial Beach.

 

[Jdavis54]

I think this year will be similar to last year for northumberland maybe a game better as my prediction is 8-2 with Ls coming from Essex and Christchurch. The one problem is the oline. As for can they keep it going in following years hate to say it but this is it. Northumberland has no youth program. The kids that are seniors this year where on the last youth league team the county had. Now if your kid wants to be on one he's got to go to Richmond county, Westmoreland or do warriors football if they have there age group.

 

[uvacavs1]

This is certainly the year to go for it. NHS has a really strong upcoming Senior class and many skill players returning or moving up. Great timing on the schedule I must say...

I do share your concerns about the lack of a youth program in football and in some other sports. Hopefully, this recent success will encourage some parents and fans to rebuild. Success breeds success in all areas.

Yes, the O and D line lost many strong big boys. I have confidence that Coach Lewis and staff are addressing those needs. There are options.

Coach Lewis is a great recruiter as he has unlimited youthful enthusiasm and is a player's coach. Last year the student numbers in the program were high (highest in memory) and turnout should be higher this year. Again, success breeds success.

Now the players expect to win....

 

[WP02alum]

Wait, Christchurch has a quality FB team these days? They were always kind of a joke in FB. What changed?

 

[NNDanalyst]

Palmer will give them a shot but ultimately I don't see them winning a playoff game this year. With that said I don't think they will have the same success as last year. That's not to say they won't be competitive, my prediction is 5-7 wins.

 

[Jdavis54]

I do believe Christchurch won a state championship last year in football.

 

[uvacavs1]

Wait, Christchurch has a quality FB team these days? They were always kind of a joke in FB. What changed?

Christchurch went on a 10 game winning streak last season and won the 2017 VISAA DII State Title by like two TDs .

 

[Eaglepride89]

Yeah I don’t expect N’land to be bad but I don’t think they’ll be better than last year. Need some size on that line but other than that I see 6-4 or 7-3 record for them

 

[nnkalumni2]

I think size is the least of their concerns the big boys are still there it’s the inexperienced at oline that’s concerns me. Nland didn’t lose anything at the skills position if anything they gain more what they lost. I see a possible 8-2 season with conflicts with Christ Church and Essex. Christ Church had a big senior class so they might can pull off a upset against the defending d2 private state champs.

 

[the___kid07]

Last season was a banner year for Northumberland Football (and many other NHS sports were highly successful as well in 2017-18).

Will we see a repeat and possibly even improvement this upcoming season for Indian Football? The expectations are high in Northumberland Nation but there are also many questions. Will this underdog success story continue?

Last season the Indians went 8-4 which tied the best record for NHS football since the mid 1990s. NHS finally beat W&L for the 1st time in 21 years and won a playoff game (a thriller at West Point) for only the 2nd time in over 20+ years. Northumberland has also enjoyed back to back winning seasons (2017 and 2016), again for the 1st time since mid the 1990s.

Can NHS Coach Lewis (now in his 2nd year as head man) take the Indians to the next level this season?

Which key contributing seniors did they lose?

 

[Eaglepride89]

@nnkalumni2 i agree that they should be fine with some of the skills guys returning but I gotta see how the O-line is to see if they’re a contender or pretender

 

[nnkalumni2]

Nland lost 3 starters on offense (all lineman) 6 out of 22 or 23 seniors last year was starters. Majority of starters last year were juniors