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Cavaliers ready for football season under new coach

Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 12:09 pm

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IMG_0776By Scott Richards
CP Correspondent

 

The Caroline High School Cavaliers will begin their 2014 varsity football season Friday, Aug. 29, against the Jaguars of Glen Allen. There will be a lot of changes in this year’s squad with the transfer fever hitting Caroline harder than most schools in the area. Five students have transferred to other schools since the end of last season.

The most profound difference in the Cavaliers is that of the head coach position. For the fourth time since the resignation of Robert Jenkins in 2009, Caroline High School has a new head coach.

Antron Yates, former head coach at Washington and Lee, is now in the same position in Caroline, bringing first and foremost discipline to the Cavaliers. Trainer Lane Catlett commented that the players are responding well to the hard line he brings to practice.

Mrs. Roberts, mother of senior lineman Dylan Roberts, remarked, “At first, players were discouraged at the idea of another new coach, but now, these young men will do anything he asks them.”

“He makes us run and run every practice,” said Dylan Roberts. “And then we work on different positions.”

Yates stated the team is made of different pieces that show various techniques working together in a competitive environment. He wants the players to be able handle adversity on the field and play strong when the initial adrenaline rush subsides somewhere around the end of the first quarter. He told the team after a recent scrimmage he expects them to come to practice and work hard and conform to discipline, not just go through the motions.

The senior-laden Cavaliers were described as a hard-hitting team working a good, sound defense and a multiple spread offense featuring Jaquan Monroe under center. Monroe, a gutsy player with a good football IQ, will lead an offense maintaining ball control with the run and a passing game utilized to keep the defense honest.

“If we have to throw 40 times in a game, we’ve lost the game,” Yates said.IMG_0782

Players to watch this year are many. Senior wide receiver Jonathan Brown will bring his 4.7-second laser-timed speed in the 40-yard dash to the table running routes and at the same time doubling as a free safety. De De Rollins and Damien Childs will provide good football sense in their positions along with Reggie Tinsdale, who according to Yates, displays a strong football IQ.

On the defensive side of the ball, look for Oliver Johnson to terrorize the offenses as nose guard when not running the ball as fullback. Lineman Roberts, reported to be the strongest player on the team, will anchor the line.

Having coached in the Woodbridge area as well as King George prior to his position at Washington and Lee, Yates is familiar with the opponents Caroline will face. He does not look at the games as an opportunity to see how the Cavaliers will match up against other teams—he plans to win.

CAVALIER VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE – 2014

DATE OPPONENT SITE

8/29 GLEN ALLEN, HOME

9/5 HENRICO, AWAY

9/12 DINWIDDIE, AWAY

9/19 BYE

9/26 JOHN CHAMPE, AWAY

10/3 KING WILLIAM, HOME

10/10 CHANCELLOR, AWAY

10/17 COURTLAND, HOME

10/24 JAMES MONROE, AWAY

10/31 KING GEORGE, HOME

11/7 SPOTSYLVANIA, HOME