Week off? What week off?
While many Beach District teams get a break during the regular season, Tallwood is playing 10 consecutive games. The Lions’ bye falls on Oct. 31 — a week after the team’s final regular-season game.
“A lot of people are banged up with bumps and bruises,” said Byron Parker, a two-way starter. “But our team is pretty tough, so we do what we have to do with it.”
Tallwood (4-3) is one of two of the Beach’s 11 teams to play 10 consecutive games. Bayside (1-6) had its bye at the start of the season.
Tallwood should have everybody healthy for Friday's key district game against unbeaten Ocean Lakes (6-0). The Lions, though, have been inconsistent, especially on offense.
Running back Dee Whitaker, tackle Keenan Harris and Parker, a wideout/ running back, have played through minor injuries. Parker was nursing a hip pointer until recently.
“We’ve been injured all along,” coach Thad Harold said. “If you have low numbers like we do at the skill positions and then have injuries, it totally takes the rhythm out of your offense. Every week we’re starting somebody new, and it cuts down the chemistry.”
Meanwhile, Tallwood’s defense has come together despite returning only a handful of full-time starters.
Led by Harris, Parker, linebacker Patrick Sexton, and linemen Atraile Brown and Gabe Driver, the Lions have held four opponents to a TD or less.
“A lot of the people playing now played last year, but they were just in the rotation,” said Parker, a cornerback. “We have the hungriest linebackers and defensive line in the Beach. They’re always flying to the ball.”
Tallwood meets an Ocean Lakes team that could play Green Run next week in a battle of the Beach’s only remaining unbeatens. Green Run plays Kempsville (1-5) today. “We definitely will not be looking past Tallwood,” Ocean Lakes coach Chris Scott said, “because of their defense and play-making ability on offense.”
Staff picks:
Jami says Ocean Lakes 13, Tallwood 7.
Larry says Ocean Lakes 14, Tallwood 12.
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