Football Preview: Colonels Hoping Work In The Weight Room, Cohesion On The Field Will Help Fuel Success
Posted: August 28, 2014
By ROBERT NIEDZWIECKI
The Winchester Star
WINCHESTER — The view wasn’t as picturesque as sitting on a bench outside while facing Kelican Field.
But for second-year James Wood football coach Mark McHale, sitting on a bench and watching his players inside the weight room was a fitting place as any to talk about the makeup of the 2014 Colonels.
McHale and his players feel there are a number of reasons why James Wood can improve on its 1-9 2013 season (1-3 Northwestern District), and their improved power and fitness are as important as anything they’ve done with Xs and Os.
“We’re stronger as a team,” said senior linebacker/running back Landon Rutherford, one of nine returning starters on offense and seven on defense. “It’s not just certain individuals. It’s the whole team.”
Rutherford (118 carries, 475 yards, 3.9 average and four touchdowns in 2013) said he and junior running back Tyler Bishop (120, 442, 3.7, 4) both lost double figures in pounds over the course of last season.
But a full offseason with McHale has helped them not only get bigger (Rutherford, who finished 2013 at less than 170 pounds, now weighs 194, and Bishop weighs 191 pounds now after finishing at 156) but also more prepared to handle the rigors of three-plus months of football on a daily basis.
Whether they were using the bench press inside or working with weights while doing bear crawls outside, McHale said his players showed great dedication.
“[Our players] worked hard, have gotten stronger, faster, they gained weight,” said McHale, whose team opens with Heritage Friday. “We lifted heavy sets and reps, but the big thing is that the players showed up. Nobody missed a summer workout. And in running and conditioning, everybody on the varsity made the times we wanted. All that gives them confidence.”
In addition, a full offseason under McHale has the players more confident in what they’re doing as far as running the offense and defense. For making that happen, McHale gives a lot of credit to his coaching staff, which includes varsity assistants Mark Weir, Josh Copp, Bryan Smelser, Shane Snyder, Steve Clarke and Brian Thomas. James Wood’s coaching staff went to spring practice for West Virginia, the Virginia Military Institute, and Shepherd, and they talked to the coaches there and picked up coaching and organizational tips.
Senior Brady Hepner (36 of 66, 420 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions) feels particularly good since he’s been able to prepare all offseason to play quarterback. Hepner was thrown into the fire somewhat last year because of various ailments that caused then-starter Cam Butler to miss time at the beginning and the end of the year. Butler missed a total of five games.
“He’s been throwing all year round,” said McHale of Hepner, who proved to be adept at running the read option when called upon (41 carries for 203 yards and 4 TDs). “He worked on his throwing even during basketball and baseball seasons, and it’s gotten so much more accurate. He’s a general now. He’s got experience. He knows the terminology.”
Blocking on the offensive line for Hepner, Rutherford and Bishop will be senior left tackle Tyler Owens (5-foot-10, 220 pounds), senior left guard Jesus Correa (6-0, 245), junior center Adam Vadell (5-11, 242), sophomore right guard Isaac Schrantz (5-11, 250) and senior right tackle Cody Feltner (6-0, 330). All but Owens started last year.
“Coach Clarke is doing a great job with them and really has them cohesive,” McHale said.
Senior Devin Moncrief and junior Brandon Davis will play fullback, and senior Branson Ratlief is the tight end.
As far as receivers, last year’s top wideout Nick Manuel (19 catches for 277 yards, 1 TD) returns, and fellow seniors Adam Bearer and Reid Barber will be in the mix as well for a James Wood offense that is looking to improve on last year’s 11.9 points and 232.1 yards per game.
Defensively, James Wood will need to improve as well after giving up an average of 29.6 points and 338.8 yards per game.
“To be the best we can be, we need to improve containment, and we can’t get beat deep,” said McHale, citing the 38- and 21-yard touchdown passes James Wood gave up to Heritage in last year’s season opener as an example. “The message is, ‘Play your responsibility first.’”
Hepner, who will play safety, thinks James Wood will do a better job of wrapping up this year.
“I think we have a group of guys, especially our linebackers, who can tackle pretty good,” said Hepner, who had 17 tackles and two interceptions last year.
On defense, Manuel — a second-team all-district selection who made 29 tackles last year — will start at cornerback, along with his younger brother Dillon, a sophomore.
The linebacking crew is led by the team’s only returning first-team all-district selection in Rutherford (54 tackles, including five for loss), who plays on the inside. Senior Conner Rhodes is also on the inside. The outside linebacker spots will be manned by Texas transfer and senior Brandon Johnson and Bishop (22 tackles).
The defensive line features Ratlief (24 tackles) and Moncrief (40 tackles, 12 for loss) returning to start at the defensive end positions, and the starting tackle spots will be occupied by Schrantz and Correa. James Wood has several players who can rotate into both the end and tackle spots.
Bishop will handle both kicking and punting duties for James Wood this year.
Overall, Rutherford and Hepner feel this year’s James Wood team is closer and has better leadership, and that, combined with everything else, should at least make the Colonels a much tougher foe for their opponents.
“How many we win this year, I don’t know,” McHale said. “But we’re a much better football team. Much better.”
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