High school football preview 2011 | Private schools

State championships, major-college recruits and high-profile transfers have long been the talk only of Group AAA football teams in South Hampton Roads. Not any longer.

Few public-school teams can match Norfolk Christian’s star power this season. Four players – Kwontie Moore, Mario Nixon, Will Wahee and Courtnye Wynn – have committed to Virginia, and the Ambassadors also welcome running back Jacorey Robins, a prominent transfer from Churchland.

“We’re blessed with having some really talented football players,” said Norfolk Christian coach Heath Gibbs, whose team last year won its first Virginia Independent Schools Division III title. “There was always that myth (in South Hampton Roads) that you can’t go to a private school and still get looked at by colleges. Hopefully, we’ve been able to break that mold.”

Elsewhere in the Tidewater Conference, former Western Branch High coach Lew Johnston brings his vaunted wing-T offense to Nansemond-Suffolk, while Steve Monninger takes over at Norfolk Academy.

A look at the Tidewater Conference teams, in predicted order of finish, and other South Hampton Roads private schools:

1. NORFOLK CHRISTIAN

Last season 11-1 overall, 4-1 Tidewater Conference

Coach Heath Gibbs, 14-8 in two seasons

Impact players RB/LB Kwontie Moore, 6-2, 240, sr.; WR Mario Nixon, 6-5, 220, sr.; RB/DB Jacorey Robins, 5-10, 175, sr.; WR/DB Will Wahee, 5-11, 185, sr.; OL/LB Courtnye Wynn, 6-6, 235, sr.

On the field Moore, the reigning TCIS Player of the Year, rushed for 1,005 yards and was a first-team all-state pick on offense and defense last season. Robins gives the Ambassadors a fleet-footed option and coupled with Moore’s bruising running could make stopping the run a handful for opponents. The line has returners in Wynn, Evan McFarland, Henry Askew and Luke Miller, while Frank Batten IV, a 6-2 junior, is the likely starter at QB.

Bottom line State championship or bust.

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2. BISHOP SULLIVAN CATHOLIC

Last season 6-4 overall, 3-2 TCIS

Coach Rick Cox, 18-12 in three seasons

Impact players G/NT Max Abbate, 5-11, 240, jr.; K/P Nathan Boone, 6-0, 180, sr.; QB/S Brian Novak, 6-0, 195, sr.; WR/S Brandte McIntyre, 6-1, 190, sr.; RB/LB Jeffrey Swoope, 5-10, 205, sr.

On the field The Crusaders are more experienced (13 seniors, eight juniors) and deeper (49 players compared to last season’s 27), and Cox’s spread offense features the triple-threat of returners in Novak, Swoope and McIntyre. A host of other holdovers, including WR/DB Steven Swoope and three-year starting lineman Mike Ferina, figure to help, and there’s plenty of motivation after last year’s 3-2 conference finish. “I expect this team to be prepared to play with a lot of heart and emotion this year,” Cox said.

Bottom line There’s enough firepower that Norfolk Christian can’t expect to waltz to the TCIS title.

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3. NANSEMOND-SUFFOLK

Last season 4-6 overall, 3-2 TCIS

Coach Lew Johnston, first season at N-SA; 163-65-3 in 22 seasons at Western Branch

Impact players FB/LB A.J. Hicks, 5-10, 190, sr.; RB/SS/K Bobby Lamm, 5-11, 190, sr.; T/DT Clay Rabey, 6-0, 260, sr.; G/DE Ryan Serianni, 5-11, 185, sr.; G/LB Thomas Westfall, 5-9, 195, sr.

On the field Johnston inherited some talented youngsters, and the Saints should get a boost from several transfers, including RB/S Brandon Addison (Western Branch) and RB/WR Ryan McClain (Nansemond River). “We won’t be huge, but we are smart and have great team speed,” Johnston said. Depth, as with most private-school teams, is a concern. Lamm, an all-state kicker last season, also is an impact player on both offense and defense, while Rabey, Serianni and Westfall anchor the line.

Bottom line Johnston has quickly made huge strides with a program that already was a regular contender.

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4. GREENBRIER CHRISTIAN

Last season 6-5 overall, 1-4 TCIS

Coach Donnie Simpson, 7-15 in two seasons

Impact players QB Nick Jessee, 6-1, 180, sr.; FB/TE/LB D.J. Lake, 6-2, 225, jr.; T/LB Matt Monti, 6-0, 190, sr.; WR/DB Bryce Myers, 6-2, 170, jr.; RB T.J. Reynard, 5-10, 170, sr.

On the field Sixteen starters return, and Simpson has a host of two- and three-year starters from a team that reached the VIS Division IV playoffs last season. The speedy Myers and T/DE Glendon Barcliff – both transfers from Indian River – and Lake (Bishop Sullivan) add depth and join an offense that features returning starters Jessee and Reynard. The Gators are bigger and stronger, Simpson said.

Bottom line Gators are better, but most other teams are too.

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5. NORFOLK ACADEMY

Last season 0-8 overall, 0-5 TCIS

Coach Steve Monninger, first season

Impact players QB/RB/DB Dominic Burkett, 6-1, 190, sr.; WR/RB/DB Marquis Evans, 6-0, 185, sr.; QB/RB/LB Alex Fitzwilliam, 5-10, 190, jr.; OL/DL Will Hoppa, 6-3, 220, sr.; RB/LB Hunter Wagnon, 6-2, 205, jr. On the field Monninger takes over for Dennis McCall, who left after six seasons. Burkett and Evans give the Bulldogs some speed and athleticism in the backfiled, while Wagnon and Hoppa add size up front. Norfolk Academy, once a TCIS power, slipped to just three victories during the past two seasons, but Monninger see progress. “We have committed players who have trained hard this summer,” he said.

Bottom line “We have a lot of work ahead of us,” said Monninger.

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6. HAMPTON ROADS ACADEMY

Last season 8-2 overall, 4-1 TCIS

Coach Bryce Kiser, 8-2 in one season

Impact players QB/DB Marshall Bagley, 5-11, 175, sr.; L Billy Steinberger, 5-11, 220, sr.; WR/LB Tre’ Swinton, 6-1, 200, sr.

On the field RB Ty Smith ran through conference defenses – amassing 1,000-plus yards in the first five games – last season as a sophomore. But Smith has transferred, and the Navigators graduated a host of players from a team that shared the conference title with Norfolk Christian last season.

Bottom line Time to rebuild.Other private schools

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OTHER PRIVATE SCHOOLS

ATLANTIC SHORES

Last season 6-4 overall

Coach Wayne Lance, 23-20 in four seasons

Impact players QB/DB Garfield Christie, 6-2, 205, sr.; WR/DB Donta Cuffee, 5-9, 170, sr.; RB/LB Sam Meade, 5-7, 170, sr.; RB/DB B.J. Reid, 5-11, 180, sr.; L/LB Gabe Sigmon, 6-2, 245, sr.

On the field The Seahawks are led by a solid crop of seniors and what Lance calls a “youth movement” – 19 underclassmen. Sigmon has started since eighth grade and had 24 sacks last season. Christie adds stability in the backfield and Reid and Meade are three-year varsity players. Other returning starters include WR/DB Tim Wright, RB/LB Reid Stowe and TE/LB Omari Banks.

Bottom line The Seahawks figure to play a prominent role in the VIS Division III playoff chase.

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ISLE OF WIGHT

Last season 5-4 overall

Coach Dale Chapman, 121-74 in 18 seasons

Impact players WR/DB Matt Bratton, 6-0, 175, sr.; RB/LB Greag Chaffer, 6-0, 190, sr.; QB/DB Ben Epps, 5-9, 160, sr.; TE/DE Mike McGuire, 6-0, 195, sr.; WR/DE Josh Thomas, 6-0, 190, sr.

On the field The Chargers appeared in four consecutive VIS state title games, winning three, before dropping to .500 last season while playing with only three seniors. Now, there are 12 seniors, and Chapman said the team also has a solid group of juniors. Epps returns at QB and will play behind senior linemen Corbin Blair, Georgie Smith and Cody Barnes. “We should be more competitive,” Chapman said.

Bottom line Expect the Chargers to return to state-title contenders.

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PORTSMOUTH CHRISTIAN

Last season 7-4 overall

Coach Josh Blalock, 20-20 in four seasons

Impact players RB/LB Tyrone Cowan, 5-9, 210, jr.; WR/RB/S Clayton Evancho, 5-10, 190, sr.; TE/LB Joe Pope, 5-10, 175, sr.; RB/LB John Pope, 5-9, 150, soph.; OL/DL Kent Smith, 5-11, 225, sr.

On the field The Patriots, who have made back-to-back playoff appearances, welcome back plenty of experience at the skill positions, led by Evancho, Cowan and John Pope. A handful of transfers should help, including QB Treyvon Brickhouse (Norcom) and QB/DB Joey White (Hampton Christian). Joe Pope, Smith and Evancho are the school’s first four-year starters.

Bottom line “A lot depends on how well the line develops,” Blalock said.