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THE JOURNAL Wednesday, Aug. 21, 20137
Leonard Banks
Now that the high school fall sports season is up and going, Colonial Beach High School varsity football head
coach Scott Foster encourages his team to stay focused as they prepare for upcoming opponents.
LEONARD BANKS ground, while Shanks will have to ' ' (,
• lift the team with his ability to break :
Sports editor away into open field. "It makes me ....
They are the warriors that time will feel good, knowing that I have to step faster this .....
never forget. Like Roman gladiators, up and be a leader,,,while carrying ' andiron-ran
they have no fear, andtheverythought the team every game, Shanks said. I
of ironman football fuels their desire feel stronger and faster this season,
to represent the "Black & Gold" to the and ironman football shouid not be
bitter end. It's that time of the year an issue; it makes us step up andplay
again for Drifter varsity football, harder."
With a scrimmage against Peering into the Drifter roster,
Rappahannock under their belts, they are strong, as far as starters,
Drifter fans will have an opportunity but short of depth. They will have ......
to see their favorite sons battle to count on players such as Carter '
'Spotsylvania under the Shadows of Foster and Dez'Iohn Parker to fill ......
Monroe Park. the gaps. However, when has depth Lunenburg Central (28-0}.
With the season underway, and ever be.en a non-issue with Colonial Along with his usual coaching staff
his roster in check, Drifter varsity Beach? They seem to find a way to of Pat Ey and Keith Dickerson, Foster
head coach Scott Foster is anxious- pull a rabbit out the hat, when teams has added Drifter alumni standouts
ly awaiting the start of the regular least expect it. In 2007, they nearly Brent Steffey, Terry Bushrod and
season--when the real games mat- won it all, but narrowly lost in the Russell Fields.
ter. "We will do what we always do at State semi-finals, to the eventual The Drifters will host King &
Colonial Beach, we will get in shape, state champions, Buffalo Gap.Queen for the first game of the
push our kids to the limit, and try to. Having a small team the size of 22 season, on Aug. 30, at 7 p.m.
out-coach our opponents--that is players is nothing new to the Drifters. Nothing will be easy for the Drifters
the way it's always been done here" Interestingly, they fielded nearly the this season, as they begin the VHSL
With the absence of playmaker, same number of players last season, format classification (1A Division,
Dion Gonzalez due to graduation, the when they posted three straight wins Conference 43). After battling King
Drifters will have to rely on the skills at the end of the season--includ- & Queen they will have to recharge
of quarterback, Nick Graves, and ing their first win in school history their batteries to face Franklin,
wing-back, Shamar Shanks. Graves against Washington & Lee (12-0), and Sussex, and King George.
will be instrumental in creating big a Region post-season victory against There will be no rest for the weary,
plays through the air, and on the Lancaster (40-14), before falling to staytuned!
i
[
:ers
LEONARD BANKS be able to lead us to a pretty good
Sports editor season, Payton said.
Payton's role in creating a
The million-dollar question that foundation for the Drifter varsity
every junior varsity opposing coach program through the junior varsity
in the Northern Neck is asking feeder system is crucial to the
is whether multi-sport superstar survival of the football program at
running back Lamar Lucas is coming Colonial Beach. In fact, Payton is
back. Last season, the?ersatile athlete also involved with the recreation
led the Drifters to a 7-1 record, league, also know as the Colonial
with one loss to double A power, Beach Youth Athletic Association.
King George. However, with Lucas' Payton's varsity recreation football
gridiron future in doubt, long time team went undefeated in 2012.
Drifter ]V head coach, and running Does he have the Midas touch to
back legend, Earl Payton hasn't lead a ragtag, feisty group of hungry
broken a swe t.- marauders to the promised land
Last season, the Northern Neck this season? The answer lies in the
undefeated jufiior varsity Drifters hands of returning running back,
stai'ted with 15 players. Thus far, they A] Phillips, Alonzo Turner, and
have 18, with three players wavering offensive lineman Desean Williams.
on the bubble. "Phillips is a hard-nosed kid, with
The calm, cool and collected coach a great burst of speed;' Payton said.
has seeri the face of adversity, but "Williams is a two-way starter from
somehow, Payton finds a way to keep last season. He's ready to be a big
his team focused on playing until time player for us on Friday nights:'
the final dust cloud settles on the Players from the recreation league
frozen tundra of Monroe Park. "We are already familiar with the Drifter
will be young again this year, but we junior varsity system of offensive and
will have a handful of guys returning defensive plays. "I ran the exact same
from last year's team, who should offensive and defensive plays on both
• ),
levels, Payton said. "They already
know the offense, and everything.
Our players are coming into the
junior varsity running, polishing up
where they left off. The only thing
they have to get used to is size, and
the physical nature that high school
football is about."
Payton is a consummate academic
and life mentor to his players. As an
educator, he monitors their behavior
~ Sunday • August 25th • 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.-
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Leonard Banks
while they are in class, and on the
field, he expects his players to live up
to Drifter pride. "Every kid that ever
played for me understands that they
are representing the community,
their school, and most importantly,
themselves."
Payton's staff consists of Richard
Headley, and Robert "Man" Allison.
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