Fast start key for Colonels with challenging non-district schedule

August 20, 2011
By Robert Niedzwiecki
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER- Over the first four games of the season last year, it seemed like James Wood coach Mike Bolin would have given anything to see his players hit someone properly.

There doesn't appear to be any worries now.

"[Junior T.J. Bruce] lit up somebody," said Bolin during the second week of practice, describing a play the day before. "I can't remember who it was, but I felt bad for him."

No, Bolin has no doubt that this year's Colonel team will be ready to hit the ground running when it comes to making tackles and executing blocks.

"I think we're much further ahead this year at this time than we were last year," said Bolin, whose team went 6-5 and advanced to the Region II Division 4 quarterfinals. "We worked hard last year, but the guys that we have are picking things up quicker. The things that we're running, it's working.

"We're really happy with the way we've progressed so far. We're bigger and stronger than last year, and I think we're better up front than we were last year."

Blocking was a particularly big concern during the early stages of 2010, and the low point came when James Wood gained just 125 yards in a 19-0 loss to Warren County that dropped the Colonels to 2-2.

Though the defeats to Warren County and a resurgent Hedgesville (W.Va.) squad were against quality programs, they played a big role in why James Wood had to settle for the eighth and final seed in the Region II Division 4 playoffs.

With an even tougher schedule this year, it was practically essential that James Wood be better with the fundamentals in the early going if it wanted to reach its goals.

"We want a playoff game [at home] this year," said James Wood senior linebacker and fullback Mark Bean, who led James Wood with 111 tackles last year. "If we want to do that, we need to start off stronger.
"I think we're going to be all right this year. We have a lot of seniors who have stepped up in leadership roles."

Bean said the offensive line has definitely played a large role in taking leadership.

R.J. Miller (5-foot-8, 215 pounds) has switched from center to right guard, and Mike DeMaio (5-10, 215) will play left guard. The other offensive lineman are junior Chris Alaniz (6-3, 265) at left tackle, junior Erick Bearer (6-0, 265) at center, and junior Travis Sieber (6-2, 250) at right tackle. Tight end will be manned by senior Mel Savarese (6-3, 205).

Though there could be a number of different people who those linemen will block for, senior Aaron Clark has been turning heads with his quick foot movement.

During a drill in the early stages of practice during which Bruce was at wide receiver and Clark was in the secondary, Bruce was stunned to see Clark on his back after figuring he had the defense beat following a catch.

"You measure him in a straight line, and he runs about a 4.7 40 [yard-dash] - he's not the fastest kid in the world," said Bolin of the 5-foot-6, 150-pound Clark. "But he is lightning quick [with his first few steps]. He can go side-to-side and backwards and forwards before you can blink an eye. He's as quick as can be.

"And with a big offensive line, he hides behind those guys, finds the crease and pops through. I also think he's one of the toughest guys I've ever met. So we're really excited about what he's done so far."

At wide receiver, the Colonels might have the best one-two combination in the district in Bruce and Chad Potter. They combined for 46 catches, 679 yards and five touchdowns last year.

Jake Lewin is now the quarterback in charge of getting them the ball. Lewin got some experience last year - he filled in for an injured Matt Copley against Warren County - but what's more important to James Wood is how he's performing now.

Bruce says people shouldn't let Lewin's size - he stands 5-foot-8, 160 pounds - fool them.

"He's a talented quarterback, and I think everyone's going to see it in our first game," Bruce said. "He has an arm on him, he can run, he has good field vision and a good awareness of where everybody's at. He can do everything. He's the man for the job."

On defense, Bolin thinks the Colonels have a lot of potential. A linebacking corps led by Bean figures to be particularly stout.

Senior Tanner Rutherford will join Bean at inside linebacker.

"[Rutherford's] picking up everything really well," Bean said. "He's reading the plays nice, and he's just doing a phenomenal job."

The outside linebackers are senior A.J. Eubank, a three-year starter who made 32 tackles last year, and Bean's twin brother Christian.

"[Christian's] one of our faster kids," Bolin said. "He's good at containing."

The secondary will feature Bruce and Potter (50 tackles and a team-high four interceptions) at cornerback. Potter was safety last year, but that spot will now be occupied by junior Bradley Skillman. Bolin said there are several other defensive backs they can also turn to.

"We're deeper than we thought," Bolin said.

On the defensive line, James Wood will rotate five or six players at the two tackle positions, and at defensive end James Wood will look to Nick Hayden, Savarese and Mason Longerbeam.

Bean said a key thing for James Wood's defense will be forcing turnovers, because he didn't think last year's 20 was nearly enough.

"If we get turnovers and keep our composure, I think our defense will be all right," Bean said.

As far as special teams, at the end of the second week of practice Bolin was still leaving the kicking competition open. But he has a lot of faith in the ability of senior Chandler DeHaven because of the work he put in last year, connecting on all 17 of his extra point attempts and a game-winning 27-yard field goal in overtime against Millbrook.

Even if James Wood is more prepared to start the year strong in 2011, Bolin said he knows that's not going to guarantee anything.

The Colonels' first two games are against two teams that just dropped down from Group AAA, Heritage and Loudoun Valley (a Northwest Region semifinalist), and then the Colonels face a solid Musselman (W.Va.) team and Hedgesville.

James Wood just knows it's going to enjoy preparing.

"We have some guys that really like to get physical this year," Bolin said. "Practices are really fun this year. These guys are hootin' and hollerin' every time someone makes a good play, and they'll plant somebody on their back and help them back up. I'm having a good time this year."

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