Western Tidewater/Other private schools preview

ATLANTIC SHORES SEAHAWKS

Last season: 2-8 overall

Coach: Wayne Lance, 2-8 in one season

Plays at: Seahawk Field at Atlantic Shores Christian, 1217 N. Centerville Turnpike, Chesapeake

Key players: OL Tim Agreste, 6-2, 230, soph.; WR/DB Jordan Callis, 6-0, 170, sr.; QB/WR/DB Todd Haynes, 5-10, 170, sr.; QB/DB Josh Healey, 6-2, 195, sr.; TE/LB Mike Johnson, 6-3, 210, sr.; LB Andrew Long, 6-0, 195, jr.; WR/DB Jabari Muhammad, 6-2, 165, sr.; LB Ryan Sweat, 5-9, 175, sr.; OL/DL Gabe Sigmon, 6-1, 240, fresh.

Bottom line: Fifteen starters return, and a number of new faces are giving the Seahawks depth they didn’t have last season. Lance installed an offseason program involving speed training and weight lifting and is seeing the benefits at practice.

BROADWATER ACADEMY VIKINGS

Last season: 11-1 overall; lost 28-14 to Isle of Wight Academy in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division III state final Coach: Brian Rolander, 11-1 in one season

Plays at: Bynum Field, 3500 Broadwater Road, Exmore

Key players: TE/LB Connor Cooney, 6-2, 195, jr.; OL/DB Zach Credle 5-9, 180, sr.; OL/DL Justin Kertesz, 6-3, 210, sr.; RB Walker Lewis, 5-9, 165, sr.; OL/LB Jonathan Sharpley, 5-10, 220, sr.; WR/DB Nathan Turner, 6-0, 190, sr.; RB/LB Will Tyson, 6-0, 215, jr.

Bottom line: The Vikings will look to dominate at the point of attack with talent on both lines. Kertesz anchors an offensive line that will pave the way for backs Lewis and Tyson in the spread offense. Broadwater’s multiple defensive fronts will allow Sharpley the freedom to chase down the ball.

FRANKLIN BRONCOS

Last season: 8-3 overall, 3-1 in Tri-Rivers District; lost 40-19 to Colonial Beach in the Group A Region A Division I semifinals

Coach: Darren Parker, 38-9 in four seasons

Plays at: Armory Field, 900 Armory Drive, Franklin

Key players: OL/DL Lakirk Boone, 6-5, 260, jr.; OL/DL Daquan Frazier 6-3, 265, sr.; OL/DL Carl Harris, 5-10, 260, sr.; RB Isaiah Hudson, 5-11, 175, sr.; QB/DB Donzell Shearin 6-0, 185, sr.; RB/LB Antonio Smith, 6-0, 225, sr.; WR/DB Derrick Thompson, 6-1, 185, sr.

Bottom line: The Broncos have become a perennial Group A power and are discovering newfound athletic talent at each practice. So Parker is making coaching adjustments to accommodate his team’s speed. He said that the team will dedicate its season to former player Josh Willis and line coach Charles Greene — both of whom died this year.

ISLE OF WIGHT ACADEMY CHARGERS

Last season: 11-1 overall; won its third consecutive VISAA Division III state title with a 28-14 victory over Broadwater Academy Coach: Dale Chapman, 96-47 in 15 seasons

Plays at: Hooper Field at Isle of Wight Academy, 17111 Courthouse Highway (Route 258), Isle of Wight County

Key players: OL/DL Kyle Corbett, 5-10, 232, sr.; OL/DL Sean Justice, 6-2, 215, sr.; OL/DL Paul Kea, 5-11, 235, sr.; OL/DL Robbie Kearns, 6-1, 215, sr.; WR/DB Zack Lamb, 6-2, 185, sr.; RB/LB Marhall Nixon, 5-11, 180, sr.; OL/DL Cody Peden, 6-2, 270, sr.; RB/LB Ryan Quesinberry, 5-10, 190, sr.; WR/DB Zach Warnick, 6-1, 185, sr.

Bottom line: The three-time defending Division III private school state champion Chargers return just six starters from last year, and a concern for Chapman is how quickly his team comes together. Kea, Kearns and newcomers Corbett, Justice and Peden provide bulk on the lines.

PORTSMOUTH CHRISTIAN PATRIOTS

Last season: 1-8 overall

Coach: Josh Blalock, 1-8 in one year

Plays at: Patriots Stadium, 3214 Elliot Avenue, Portsmouth

Key players: RB/LB Dewayne Alford, 6-3, 205, soph.; OL/DL Kyle Cahoon, 5-11, 215, jr.; RB/S R.T. Driver, 6-1, 185, sr.; OL/DL Pete Eates, 6-0, 240, sr.; WR/DL Jared Jeffers, 6-2, 185, sr.; WR/LB Joe Pope, 5-10, 175, fresh.; QB/LB Josh Pope, 5-11, 175, jr.; OL/DL Kendall Prunty, 6-2, 240, sr.; RB/LB John Tuttle, 5-10, 170, jr.

Bottom line: Blalock says a year of experience has been immense, and it is showing on the practice field. The Patriots, in their second season of football, return a lot of players on both offense and defense. The defense is working on a new scheme focused on stopping the run.

SMITHFIELD PACKERS

Last season: 7-3 overall, 6-3 in the Group AA Bay Rivers District

Coach: Tyris Hill, first year

Plays at: Packer Field at Smithfield High School, 14171 Turner Drive, Smithfield

Key players: OL/LB Antonio Atkins, 6-3, 210, sr.; FB/LB Rodrick Bowser 6-2, 225, sr.; WR/LB Laquon Goodman, 6-4, 190, jr.; RB/DB Montrell Johnson 6-0, 170, jr.; K Jameson Jones, 6-2, 170, sr.; DB Jonathan Pearson, 5-10, 160, sr.; DL Jordan Ricks, 5-10, 320, sr.; QB Kyle Springfield, 5-10, 175, jr.; TE/LB Rohn Springfield, 5-10, jr.

Bottom line: Hill, a former assistant a Southampton, is the new head coach and has had success with programs at Greensville County High and Northwest Halifax (N.C.) High. Hill takes over for Chris Fraser, who left to become the coach at Charlottesville High. The Packers’ defense, with Atkins and Bowser at linebacker and Johnson and Pearson at defensive back, returns a number of starters and is slightly ahead of the offense in grasping Hill’s new systems. The Packers though, will have a tough time replacing the numbers of former standout and current Virginia Tech player Dyrell Roberts, who totaled 2,236 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns last season.

SOUTHAMPTON INDIANS

Last season: 2-8 overall, 2-7 in the Group AA Bay Rivers District

Coach: Littleton Parker, 147-77 in 21 seasons

Plays at: Southampton High School, 23350 Southampton Parkway, just off Route 58, Courtland

Key players: FB Anthony Boone 6-2, 220, sr.; DB Andre Bynum 5-10, 165, sr.; OL Anthony Clark 6-1, 250, sr.; DL Lamarcus Crocker 5-10, 235, sr.; RB Bobby Ellsworth, 5-10, 185, sr.; DL Jamie Hines, 5-9, 235, sr.; WR/QB/DB Andre Rawls 6-1, 180, jr.; OL Josh Turner 6-4, 265, jr. Bottom line: Parker says his team is showing improved quickness over last year, especially on the offensive line and in the backfield. The defense, though, will have to be improved in order for a turnaround season.

SOUTHAMPTON ACADEMY RAIDERS

Last season: 6-4

Coach: Dale Marks, 107-66 in 19 seasons

Plays at: Pillow Field, 26495 Old Plank Road, Courtland

Key players: TE/DL Will Edwards, 5-10, 175, soph.; OL/DL Reed Felts, 6-1, 180, soph.; RB/LB John Hinkle, 6-1, 210, soph.; QB Tyler Lass, 6-3, 180, sr.; TE/DB Matthew Pitts, 6-1, 185, sr.; OL/DL Richard Poland, 6-1, 210, jr.; OL/LB Jacob Rose, 5-10, 210, jr.

Bottom line: The Raiders are going to be young yet big. Marks says the play of his offensive line and three new linebackers will be factors in the success of the team’s double-wing offense and 4-4 defense.

TIDEWATER ACADEMY WARRIORS

Last season: 0-9 overall

Coach: Andy Rippeon, first year

Plays at: Wakefield Municipal Park on Route 460, next to the regional airport on the west side of Wakefield

Key players: OL/DL Quinton Hellyer, 6-0, 210, sr.; QB/RB/LB Rhyne Seward, 5-9, 170, sr.; WR/DL Ryan Stephenson, 6-2, 175, sr.; RB/LB Ferly Yerby, 5-9, 180, soph.

Bottom line: Rippeon, a former kicker at Essex High, the University of Virginia and Randolph-Macon College, takes his first turn on the sidelines to guide the Warriors. He is the Warriors’ fourth head coach in four seasons. There will be a heavy rotation of players offensively and defensively with just 17 on the roster.

WINDSOR DUKES

Last season: 6-4 overall, 2-2 in the Group A Tri-Rivers District

Coach: Bruce Carroll, 23-47 in seven seasons

Plays at: The Castle, 24 Church Street, Windsor

Key players: QB Kwamane Harris, 6-1, 210, sr.; WR/DB Chris Horne, 6-0, 180, sr.; RB Layfette Murphy, 5-11, 190, jr.; DB John Speight, 5-9, 170, sr.; OL Brandon Stephens, 5-9, 180, sr.

Bottom line: Carroll says developing toughness and handling physical play are needs for his team, which was a loss away from making the Group A playoffs last season.

Darrell Cuenca, (757) 446-2366, darrell.cuenca@pilotonline.com