Kier Townsend commits to Rhode Island University Underrated. Overlooked. Those are ugly words in the athletic community. College recruiters are the tireless type though, sifting through the sand for a diamond. Kier Townsend believes he that could be that player. “In my opinion I was overlooked and it just made me work harder and strive to become a better athlete all-around,” Townsend said. “I made sure I did something to make myself better every day. I knew someone would take a chance on me.” One school got their potential diamond in the rough when the wide receiver and cornerback announced…
Browsing: Football
After a tough start to the season turned into a playoff berth for the Meadowbrook Monarchs, lineman Chris Artis has something to be even more proud of. The 6-2, 305-pound tackle has committed to play football at Chowan University. “I chose Chowan so my parents would be able to come to my games,” said Artis. “And I really liked the coaching staff.” The Chowan commit had interest from North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Morgan State and Virginia State. Artis started at guard in his sophomore and junior campaigns but was switched to offensive tackle in his senior year. He…
When James Madison football coach Everett Withers announced he was taking the head coach position at Texas State, it sent shock waves throughout the Virginia social media community. L.C. Bird defensive back Kumonde Hines made an announcement shortly thereafter. The once JMU commit would be following Withers on a full ride to Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas- just southwest of Austin. “Coach Withers seems like a great person and I felt like he was very loyal to me,” Hines said. Hines was an important piece to the Skyhawks’ defensive puzzle in 2015 as he provided excellent coverage and…
The Central Virginia Hurricanes AAU football team reached the pinnacle of success on December 13 when they brought home a National Championship by defeating the Columbia Elite Junior Bearcats 42-24. It is the culmination of a lot of hard work for an AUU program that is young, just four years old. The U10 team, that is just in its second season, reached the top. “The success showed the kids that we can play anybody, anywhere,” said coach Wayne Jennings. “One day they will be called upon to beat someone big, and they’ll be battle tested.” While Jennings said that it…
Former L.C. Bird safety and quarterback, Ant Harris, got some long-awaited and well-deserved news last week. The former UVA standout was added to the Minnesota Vikings active roster. The move was announced when the Vikings placed Antone Exum on injured reserve, per the Minneapolis Star Tribune. After some mock drafts had him going as high as the fourth round, Harris’ draft stock slipped, probably due to his size and an injury that caused him to miss his pro day and the senior bowl – not for a lack of quality in play. Though he wasn’t selected, he was immediately signed…
It was the North versus the South in the Chesterfield Quarterback League Super Bowl 2015 play at the Ted Salmon Stadium 360 Athletic Complex off Hull Street Road. The three brackets, Minors, Juniors and Seniors, played their hearts out, and mostly, the South ruled with the Juniors and Seniors bringing home the trophy. The Minors, National Conference Champions Matoaca Indians (26-13) versus National Conference Champions Spring Run (33-6) played strong defense on the field keeping the game scoreless until the final six minutes of the game when Spring Run’s Kyle Charlton, rushed over the goal line. They missed the point…
In a year that many observers wrote off Thomas Dale after they lost their last three games of the regular season, the Knights made a surprising run in the playoffs. Their perseverance culminated in the state semi-final game when they met an athletic and bigger Oscar Smith team last Saturday, ultimately losing 21-3. “I’m just really proud of our team after they were able to turn it around from a three game slide,” head coach Kevin Tucker said. “It feels good to make it to the state semi-final, but it just wasn’t the outcome we were looking for.” Thomas Dale…
With their 13-7 victory last Friday night over Cosby at Ed Karpus field, Thomas Dale secured a date with destiny this Saturday. The Knights, who won the 2009 state championship, will get a rematch with Oscar Smith, the team they defeated 20-17 in the state semi-finals when late coach Vic Williams led them to the Promised Land. “Let’s do this for coach Williams and Ben Brockwell!” a player yelled in the huddle after the victory Friday night’s win. That has been a theme for the Knights this season. From the recurring green and pink socks they have worn for renal…
L.C. Bird lost in the playoffs. That six-word sentence sent shockwaves through the Central Region last Friday. The Skyhawks finally fell from postseason grace after an epic nearly four season run that included three consecutive state championships and a 33-game winning streak. Hermitage defeated the Skyhawks 21-12 last Friday at Randolph-Macon to advance to the 5A South region semi-finals. It wasn’t really close, either. Quarterback Eli Odom and the Panthers were the better team. Let’s not take a crumb away from L.C. Bird. You’re entitled to whatever opinion you may have developed about the program that’s become increasingly mercurial as…
For the third time in 15 years, the Thomas Dale Knights and the C.D. Hylton Bulldogs met in the 6A South Regional Quarterfinals, and this time, the Knights prevailed victoriously, 17-14. Led by Roderick Wilson’s 19 tackles and one sack, the Knights’ Dark Zone defense was present early and often against the high-powered Bulldog offense. “Wilson’s 19 tackles is one heck of a game at any level,” head coach Kevin Tucker said. “We’ve asked our guys on defense to come out and do things they’re not used to and they have all stepped-up this year.” After holding Hylton to a…