Ready for some football?
County football teams eye championship
By Shariq Torres CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Clover Hill High School Cavaliers practice football drills on the field while Coach Sean O'Hare supervises their technique. The Cavaliers are setting their sights on the playoffs this year.

As August turns into September, the boys of summer are replaced with the warriors of the gridiron. In Chesterfield County, high school football has a successful history, and several teams-Matoaca, L.C. Bird, Clover Hill and Meadowbrook-hope to continue that winning spirit this year.

L.C. Bird Previous Season 10-3

The question on everyone's lips is can the L.C. Bird Skyhawks repeat its past success? Can the two-time Division 6 regional champions make it three in a row? Coach David Bedwell laughs when the question is posed before giving a noncommittal shrug; it'll have to be a surprise.

That's fitting because the Bird teams that have won the regional championship in the past have done so to the surprise of everyone. It almost appears as if a totally different Skyhawk team comes to the field around the playoffs.

"We always preach to our kids we want to play our best football at the end of the year," Bedwell said. "We develop a rhythm, a style, a pattern and stick to it. We're not changing things up week-to-week, so by the time the end of year comes around, we've got it down."

Senior tailback Dominic Taylor will be a large component of the Skyhawk offense. Taylor rushed for more than 1,400 yards during the regular season last year. For the Skyhawks to have a chance at the three-peat, Taylor will have to show up big.

"It's no secret that we like to run the ball. I think less than 20 percent of the plays last year didn't involve Taylor," Bedwell said. "But Bird has always been lucky to have good tailbacks that carry us through the season, and it's Dominic's turn this year."

Meadowbrook Previous Season 10-2

Meadowbrook lost a heartbreaking, overtime playoff game to L.C. Bird last year to become the Central Region runner-ups. But when you ask Coach Bill Bowles what his team's chances are this year, he admits there are a lot of variables.

"The first scrimmage is going to tell us a lot. It'll be a learning experience. We gotta see how they're going to react in game situations," Bowles said.

Graduation hurt the Monarchs, but Bowles has confidence in his senior class-quarterback Jonathan Wade, running back Le'Troy Alexander and wide receiver Brandian Ross.

"Having a young team, they'll be performing well at times and not so well at times," predicted Bowles. "If things start clicking for us, then we'll be ok."

Clover Hill Previous Season 8-2

They didn't make the playoffs last year, but Clover Hill has brought in a new group of players due to redistricting after the opening of Cosby High School. The Cavaliers lost Andrew Hutchings, a starter on both sides of the ball and last year's All-Area Defensive Team member.

It will be up to senior wide receiver Adam Mehrer, a 2nd team All-Area Offensive player, and senior running back Julian Bowers, who scored 23 touchdowns last season, to provide the punch to the Cavalier offense.

"We gotta play well," Coach Sean O'Hare said of his team's prospects. "We have a shot but we have to come together."

Matoaca Previous Season Record 11-2

If Coach Patrick Manuel is looking for the recipe to repeat his team's success last season as Division 5 Regional Champions, then he has all the right ingredients: 10 returning players from last year's championship squad and 1st team All-Area Offensive players Kris Bird and Patrick Mills.

"We have a great opportunity," Manuel said. "If the young players develop and the seniors, who are already used to winning, provide leadership, then I think we have a good chance."