by; Brian Hoffman

TERRIERS OPEN FRIDAY

The William Byrd football team opens the season Friday night with an intra-Roanoke County game against Cave Spring. Game time is 7 pm at Robert A. Patterson Stadium in Vinton.

This will be the first time since 2008 the Terriers have played Cave Spring. Prior to that it was a long-time rivalry, but the Knights opted off the schedule for reasons Byrd coach Jeff Highfill couldn’t understand.

“It’s a good natural rivalry and we’re both Group AA schools in Roanoke County, so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t play,” said Highfill. “It was always a good series, and neither team dominated. I expect we’ll have a pretty good gate Friday night.”

Cave Spring is coming off a 7-3 2010 regular season that included a 34-6 win over Salem, a 41-19 win over Pulaski County, and a 49-21 over Blacksburg. They like to mix up the passing and running games.

The Knights are one of three new teams on Byrd’s schedule, as Glenvar is back on the schedule and Rockbridge returns to the Blue Ridge District. Gone are Rustburg, Patrick County, and Dan River, and that should save Roanoke County some gas money.

Byrd completed the preseason with a scrimmage at Harrisonburg last Friday and the Terriers fared pretty well against a team that was the Division 4 state runnerup last year. Both teams scored three times when the first teams were on the field, and both teams scored once with the backups in the game.

Sophomore Zach Hill quarterbacked against Harrisonburg with last year’s starter, Jake Barton, hampered by a slight shoulder strain. Barton could probably line up behind center this week if it was absolutely necessary, but the way Hill has played in August has given Highfill the confidence to give him the start.

“Both will play quarterback this year, but right now Jake is a little banged up and Zach did well in both scrimmages,” said Highfill. “He’s a dual threat. Zach’s a good runner and a good passer and he makes good decisions. He’s the point guard in basketball, and he brings the same kind of mentality to the football field.”

Barton, a senior, is shorter but he’s a tough kid who has a year of varsity starting experience under his belt. He has a better arm than Hill, but he can also be an asset as a runningback or a receiver, giving the Terriers some flexibility. Sophomore Hunter Shepherd is the third quarterback, and he’ll start for the jayvees.

Byrd is solid in the backfield with sophomore Simeon Horstmann at tailback and junior Darryl Preston at fullback. They give the Terriers an excellent one-two punch, and they’re two of the strongest kids in the program.

Horstmann is Byrd’s next great back in a program that has had more than its share. He gained over 800 yards as a freshman, and at most schools that would put him on pace with the career leaders. However, the bar is set so high at Byrd, with state career leader O.J. Thomasson, that Horstmann probably won’t approach Terrier school records.

“For one thing, he won’t get the ball as much as O.J. did,” said Highfill. “He’ll get it a lot, but he won’t get it over 30 times a game because he’s important on defense. O.J. didn’t play defense.”

Horstmann is a beast in the weight room and at 5’7”, 190 pounds he’s the strongest player on the team. He’s also a captain as a freshman, and that’s a rarity.

“He’s a natural leader,” said Highfill. “He’s a vocal leader and he pushes the other kids. He was all-district as a freshman and he’s bigger and stronger, so we expect a lot out of Simeon this year.”

Preston moves into the starting fullback role. He started at linebacker as a sophomore and did well, and he’s also in the top five on the team in strength after some solid work in the weight room. Preston is also one of four Byrd captains.

“Darryl has looked very good in the preseason both running and blocking,” said Highfill.

Senior Keith Jennings has moved from wide out to running back this year. Another captain, Keith’s dad, David, is one of those runningbacks in Byrd’s long line of standouts, once holding the school career rushing record. Highfill sees a lot of David in Keith.

“He can play both spots and we can use him lots of different places,” said Highfill.

Senior Joe Barton worked hard in the weight room and can also run the ball when he’s not lining up at receiver, and sophomore L.J. Williams is a backup at fullback, giving Byrd good depth in the backfield.

Joe Barton leads the wide receivers and two sophomores will also be wideouts, Josh Marcus and Juan Lopez. At tight end Byrd is loaded with third year starter Seth Webb and rising star Timmy Meador.

Webb is a senior who was second team All-Blue Ridge District last year. At 6’4” he’s a big target and Byrd likes to throw to the tight ends.

Meader, a junior, is the fourth Byrd captain. At 6’0” and 205 pounds he catches the ball well and he’s also a good blocker. Timmy was one of the hardest workers in the weight room during the off-season.

Backup Caleb Richmond gives Byrd excellent depth. A junior, he was a starter last season and he’ll still see a lot of time.

On the offensive line senior Bryce Conner returns at center. Junior Brandon Harless, a third year starter, will be the right guard but he’s questionable for the opener with a knee strain. If he can’t go sophomore Dylan Fisher will be the starter. Junior Coltin Patriquin, a 6’3”, 205 pound junior, is the left guard.

Tackles are 275 pound sophomore Chris Thomas on the left and, for now, 229 pound senior Cameron Boyd on the right. Sean Jackson, a 260 pound junior, was slated to start on the right side but he’s out with a stress fracture, possibly until mid-season.

Harless would be the backup at center when healthy, and Fisher will also be a solid backup across the line when Brandon returns.

“With these injuries we have to be a little creative,” said Highfill.

On defense Highfill likes to run the traditional 5-3, adjusting when the Terriers play teams that run the spread. That’s happening more frequently.

“It’s here to stay,” he said. “We’ll play at least four teams that run the spread.”

Joe Barton is the man who will move around in the defense. He’s strong enough to play noseguard, quick enough to play defensive back, and mean enough to play outside linebacker. He’ll adjust on the fly depending on how the opponent lines up.

“We’re in a situation where we don’t want to have to sub every time someone changes their formation,” said Highfill.

The strength of the defense will be at linebacker with Horstmann and Meador in the middle. They can stuff the run and are also quick enough to play the pass, and both have experience. Preston is a returning standout on the outside and Jackson, Joe Barton, or Williams will be on the other side.

On the line Webb is a returning all-district player with Harless or Richmond on the other side. Interior linemen are Conner, Boyd, and Thomas.

In the defensive backfield Lopez and sophomore Dalton Bethel are starting at cornerback. Hill or Keith Jennings will be the safety and both Bartons can play defensive back as well.

Richmond is scheduled to be the kicker, although Highfill has tried several in summer practice. Webb returns at punter, where he was first team all-district in the past. Byrd has excellent return men in Joe Barton and Hill.

The coaching staff includes long time assistant George George handling the running backs and middle linebackers. Chris Askew does the line on both sides of the ball and Jeff Highfill, Jr. has the quarterbacks and outside linebackers.

Tim Foutz, another long-time assistant, coaches the receivers and defensive backs. This year Byrd has added Brandon Kelly, a former teammate of Jeff, Jr. from Bridgewater, to do defensive ends and help with the receivers.

Victor Maciel coaches the jayvees with help from his dad, Tino, and Adam Hill returns to coach the middle school. And, or course, Kim Colls lends great experience to all three Terrier teams.

“Kim Colls is one of the best assistants you could ever have,” said Highfill. “He’ll do whatever you need and he has a wealth of football knowledge. A lot of people don’t know it, because he’s a quiet guy, but he’s tough. He played at VMI. He’s been with me a long time and I’m lucky to have him.”

Byrd will be coming out of the new locker room this year, so don’t look for the Terriers to come running in from the scoreboard end of Patterson Stadium. The Terriers moved into the new weight room last January, and this summer the coaches and players set up shop in the new crib.

Now, all that remains to be seen is how good this football team can be. It’s a young team, but there is some experience there with the potential to grow into something special.

“You have to pick Northside as the favorite, they were state champions last year,” said Highfill. “After that, everyone has some question marks. We’re young, but we have some talent and we should get better as the season goes along.”

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