Last year The Devils had a VERY promising Freshman by the name Bobby Dunn. He was injured early and didn't play most of the season. How is he now? Is he still at Varina?
Varina Football
- Thread starter springer76
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Bobby is back and is 100% from that ACL injury. He'll be a force at WR for the next 3 years for Varina.
Hey DSH, and others, what are you hearing about Thomas Dale for this upcoming season? I know they have two superstars in Williams and Tyree, but what about a supporting cast. Are they going to be in the championship game this year?
Yeah, I know, Class 6, wrong board, but who really cares. As long as we have football to talk about!!!!
Yeah, I know, Class 6, wrong board, but who really cares. As long as we have football to talk about!!!!
Their defense will be tough to beat. I expect them to be better than last year but they will have to get through Manchester to get to states and that is going to be tough. Should be a heck of a matchup if these two meet in the Region B championship.
They play a rather vanilla defense, but they do it as good as any team out there. I like a team that says, "here were are, here is what we do, take your best shot". Remember to Redskins years ago? Counter trey, 2 out of every 4 plays, and nobody could stop them.
Vanilla or not... if you got playmakers, that's all that matters and they got that on defense.
Cool!!!! It's going to be fun seeing them on Thursday, August 9th! They always play HS as a game situation for the annual scrimmage. This is scheduled at 10 am at TD on 8/9!!! TD vs HSHS..... I'll be there!! We will see what that defense is capable of.... HS is gonna throw some offense at them that they might not see for the rest of the season! + it will give us a chance to see what HS's defense is capable of...They will be tough to score on too!
I'm glad Bobby is well! I was following him as a 7th and 8th grader. At that time, he was going to be a Springer.... don't know what caused the change to Varina.
The team looks to be Life Christian in Richmond this year. @mbonape1 called it. Would love to see them match up with Bird, HS, Varina and Henrico.
Bobby is a real good kid. He’s going places if he continues to work. He has that look already.
10:00am? Unusual start time for a benefit game.
But, hey, I'll be there. How about the rest of you Va Preps gang members?
But, hey, I'll be there. How about the rest of you Va Preps gang members?
I thought so too. I will let you know if it changes.
HS just played them (7v7) at VSU.. HS beat them in the Championship game.
I think they are trying to beat the strongest heat of the day. Too hot in the afternoon.
I'm sure that's it. Remember that TD didn't have any concessions open last year, or the year before, whenever it was that the benefit game was there. And it was cooking.
Dale will be a top 5 team in the region. Is that a surprise to anyone? I would say last year they were not a top 5 in the greater 804 but pretty close. Certainly a top 10 team. I suspect they will be improved this year and I do think substantially. I do not love the offense they run... they are good at it but I feel like it is a bit dated. Division 6 is going to be Dale vs Manchester in the Richmond area no question about it. Either of those teams losing to a Clover Hill or Cosby would be a colossal upset. I do think that James River will be better and Hasan ends up playing QB that could be dynamic enough to change things. I think JR has a shot at upsetting Dale bc of the spread factor but after the whooping that Manchester put on JR last year it would be impossible for me to give them a shot at winning that one.
Back to division 5, I think that Bird will have a bit of a bounce back year. I think they are going to be better than a lot of people think. Hermitage has lost a few key players to transfer but they still have the talent to be a good football team. The big question is Henrico or Varina maybe upsetting HSHS. Henrico has some big time athletes now. I am trying to find a pleasant surprise south of the river outside of Bird in D5 but I can't to be honest. I guess maybe Meadowbrook but I won't hold my breath.
HS should've been undefeated and were oh so close, the past 3 seasons! I think this is the year they do it. They have the goods to get it done. Providing they don't have any hick-ups, they could go 15-0.
I think that is the consensus opinion... mine too, just thought I’d add some debatable point of their being some potential competition for them. Springs is loaded!
Let's apply some of the logic that is used in debating the Patriots or Brady's greatness... is it the coach or the quarterback?
In the case of the Springers... is it coaching or the roots of the system that has led to the success over the last three years and even four years for that matter because that Springers team that lost to Bird in 2014 was pretty good in their own right.
I ask only because I there have been rumors in previous offseasons of him possibly leaving for a college position. Wonder how much that would hurt the program. Obviously Coach Kane has left a Hermitage and we are seeing some defection from that program.
So in the case of the Springers... is it coaching or the foundation that has been laid?
This seems like the easy answer, but it's "all of the above". Coach Johnson has certainly done a great job. There has been an amazing stream of talented kids passing through in recent years. The success has helped rally the community support. The feeder system, rec leagues, middle school, and JV squads, have helped feed the varsity program, and the success of the varsity has helped the feeder system grow even stronger. The program's success has led to talented kids moving to the district so they can be a part of the success.
Success breeds success. Anything that diminishes that success, such as Coach Johnson leaving, begins the turn around. I offer LC Bird, and Hermitage this coming year as examples.
I'll add, if you are at or near the top, that turn around is blatantly obvious. If you are good but not great, taking a step back is much less noticeable. So, take away a Brady from a championship team, and it's disastrous. Take old Tom from a .500 team, and you hardly notice. Same holds true for the coach.
Success breeds success. Anything that diminishes that success, such as Coach Johnson leaving, begins the turn around. I offer LC Bird, and Hermitage this coming year as examples.
I'll add, if you are at or near the top, that turn around is blatantly obvious. If you are good but not great, taking a step back is much less noticeable. So, take away a Brady from a championship team, and it's disastrous. Take old Tom from a .500 team, and you hardly notice. Same holds true for the coach.
Oh sure take the easy way out and say all of the above... lol!
If you live in a talent rich area it is really just rallying the community to build that “want to” be a football player at highland springs. Coach does an amazing job also and if he left it would certainly hurt but I do believe another coach could find success there. Not sure if it would be to the same degree though coach Johnson has done an amazing job. Controlling high school kids is never a “lay up” we only see the on the field... half of the job is the stuff we don’t see. He has significantly improved numerous kids lives and outlooks wether it is college scholarships or just a sense of belonging. I do believe the HS area is super talent rich but I refuse to take away from what the coach has accomplished. He has done great things for that community no doubt about it. They were fielding pretty good teams before he got there. He improved it exponentially and put everything in the right place. He put all the pieces together and that is what being a good coach is all about.
Very well said. A lot of schools could learn a lesson from what Coach Johnson has helped do for that community, through athletics.
And you said a mouthful. (Our buddy DSH can sure tell us from experience how tough the job is to "manage" high school kids these days. He grew up in Danville and works at Varina.) The fact that Coach Johnson has built an "all world" program pales in comparison to how he has been able to positively impact so many kids. And he has done it in a rugged environment there at HSHS.
And you didn't take the easy way out when asked about Matoaca and Meadowbrook??? LOL!
Actually, your comments were spot on in my book. They just need to get this coming year under their belts.
Coach Johnson is a fantastic man and coach! No doubt.. He has assembled one helluva a staff surrounding him as well. They are all following the same philosophy . The basics of getting these kids on board, getting them to understand the importance of being a good/great student first. How to be humble and dignified. To learn family values, what it is to be a father, husband and a leader. To put God front and center in their lives. To help others in the community and to be respectful at all times... If they don't want to do these things, they won't be on the team! They must find the value in themselves in order to be the best they can be.
All of the coaches teach, tutor and mentor on and off the field. Then, in the end, they have the chance to further their education in college and get good jobs and make a good life for themselves after football, because the have gotten all the tools they need to succeed. This is what Springers Football IS ALL ABOUT!
Not to mention that they start very young in extremely good youth football programs in the East End as well!
All of the coaches teach, tutor and mentor on and off the field. Then, in the end, they have the chance to further their education in college and get good jobs and make a good life for themselves after football, because the have gotten all the tools they need to succeed. This is what Springers Football IS ALL ABOUT!
Not to mention that they start very young in extremely good youth football programs in the East End as well!
I forgot to tell you about this one. Keep an eye on Lorenz Terry the next 2 years for Varina. Kid is 6’5 240. Rising Junior. James Franklin, Nick Saban, and Jimmy Harbaugh will probably be on Messer Rd a lot these next 2 years. Played JV last year but played a lot during the playoffs.
