Centreville had an impressive season last year. They finished with a record of 8-2 overall and 4-2 in the tough Concorde District. The two games that the Wildcats lost were by a combined total of six points. Those two losses also insured that Centreville wouldn’t make the playoffs. Centreville isn’t planning on sitting at home during the playoffs again.
“We know that we have a tough district and a tough region and we can’t afford to lose one game,” said running back Brandon Davis.
Head coach Mike Skinner’s team enters this year as the favorite to win the Concorde District, which features last year’s AAA Division 6 state champs Oakton, and powerhouses Westfield, Robinson and Herndon. The three keys two Skinner success this year will be Davis, quarterback Van Chew and wide receiver Brandon Williams.
“We can run. We’re a speed team. If you put seven in the box, we’re going to throw the ball. If you put five in the box, we’re going to run,” said Skinner.
Featuring a no-huddle offense, Skinner says that he hopes to snap the ball 70-80 times-per-game.
“We are trying to snap the ball in 5-6 seconds and let the athletes go,” he said.
ONE THE LINE, Centreville is working on replacing all-state linemen Beau Warren and Colin Miller. Sophomores Luke Blanka and Mike Uppom will step up to line position.
“We lost some guys on the line. We switched our defense to a 3-5,” said linebacker Tommy Dorrzapf. “We don’t have as many linemen and more linebackers and that’s a strength of ours.”
Chew has already seen improvement in his young line.
“Everyday in practice, they’re getting better and better and as the season goes on, they’re going to be as good or maybe better than last year,” he said.
With Oakton and Westfield, the two teams that beat Centreville last year, losing key skill players, Centreville is looking to step in to the top spot in the district.
Skinner knows that being on top of the Concorde District is no easy task.
“As long as Tom Verbanic is a Westfield, Joe Thompson is at Oakton and Mark Bendorf is at Robinson, [the District will be tough],” he said. “They aren’t going to be down much. Those games are all going to be dog-fights.”