Southeastern District preview: Oscar Smith has won back-to-back state titles. Western Branch, King’s Fork primed for playoff runs
Oscar Smith begins its quest for a third consecutive state title after last season becoming the first South Hampton Roads team to win back-to-back championships since Granby in 1945-46.
No South Hampton Roads team has won three in a row, though Peninsula powers have done it: Hampton won four in a row from 1995-98, and Phoebus duplicated that feat with titles from 2008-11.
Oscar Smith, which has won at least a share of 16 of the last 17 district titles, is the lone area team to be ranked nationally in preseason polls. The Tigers are No. 77 in MaxPreps and No. 153 High School Football America.
Western Branch, King’s Fork and Indian River, with new coach Brandon Carr, are other teams vying to challenge the Tigers.
Newcomers on the district sidelines also include Grassfield’s Joe Jones, Great Bridge’s Curtis Campbell and Lakeland’s Marcus Cutler.
A look at each team in predicted order of finish:
1. Oscar Smith Tigers
Classification: Class 6 Region A
Coach: Chris Scott, 35-3 in three seasons at Oscar Smith, 139-24 in 14 seasons overall
Last season: 13-1 overall, 7-0 district
On the field: The biggest question mark facing the Tigers is who will be behind center. For the past two seasons, they had Ethan Vasko, a two-time All-Tidewater selection and the 2021 Spring Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Player of the Year. But he graduated and is off to Kansas. Right now, there’s a three-way battle with Cade Cox, Parker Lancaster and Jamar Wright. Cox, who led Greenbrier Christian to the eight-man football state title last season, finished the season with more than 2,000 yards of total offense. The Tigers will have plenty of talent around the new starter. Running back Jamauri “Bam” Knox, wide receiver/running back Xavier Lewis and tight end Tory Johnson, who committed to West Virginia, lead the way. Defensively, the Tigers have one of the best linebacker corps in the state with Kam Johnson, Robbie Jones, Erion Griffin and Jerome Sutton III. They also will be solid on both the offensive and defensive lines, led by all-state offensive lineman Brock Stukes (6-3, 295) and Liberty commit Tajh Boyd (6-5, 315). And their secondary will be led by four-star prospect Asaad Brown.
2. Western Branch Bruins
Classification: Class 6 Region A
Coach: Rashad Cook, 12-7 in two seasons
Last season: 10-3 overall, 6-2 district
On the field: The Bruins not only made the playoffs for the first time since 2016, but they also gained their first playoff wins since 2013 with victories over Franklin County and Manchester. This season should be a continuation of that success. They are led by standout wide receiver Paul Billups Jr. (6-2, 185), a North Carolina commit who had 32 receptions for 572 yards and six touchdowns and is The Pilot and Daily Press No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2023. They also have speedy running back Shimique Blizzard, who rushed for 1,196 yards and 16 touchdowns last season and was named second-team All-Tidewater. QB Taquan Trotman completed 50% of his passes for 1,596 yards and 14 touchdowns. Cook also is excited about wide receivers Devin Cook (19 receptions), his son, and CJ Fraser (19 receptions). They also have a talented and big line led by Aiden Lorsong (6-3, 275), Jayden Chappell (6-5, 310) and Jahzari Priester (6-8, 250). And they get Cam Warren (6-6, 280), who transferred back to Western Branch after spending the past two seasons at national power St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. He is rated among the top linemen in the country and has more than 30 offers. If the offensive line can give Trotman time to work and open up holes for Blizzard, this could be an exciting season for the Bruins.
3. King’s Fork Bulldogs
Classification: Class 4 Region A
Coach: Anthony Joffrion, 13-3 in two seasons
Last season: 11-2 overall, 7-1 district
On the field: The Bulldogs are coming off their first region title. Reaching the state semifinals was a first, but the Bulldogs want more. They are led by QB Cameron Butler (5-11, 170), who accounted for more than 2,000 passing yards, 700 rushing yards and 35 total touchdowns. They also have sophomore running back JaVon Ford (6-0, 190), who already has offers from North Carolina and Duke after he rushed for more than 800 yards last season. WR/DB Kaletri Boyd (5-8, 160) does it on both sides of the ball as he had more than 800 total yards of offense and seven interceptions on defense. DB Antione Gray (5-11, 175) had more than 60 tackles, and LB Latavion Wynn (6-0, 190) had 44 tackles and four sacks. Other key players are linemen Ronald Rhodes (6-2, 240), Reginald Saunders (6-0, 250), Cameron McDaniel (6-2, 320) and Nazman Gates (6-1, 220).
4. Indian River Braves
Classification: Class 5 Region A
Coach: Brandon Carr, first season
Last season: 6-4 overall, 5-3 district
On the field: Carr, a former Indian River assistant, returns to become the new head coach. He played at Western Branch and has coached at Nansemond River, Indian River and last season at Grassfield. So he knows the Southeastern District. He will have several talented athletes, including junior quarterback Tyler Allison, who last season completed 89 of 172 passes for 1,276 yards and 16 touchdowns with nine interceptions. They also have running back Malachi Hinton, wide receiver I’Mire Talley and wide receiver/defensive back Jakeyse Graves. The line will be anchored by Chris Shaw.
5. Deep Creek Hornets
Classification: Class 4 Region A
Coach: Andre Twine, 37-18 in five seasons
Last season: 7-5 overall, 5-3 district
On the field: The Hornets lost a few players to graduation, but Twine thinks he has the players who can fill those roles and be competitive in the tough Southeastern District. He returns sophomore Brandon Nesbit, who last season finished with 78 tackles in the regular season and also gave the Hornets a solid running game. They also have RB/LB Hunter Barnes, OL/DL Henry Strickland (6-2, 295), WR/LB Mark Watkins and Moana Gibson, who last season led Hampton Roads with five field goals, including a season-long 45-yarder to earn first-team All-Tidewater honors. He also will play wide receiver and defensive back. Other contributors include OL/DL Bryson Smith, ATH Brehon Cuffee, WR/DB Amir Wray Hill, WR/DB Dareon Faircloth, RB/LB Sam Diggs and WR/DE Jahmir Jennings.
6. Nansemond River Warriors
Classification: Class 5 Region B
Coach: Alonzo Ricks Jr., 5-6 in first season
Last season: 5-6 overall, 3-5 district
On the field: The Warriors hope to build off last season’s playoff appearance, but they will have to do it without quarterback Nolan James, who played his first three seasons at Nansemond River, but transferred to Phoebus. But Ricks is confident his players will rise above the adversity. Leading the way is Nasir Holland (5-6, 165), who led the team in receiving yards and was tied for the team lead in interceptions last season. Ricks is expecting a breakout season from WR Terrell Douglas and running back/linebacker Michael Thomas, who was second on the team in rushing and tackles last season. The line will be led by Seth Murphy (5-11, 200) and Marquez Warren (6-1, 230).
7. Grassfield Grizzlies
Classification: Class 6 Region A
Coach: Joe Jones, first season at Grassfield; 2-22 in three seasons at Lakeland
Last season: 1-9 overall, 1-7 district
On the field: Jones replaces Martin Asprey, who started the program when the school opened in 2007. Asprey guided the Grizzlies to the playoffs 11 times, but the Grizzlies haven’t had a winning record since 2016. Jones is excited about the possibilities at Grassfield. Players he will be counting on include DT/G Jordae Edwards (6-0, 280), RB/LB Brian Young, RB/DB Cameron Joachim, WR/DB Elijah Nees, DE Tshombe Graham and OL/DL Corbin Hann, (6-1, 260).
8. Lakeland Cavaliers
Classification: Class 3 Region A
Coach: Marcus Cutler, first season
Last season: 2-8 overall, 1-5 district
On the field: Cutler replaces Joe Jones, who left to take head coaching position at Grassfield. The Cavaliers haven’t had a winning season since 2016 and are 8-36 over the past five seasons. But Cutler is excited about returning to Suffolk to lead the Cavaliers. Offensively, they will be led by RB Damarian Dillard and the line, led by Justin Royes and Jakobe Little. Defensively, they will rely on inside linebackers Tyler Davis, RJ Jones and Micah Peters.
9. Hickory Hawks
Classification: Class 5 Region A
Coach: Donnell Brown, 6-19 in three seasons
Last season: 4-7 overall, 4-5 district
On the field: The Hawks made the playoffs for the first time in program history last season. They will be led by QB Colin Chenault, WR Lance Watters, WR/DB Mason Phelps and linemen Devryn Smith (6-2, 300) and Mason Curles (6-2, 210).
10. Great Bridge Wildcats
Classification: Class 4 Region A
Coach: Curtis Campbell, first season
Last season: 0-8 overall, 0-7 district
On the field: Campbell, a former two-sport star at Deep Creek and Grassfield, replaces Brian Boerboom, who was 5-24 the past three seasons. Campbell, the Wildcats’ defensive backs coach last season, wants to implement a physical ground game, but also be explosive through the air. He will be counting on QB Brock Hoffman and wide receivers Donje Gray and Donte Little to lead the passing attack. He will rely on Dover Bisciaio to lead the running game.
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com. Twitter @LHRubama
