As season begins, Oscar Smith sets sights on national title

Summer has ended for most high school football teams in South Hampton Roads.

Here's a sampling of what went on during Monday's first official day of practice:

Oscar Smith begins with lofty ambitions

Coach Richard Morgan barked. He hollered. He yelled.

"Twenty-five days," he shouted.

As if his players didn't already know how much time is left before their nationally televised game against Venice (Fla.) on Aug. 28. In their first practice since going 15-0 and claiming the Group AAA Division 6 state title last season, the Tigers were cycling through plays and formations as if their opener was this week.

"You might say, 'Well, what is there to prove?'" quarterback Phillip Sims said. "'You won a state championship and you broke all these records.' But I want to win a national championship."

That goal - to finish atop nationals polls - isn't all that far-fetched after Oscar Smith ended last season sixth in ESPN's rankings.

"Based on the past, the program is on top," Morgan said. "But in the present, it's not. We're going to try to achieve more. I am not satisfied so I am not going to let (the players) be satisfied."

On two fields, 115 players on Oscar Smith's varsity and junior varsity teams slogged through drills under the harsh late-morning sun. Absent were Tim Smith, Jerod Askew and Perry Jones - who graduated and moved on to Division I colleges.

"We've got a lot of talent out here," Sims said. "We have to put it together."

But Sims acknowledged there could be some growing pains - like those felt Monday, when players routinely lined up out of position and jumped out of their stances before snaps, incurring Morgan's wrath.

"I don't care if it is Day 1," Morgan told his team. "I want to be championship material."

The Tigers - with the season just around the corner - heard that message loud and clear.

Kempsville wakes up early to get started

A handful of teams wasted little time in getting started Monday.

Green Run and Kempsville led the way with 6:30 a.m. practices.

Both open Aug. 28 along with eight fellow Beach District teams.

At Kempsville, second-year coach David Johnson had about 55-60 players show for the early morning session.

"We wanted to avoid the heat and get the most out of our kids," Johnson said. "And going that early gives the kids the rest of the day to get done what they need to get done, or if they need to work in the evening."

Kempsville welcomes back 17 starters from a team that finished 3-7 last year.

The Chiefs were 0-10 in 2007.

Grizzlies hope to build on last year's stunning run

Grassfield senior inside linebacker Isaiah Twitty was all business Monday. When he wasn't directing the defenders around him, he was yapping across the line.

"Been waiting for this day since the season was over with," Twitty said. "We all were."

The Grizzlies, after all, have a reputation to protect after they surprised South Hampton Roads by qualifying for the postseason in the program's second year.

"People know that we can play," Grassfield coach Martin Asprey said. "Coaches are saying, 'Don't take Grassfield lightly. They can beat you. They are a playoff team.'"

Last year, the Grizzlies finished 7-4, knocking off Southeastern District rivals Great Bridge and Indian River before losing in the first round of the Division 5 playoffs.

"Like Coach Asprey told us, 'We're no longer the hunters,'" Twitty said. "We're the hunted. Everybody saw we made improvements. We know it's not going to be a walk in the park."

Churchland prepares For rugged early schedule

Churchland lineman Richard Coles has become familiar enough with his coach Cedric Cradle to know this much is certain: "He don't play."

Cradle has established his toughness in two seasons, and his players must endure a five-day sleepover camp that doubles as an initiation rite. If that doesn't seem so bad, check out the Truckers' schedule - Phoebus, the defending Group AAA Division 5 state champion, and fellow Peninsula District power Hampton in the first three weeks.

"You can't run away from that," Cradle said.

Last season, Phoebus stomped Churchland 63-6 in the first round of the playoffs. But, as Cradle pointed out, at least the Truckers (6-5) were there to get trounced.

"Some of them are scared," Cradle said. "But that's how I like it. Football is all about strengthening the mind."

Booker T. Washington's coach eager to start

Che' Jacobs tossed and turned Sunday night.

"I didn't get to sleep until 3:30 because I was so excited," said Jacobs, Booker T. Washington's first-year coach.

Jacobs, a Bookers assistant for the past six seasons, took over when Ron Bolton accepted a position at Delaware State. Booker T. was 8-12 under Bolton the last two seasons.

Jacobs, who played at Booker T. from 1989-91, is ready for the challenge of leading his alma mater.

" This is home," Jacobs, 35, said. "It's like I'm walking into my front door because I know where everything is."

Green run speedster skipped summer track

Running back Dejor Simmons missed last season's opening practice to attend the AAU Junior Olympics in Detroit. But early Monday he was at Green Run for the start of Stallions' practice.

"This is the first time I didn't run summer track," said Simmons, the defending Group AAA state champion in the 100 meters. "Last year I missed the first week of practice but I didn't do it this year because football is my first love."

Simmons has scholarship offers from West Virginia, East Carolina and Duke, and would like to run track and play football in college.

Lake Taylor eyes state after 4 district crowns

Lake Taylor won its fourth consecutive Eastern District title last season, but that's not what the Titans remember. Fresh in their memory is a 14-0 loss to Phoebus in the Eastern Region Division 5 final.

"We were one game away from going to state," lineman Fred Hill said.

Even Titans coach Hank Sawyer was talking about last season's finale.

"We return eight starters on defense and six on offense," he said. "So we gotta get back to that point. If we don't we didn't reach our goal."

If the Titans are to go far, they'll need another huge season from senior Travis Williams.

The 6-foot-3 and 205-pound linebacker recently narrowed his list of more than 20 schools to six, Miami, Penn State, North Carolina, LSU, Tennessee and West Virginia.

"I want to make all of my visits because I don't want to regret my decision," he said. "I'm not going to rush it."