Thomas Dale High School | Archive | August, 2007

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Posted on 29 August 2007 by redwan123.

 

Thomas Dale FB Preview

Knights still mending broken armor



Thomas Dale coach Vic Williams, 8/28/07

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond

Most adults don’t deal with deaths in the family too well. It takes time.

Even more time needs to be given to Thomas Dale’s football team, full of 16- and 17-year-olds that just lost their captain, their leader and their friend, Malcolm Piggott.

“We’ve already missed a whole week of practice at the beginning of the season because of the death of Malcolm,” Knights coach Vic Williams said. “So we’re struggling a little bit. We’re trying to get our act together.

“This week we’ve had a pretty good week of practice. Our aggressiveness has picked up but it’s still not there.”

No one probably has less practice time than the Knights have had with a game coming up Thursday as TD hosts Manchester.

But quarterback David Williams sees things coming together, slowly but surely.

Thomas Dale coach Vic Williams believes his team is starting to recover from the tragedy.
“These last couple of days of practice, we’ve really picked it up,” David Williams said. “We’re expecting to make the playoffs for sure.”

Thomas Dale is always a playoff contender, and things are no different though only one starter is returning to the team, offensive tackle Dale East – not including standout kicker Jonathan Kuda.

Williams steps in at QB with Domonique Thompson and Alex Stevens behind him at running back. 

All three backs are juniors.

Justin Hunt should be the top option at wide receiver. Hunt is also a junior.

Coach Williams is looking for someone to fill Piggott’s leadership role. They all should be candidates.

Defensively, no one who started for Dale in 2006 will be on the field.

Coach Williams is looking for end Thomas Withers and tackle Luke Slate to anchor the defensive line.

Both are seniors.

Dale kicker Jonathan Kuda should be a weapon when Knight drives stall in scoring range.

The secondary is solid with Chris Heflin at cornerback. He’ll also return kicks.

Chili Davis will start at strong safety and David Williams will move to free safety after seeing time at strong last season.

The season all depends on how well the Knights deal with a feeling 99 percent of high-school football teams never have to encounter.

“We’re going to do what we can to make the playoffs,” Davis said. “I believe it was difficult the first couple of days afterward. We just focused on the kinds of things he would do if he was on the field.

“Our unity [is our strongest trait]. We’re more of a family this year. We’ll be better if we stick together.”

Said coach Williams: “When you lose a player like Malcolm that hurts leadership. Right now they’re just not real focused. I can understand why and you can’t fuss at them but so much for the reason that they’re not focused. We’ve got to get over it.

“Malcolm would want us to be playing hard. The guys know that. We’ve talked about that. So hopefully this week will be a little bit better.”

2006 season: 6-1 Central District, 7-3

Key players: Dale East (6-2, 269), OT/DT, Jr.; Chili Davis (5-6, 156), SS/RB, Sr.; Domonique Thompson (6-0, 197), RB, Jr.; Alex Stevens (5-9, 189), RB, Jr.; David Williams (5-8, 162), QB/FS, Jr.; Justin Hunt (5-10, 160), WR, Jr.; Thomas Withers (6-1, 198), DE, Sr.; Luke Slate (6-0, 229), DT, Sr.; Chris Heflin (5-10, 153), CB, Jr.

Key losses: Malcolm Piggott, LB/RB; Donovan Jefferson, WR (transfer, L.C. Bird); Howard Spencer, QB/S (Va. State); Tyqun Oxendine, RB

Davis, a senior, will look to fill the leadership role on defense. 

Schedule:
Thursday – Manchester, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 7 – at L.C. Bird, 7:30
Sept. 14 – at Varina, 7:30
Sept. 28 – Meadowbrook, 7:30
Oct. 5 – Matoaca, 7:30
Oct. 12 – at Dinwiddie, 7:30
Oct. 19 – Colonial Heights, 7:30
Oct. 26 – Petersburg, 7:30
Nov. 2 – at Prince George, 7:30
Nov. 9 – at Hopewell, 7:30

Key game: Meadowbrook. The Monarchs look fierce. It will be the first district outing for Dale after three tough matchups and TD will be coming off of a by week. A win here will set the stage for what the Knights hope will be a playoff year.

* Click here to read Lewis’ column on Piggott.
Coach Williams expects Justin Hunt to be his top playmaker at receiver.

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