GW enters season motivated by spring appearance in regional championship game
Not long after Salem knocked off Lake Taylor in last year’s Class 4 state title game for its 10th championship, a George Washington football parent took to Facebook to share the news …
Not long after Salem knocked off Lake Taylor in last year’s Class 4 state title game for its 10th championship, a George Washington football parent took to Facebook to share the news.
Accompanying the post was a reminder to GW’s returners of how closely they had played the Spartans in the Region 4D championship a few weeks earlier — a game that ended with a 35–21 Salem victory, a far cry from the Spartans’ 27-point margin of victory against the Eagles in the 2019 regional semifinal — and how close they were to something special.
With the start of its 2021 fall campaign right around the corner, GW is ready to show the fan that it approves the message.
“Seeing how close we were to winning the state championship, really provides push for us,” said senior quarterback Jeb Byrnes. “Salem went on to win and we only lost to them by 14 points which hurt a little bit because we had a chance to win so hopefully this year, we can use that as motivation to make it farther than just the regional championship and make it to the full state championship.”
GW is a mainstay in the VHSL Class 4 playoffs as its made 10 consecutive trips to the postseason, including this past spring’s regional title appearance.
Senior running back Jakobe Dixon has been there for three of those trips, and the Eagles’ success has left Dixon — along with GW’s 15 other seniors — feeling like an appearance in this year’s Class 4 state title game would only be natural. And according to Dixon, it’s motivated the Eagles so far in their preseason camp.
“It definitely motivates us a lot because we feel like we’re supposed to be there,” Dixon said. “We’re supposed to beat those kinds of teams to be there, so it’s definitely motivated us to get better this year and make it there.”
GW played Salem to a 14-all tie at the half of last year’s regional championship game, only to have the Spartans score a pair of unanswered touchdowns in the second half to pull away.
According to senior wide receiver/strong safety Donavan Howard, the Eagles have absorbed the lessons from Salem’s second-half push and have been working hard to avoid the same results come this November.
“Just finish, you know, that’s what we’ve been working on,” Howard said. “We kind of came out flat in the second half and that’s why they were able to make that run in the second half so we’re working on finishing the game in the first and second half.”
Senior middle linebacker Ahmad Poole has seen GW use the Salem loss as a sign it can hang with the best and as a confidence builder heading into the 2021 season.
“We are ready to go against teams like Salem and Lord Botetourt,” Poole said. “Last year, I think we thought we weren’t ready when we actually were, but we’ve been practicing extra hard, getting ready for teams like that, and I feel like we’re ready to take on anybody.”
It’s a good thing the Eagles share that confidence because they face a tough-as-nails schedule out the gate.
No cakewalk
While it would’ve been easy for GW head coach Nick Anderson to pad the Eagles’ non-district schedule to pick up a few victories and playoff points, he knew his guys wouldn’t benefit from a cakewalk schedule, so he lined up some of the toughest opponents he could find.
GW was slated to open its season on Aug. 27 with a road matchup against perennial Dinwiddie, but the game was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols.
That doesn’t mean the Eagles will get off the hook, though, as they are schedule to open their season on Sept. 3 with a home contest against Seminole District rival Amherst County. The Lancers have made four trips to the Region 4D playoffs over the past five years, including an appearance in the 2016 regional title game.
GW holds a 3–1 edge over Amherst in the team’s last four meetings, including a 43–18 blowout of the Lancers in the 2017 regional quarterfinal.
It doesn’t get any easier from there as the Eagles follow with a home matchup against Seminole rival EC Glass on Sept. 10. The Hilltoppers have posted a 36–16 record over the past five years and made back-to-back appearances in the Region 4D title game from 2018–19.
EC Glass has won the last two meetings between the sides, defeating GW 56–28 in 2016 and 49–15 in 2019.
The Eagles conclude their non-district schedule with a trip down to Fort Mill, South Carolina, for a contest against Nation Ford Sept. 17.
All of this on the heels of scrimmages against Heritage and William Fleming (benefit game).
“Last year we didn’t get any real scrimmages and our first real game was against Lord Botetourt which was basically our wake-up call, so basically, with these two scrimmages and tough schedule, we can actually see where we’re standing before we start the regular season,” Byrnes said. “But I definitely think it will be a big boost for us and show us that higher competition that we’ll see in the playoffs in late November.”
Dixon concurred with his quarterback, saying, “It should definitely get us ready because it’s really good competition so we should be prepared for the playoffs by taking on those kinds of teams.”
Poole shared the same sentiment. “Those are some of the best teams and they’ll help us get right for the playoffs. It’s going to get us better. All of those games are going to get us better and get us ready for the playoffs.”
Strength in numbers
GW will have plenty of veteran experience to help it get through its tough non-district slate.
The Eagles return 16 seniors from last year’s squad that posted a 6–2 record, including a 5–0 mark in Piedmont District play, and made the program’s first regional championship appearance in 12 years.
Byrnes, Dixon and Howard, along with senior wide receiver Jalen Spratt will look to anchor GW’s offense, while senior wide receiver Tamarion Hawkins, senior running back Donnie Davis, senior wide receiver Xavier Walters and senior wide receiver Monsel Hamlet will all provide depth.
Poole and Howard will serve as the anchors on defense, while senior linebacker Caveon Wilson, senior defensive lineman Jacobie Holland, senior linebacker Jacob Trainor, senior defensive lineman Shawn Reaves, senior defensive lineman Jeremiah Fuller, senior linebacker Marquise Adams and senior linebacker Will Daniel will play huge roles in GW’s defense as well.
GW has used the experience to its benefit over the opening weeks of preseason camp.
“I go full speed every drill so they can get better, and I can get better, then I’ve been very vocal about stepping up as a leader, it’s been leading by example,” Poole said.
Howard has been doing his part by stepping into the role of teacher to the younger guys.
“Just making sure they know where they’re at and where they’re supposed to be on the field and being vocal and letting them know what they’re doing right and wrong,” Howard said.
Being a vocal leader seems to be the theme amongst the Eagles’ senior leadership and one Dixon echoed along with Howard.
“I’ve been working on trying to be more of a vocal leader and pushing my teammates to be better and ready to play this year because it’s not going to be simple this year,” Dixon said. “I’ve been pushing them, trying to be a vocal leader.”
While the Eagles are returning more than they lost season, they still lost 15 key pieces of the puzzle from last season, meaning Byrnes has taken his leadership role at quarterback seriously so far this year, making sure he can coach some of the newcomers up on the offensive end.
“I’ve been working with the coaches because he’s been trying to get me to step into that leadership role with all the seniors leaving last year, so I’ve been trying to voice my motivation before practices because as you know it gets pretty hot on these summer days and some of the players can start complaining because it’s 90-some degrees,” Byrnes said.
“It’s natural, so I’ve been trying to get them to keep their calm and go out and have a good practice because if you practice well, it should show during the games.”
Multiple themes
Any good story needs multiple sub-plots and themes. While the Eagles aren’t looking to write the next great American novel, they have been operating under various themes during this year’s preseason camp.
“Just grind hard and keep getting better, that’s all the theme has really been,” Dixon said. “Keep it moving, get better.”
GW’s roster is comprised of 35 players, a pale number considering the 62 players the Eagles fielded last season. While some players and coaches would be concerned about the decrease, Howard has seen GW become determined to make it a moot point during the Eagles’ camp.
“Numbers,” Howard said. “We’re not really the biggest of teams, number and size wise, so we’re really trying to turn that into our strong point this year.”
Byrnes cited a mix of confidence, excitement and humility.
“We’re all pumped,” Byrnes said. “We think we have a pretty good team, all the skill guys and a big line this year, so we think we might have a chance, not to toot our own horns, but we’re really expecting the best this year.”
Every good story has a message as well and the Eagles have an array of messages, they’d like to give to fans with the regular season less than two weeks away.
“I think we have a really good team,” Byrnes said. “We’re not trying to be too confident or anything, but I hope we can show out for the fans. We missed seeing you guys last year so I hope you guys come out and support.”
Dixon added, “Be on the lookout for real because we ain’t coming to play this year. We’re trying to be much better than last year. We only lost two games last season so this should be a big season for us.”
Howard wanted fans to know they should expect variety in GW’s playbook this season.
“A lot of different things, mixing the playbook up,” Howard said. “There’s going to be a lot of passes and screens. We’re fast this year so we’re going to use that.”
Poole told fans to expect a team chock full of grit and talent.
“Don’t underestimate us this year,” he said. “We might be a small group, small in numbers, but we’ve got talent, we’ve got heart and we’re going to out there and play.”
What to expect
The Eagles have always been a team predicated on smash mouth football. Expect the same this year as GW returns Dixon who rushed for 945 yards and five touchdowns on 49 carries last season on his way to River City All-District Second Team honors. He recorded a hat trick in the Eagles’ contest against Halifax County, scoring on runs of 32 and 20 yards, while also throwing in a 74-yard interception return for good measure.
Byrnes also returns a season after throwing for 1,257 yards and eight scores last, while completing 55.1 percent of his passes. He was selected to the River City Second Team at quarterback.
Howard and Pratt will be Byrnes’ favorite targets when the Eagles go to the air this season. Howard pulled down team-highs of 20 receptions for 335 yards and a touchdown last season, while Spratt recorded 77 yards on just nine receptions. Howard was named to the River City First Team at wide receiver.
On the defensive end, GW will be led by Poole who recorded a team-high six sacks last season on his way to River City First Team honors at linebacker.
Howard will be a weapon for the Eagles in the secondary after tying for the team lead in interception last season with two on his way to being named to the River City Second Team at defensive end.
Schedule
9/3 vs. Amherst County (7 p.m.)
9/10 vs. Glass (7 p.m.)
9/17 at Nation Ford (7 p.m.)
9/21 at Dinwiddie (7 p.m.)
9/24 at Patrick County* (7 p.m.)
10/1 vs. Martinsville* (7 p.m.)
10/8 vs. Tunstall* (7 p.m.)
10/15 at Halifax* (7 p.m.)
10/22 vs. Bassett* (7 p.m.)
10/29 at Magna Vista* (7 p.m.)
*= Piedmont District game
