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Richmond Times-Dispatch/804 Varsity Top Ten Football Poll

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Sep 27, 2002
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Preseason Top Ten Football Poll for high school football:
1. Highland Springs
2. Manchester
3.Thomas Dale
4. Life Christian
5. Varina
6. Hopewell
7. Atlee
8. Henrico
9. Dinwiddie
10. Benedictine

#804varsity
 
The times dispatch kills me every with all these Chesterfield schools always ranked high. We will see how it pans out I still think Varina is better than Manchester and Thomas Dale
this is preseason my brother
I one thing about C5 Region B; everybody will eventually have to play
So let's just be patient lil grasshopper.
 
The times dispatch kills me every with all these Chesterfield schools always ranked high. We will see how it pans out I still think varina is better than Manchester and Thomas Dale
IMHO....Having seen all 3 now....TDale is clearly the best of the 3. TDale’s defense is head & shoulders better than both Varina and Manchester. All 3 offenses are about the same,but if I had a vote,it would clearly be TDale.
 
HSHS JV opens with a 40-0 win over Hermitage last night.
I actually overheard a fan last night say that he thought the JV quarterback could start varsity for most teams in the area, and it kind of made me laugh,but I didn’t say anything. Is he right?!
 
Correct on that score. Smith started out very sloppy on offense. The first quarter was full of dropped passes & fumbles. Their defense was very typically stout with more plays in Bird's backfield than those for any positive gains.

Coach Scott called a time out once he'd reached his boiling point & gave it to them pretty good which seemed to work. Then just like last week, they seemed to flip a switch and they began moving the ball with a score shortly afterwards.

Second half was pretty low key with another score with the second drive after the half-time break. Then an additional score with the backup QB playing the rest of the game. It looked like they could just flip on a switch, then back off to limit what could be reviewed on film.

I was very impressed with how last week went vs a much better Salem VB team (compared to last yr). The Sundevil's D is very good every year & no matter the success of Smith, that team usually gives them more problems than any team all year. That wasn't the case except for the 1st half of the 1st quarter.

The coaches appear to be able to make adjustments and the kids are responding in a big way. That really wasn't happening last year!

Next week will be a good game vs HSHS.
 
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IMHO....Having seen all 3 now....TDale is clearly the best of the 3. TDale’s defense is head & shoulders better than both Varina and Manchester. All 3 offenses are about the same,but if I had a vote,it would clearly be TDale.

I hear you... but I heard that Manchester scrimmaged Dale and it was very close. Does anyone know what happened in that scrimmage? My point is I think the margin for error with those 3 teams is extremely thin. More than likely it would boil down to execution almost every time.

Do any of you know how Manchester did when they scrimmaged Ocean Lakes? OL was in a dog fight last night and squeezed out a victory against Cox.
 
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Like Manchester, OL has lost most of their talent to graduation. They are not picked to win the Beach District this year. So, I'm not sure they're a very good measuring stick vs Manchester.

With that scrimmage, I missed it. It may have been affected by the weather. I did see OL vs I. River & the Braves destroyed them. But because they can't hit the QB during scrimmages, who knows how things would have turned out during an actual game. OL's N. Brown (DE) got to the their QB & could have cleaned his clock 3-4 times. Their scrimmage was called at halftime. OL had few first downs, no TD's vs I. River 4 TD's (I think).
 
I hear you... but I heard that Manchester scrimmaged Dale and it was very close. Does anyone know what happened in that scrimmage? My point is I think the margin for error with those 3 teams is extremely thin. More than likely it would boil down to execution almost every time.

Do any of you know how Manchester did when they scrimmaged Ocean Lakes? OL was in a dog fight last night and squeezed out a victory against Cox.
Dale scrimmage was close and very competitive until Dale loss composer. Dale ones did not score a TD but moved the ball at times. Back ups scored once, huge run from backup running back #21 Jordan Branch. Manchester ones scored after a pick set up the offense. Manchester back ups scored a couple TDs. Both were physical and fast on defense. Dale coach was pretty pissed at the penalties and lack of discipline. Players were running gasser afterwards. Manchester was very physical in the trenches. Definitely the difference in that scrimmage. OL Scrimmage wasn’t close. Manchester bullied them in the trenches.
 
IMHO....Having seen all 3 now....TDale is clearly the best of the 3. TDale’s defense is head & shoulders better than both Varina and Manchester. All 3 offenses are about the same,but if I had a vote,it would clearly be TDale.
Head & shoulders better? Not sure if we’re watching the same games. All 3 defenses are very similar in the fact that they all play very physical and pursuit the ball well. Not that much of a difference there. TD and Varina do have overall better skills in their back halves or should I say more continuity. But they all are definitely in the same ball park both offensively and defensively. In my objective option!
 
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Varina lacks discipline to win ball games against well coached teams. They have some horses that are on the same level as some of HS’s horses but you can tell the coaching on Messer Rd isn’t the same as the coaching on S Oak.
 
Varina lacks discipline to win ball games against well coached teams. They have some horses that are on the same level as some of HS’s horses but you can tell the coaching on Messer Rd isn’t the same as the coaching on S Oak.
I agree on both statements. Shame because they’re an extremely talented team and have the pieces. I was very impressed with QB especially in the 1st half. Different team this year in terms of discipline with the back and forth jarring with opposing teams. But lack of discipline in their fundamentals, technique and mental focus. Untimely holding, clipping, penalties, etc smh. Tough to overcome those things against a well coach team.
 
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I agree on both statements. Shame because they’re an extremely talented team and have the pieces. I was very impressed with QB especially in the 1st half. Different team this year in terms of discipline with the back and forth jarring with opposing teams. But lack of discipline in their fundamentals, technique and mental focus. Untimely holding, clipping, penalties, etc smh. Tough to overcome those things against a well coach team.
Well said! I was impressed with Varina in all phases except their discipline. Bobby Dunn is going to be special!
 
Head & shoulders better? Not sure if we’re watching the same games. All 3 defenses are very similar in the fact that they all play very physical and pursuit the ball well. Not that much of a difference there. TD and Varina do have overall better skills in their back halves or should I say more continuity. But they all are definitely in the same ball park both offensively and defensively. In my objective option!

Manchester has very good size in the trenches.. that is where they can win games that they maybe shouldn't. I would consider moving Romell Garcia to a skill position and starting the Freshman QB Cody Shelton just to maximize the amount of athletes on the field. A good problem to have though, Romell is pretty good QB himself but is extremely dangerous when he is running!

How about Midlo and PG with the the upsets yesterday. These teams aren't walk overs anymore. There is a lot of parody across the region this season outside of the top 5. To me Springs is the only head and shoulders clear favorite. The Margin for error 2-6 is razor thin IMO.
 
Manchester has very good size in the trenches.. that is where they can win games that they maybe shouldn't. I would consider moving Romell Garcia to a skill position and starting the Freshman QB Cody Shelton just to maximize the amount of athletes on the field. A good problem to have though, Romell is pretty good QB himself but is extremely dangerous when he is running!

How about Midlo and PG with the the upsets yesterday. These teams aren't walk overs anymore. There is a lot of parody across the region this season outside of the top 5. To me Springs is the only head and shoulders clear favorite. The Margin for error 2-6 is razor thin IMO.
If I were a betting man, I would bet that would be the plan for Manchester to eventually transition Cody into the starting QB role and play Romell at a more natural position like the slot. Definitely didn’t think they’d do it against a team of Varina’s caliber especially for it being the young lads first high school game.

As for Midlothian, I do like what Coach Matt Hutchings is doing over there. He’s definitely brought a different level of grit and competitiveness to that program. Don’t know much about PG.

Springers are the Springers deservingly so. Can’t argue with that!
 
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I actually overheard a fan last night say that he thought the JV quarterback could start varsity for most teams in the area, and it kind of made me laugh,but I didn’t say anything. Is he right?!
Yes that kid number 2 is tall athletic and poised in the pocket. I believe he could start varsity for most teams around here because he looked like he was toying with Hermitage jv. Hey the backup QB is pretty good too. The back up QB kind of reminds me of Russell Wilson. Oh yeah the WR number 1 is going to be a special one
 
Yes that kid number 2 is tall athletic and poised in the pocket. I believe he could start varsity for most teams around here because he looked like he was toying with Hermitage jv. Hey the backup QB is pretty good too. The back up QB kind of reminds me of Russell Wilson. Oh yeah the WR number 1 is going to be a special one
#2 K. Nasir has a big ceiling, throws a good ball. Is #1 Veney the brother of the varsity squads #11?

Another good bunch for Coach Saunders! I heard somewhere that Oscar Smiths JV hasnt lost in a while as well, next Thursday should be a good one!
 
#2 K. Nasir has a big ceiling, throws a good ball. Is #1 Veney the brother of the varsity squads #11?

Another good bunch for Coach Saunders! I heard somewhere that Oscar Smiths JV hasnt lost in a while as well, next Thursday should be a good one!
The OSmith JVs are not allowed to play HSHS. They are only allowed to play district games,so the JVs won’t face!
 
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