Football

Thomas Dale downs Meadowbrook, Bird tops Clover Hill, Matoaca falls

By Josh Mathews on October 9, 2018 Football, Sports

Thomas Dale High School’s Codey Wells tackles Meadowbrook’s Antoine Brown. (Rob’s DigiPix) Thomas Dale 17, Meadowbrook 6 The Thomas Dale Knights used their sure and steady running game and a staunch defensive attack Friday to send the Meadowbrook Monarchs to their sixth straight loss, 17-6. “It was an ugly first half filled with penalties for both teams,” explained Thomas Dale High’s coach, Kevin Tucker. “We settled down and stopped turning the ball over and committing dumb penalties. We were able to make some adjustments in the second half, and special teams was better in the second half.” Chris Tyree ran…

Three area grads star at The Next Level

By Josh Mathews on October 2, 2018 Football, Sports

Rayshard Ashby, linebacker Redshirt sophomore at Virginia Tech L.C. Bird alumnus In what is a younger defense for the Hokies this season, it’s no surprise that a three-time state champion and three-time 5A Defensive Player of the Year would step up to fill the starting role on the big stage. Ashby did just that after toiling on special teams as a redshirt freshman last season. In the team’s season-opening 24-3 drubbing of Florida State, Ashby played strong, tallying seven tackles and forcing a big fumble. After a nine-tackle performance against Old Dominion on Sept. 22, Ashby helped Virginia Tech move…

Three losses and a bye for area football teams

By Josh Mathews on October 2, 2018 Football

ABOVE: Matoaca High’s Jordan Robinson tries to shed a tackle. (Rob’s DigiPix) Dinwiddie 35, Thomas Dale 31 Thomas Dale High came out and took an early lead on the Dinwiddie Generals, and trailed by just two points in the third quarter, ultimately falling short in a high scoring affair, 35-31. K’ymon Pope, the younger brother of Ohio State linebacker K’Vaughan Pope, lead the way at quarterback and defensive back for Dinwiddie. “Pope played so well on both sides of the ball,” Thomas Dale coach Kevin Tucker said. “His running abilities kept drives alive, and on defense he came in and made…

TDHS downs Matoaca, Bird wins, Meadowbrook falls

By Josh Mathews on September 25, 2018 Football

Thomas Dale 28, Matoaca 21 Thomas Dale High School’s football team was able to hold off rival Matoaca 28-21 on the strength of a big-time player posting a big-time performance last week. Running back Chris Tyree finished the evening with 211 rushing yards on 13 carries and caught two passes for another 101 yards, scoring three total touchdowns. His two rushing touchdowns were 82 and 92 yards, and his scoring reception spanned 75 yards. Matoaca coach Jay Parker wasn’t surprised with the game that Tyree put up. “I always knew [Chris] was special. I knew he would be a special…

Bird alums Ashby, Elliott show up on big stage: Duo help Va. Tech, Notre Dame earn early victories

By Josh Mathews on September 12, 2018 Football

Even though the rewards stacked up for linebacker Rayshard Ashby throughout his career at L.C. Bird High School, there were still some voices in the crowd that said “he’s undersized,” and “he won’t be a star college player.” Thus far in his starting role for Virginia Tech at middle linebacker, Ashby is proving those naysayers wrong. In a huge 24-3 win over Florida State on Labor Day, Ashby totaled seven tackles and forced a key fumble early in the game, snatching the momentum in favor of the Hokies. His leadership of a young linebacker corps was pivotal. For his efforts…

High school football wrapup: Knights, Skyhawks put on solid performances

By Josh Mathews on September 12, 2018 Football

ABOVE: Meadowbrook’s Jamon Battle running the ball against Highland Springs (Rob’s DigiPix). Thomas Dale 37, Hermitage 7 Thomas Dale was able to defeat a rebuilding Hermitage program by the score of 37-7 last week on the strength of a strong running game and a stifling defensive performance. Chris Tyree ran all over the field, totaling 176 yards on 21 carries and scoring a touchdown. The Panthers simply didn’t have an answer for him. Defensively, Adam Hall led the way with 14 tackles. Rick D’Abreu was perhaps the strongest player on the field with 13 tackles, four sacks and four tackles…

L.C. Bird takes Battle of Chester, 32-20

By Josh Mathews on September 6, 2018 Football

ABOVE: Tre Mason looks for an opening in the Thomas Dale defense. Mason finished the night with 211 rushing yards. They say there’s no “I” in team, and while that’s true, an individual player can make all the difference in the world for a team. L.C. Bird High School got Virginia Tech commit Jaden Payoute back, plugged him in at quarterback and reaped immediate benefits, as he accounted for 154 yards and three touchdowns on the ground when the Skyhawks took the Battle of Chester last Friday night over Thomas Dale High, 32-20. “Having him [Payoute] able to run the…

Thomas Dale shuts out Cosby, readies for ‘Battle of Chester’

By Josh Mathews on August 28, 2018 Football, Sports

Despite some doubts about holes left by seniors who graduated, Thomas Dale High School rolled over Cosby last week, 34-0. “Our team played well defensively,” Thomas Dale coach Kevin Tucker said. “We had 11 tackles for losses.” He added that special teams played great, and the offense got better and better. Chris Tyree scored on a nine-yard run. Earlier, he electrified the crowd with a 99-yard kick return for a score to set off Thomas Dale’s season with a bang. A.J. Chavis rushed for 69 yards, including a 31-yard score. Quarterback Jasiah Williams ran for 72 yards and a TD…

Bird opens season with close win over Meadowbrook

By Josh Mathews on August 28, 2018 Football, Sports

ABOVE: Grunt work: L.C. Bird’s Javonte Tuppince and Meadowbrook’s Jordan Lomeli battle it out in the trenches during last week’s game. In a game with a multitude of local ties, it came down to something familiar for L.C. Bird: the run game. Tre Mason did a little more than get his feet wet in his first game as a starter. The junior rushed for 192 yards on 33 carries and found the end zone for the decisive score in the third quarter as the Skyhawks dispatched Meadowbrook 14-12 last Thursday night. Mason quietly accumulated his yardage and struck for a…

Speed is the key for Thomas Dale Knights

By Josh Mathews on August 21, 2018 Football

Thomas Dale turned in another great season last year, finishing 9-3 on the wings of changing their offense over to the Wing-T. The resulting offensive statistics were the most points they’ve scored in 15 years and the most yards rushed as a team. Although quarterback John Pierce was the leader that Kevin Tucker needed for the offense, the passing game never really clicked, so the air attack is a focus for the Knights. “We know with our type of offense that having a good play-action passing game will add an element to our offense,” Tucker said. “That’s something those teams…

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