Hey folks! Like Paul, I’ll be heading out training camps as Loudoun’s football programs gear up for the ’08 season. I stopped by Briar Woods on Wednesday morning to check up on Coach Charlie Pierce and the Falcons. Last season Briar Woods finished with a 7-4 mark and made the Region II tournament where they fell to Millbrook in their first game.

They sounded eager to erase that memory (and get a chance to in a week one rematch) and looked impressive during their position drills. Here are a few observations...

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

The Falcons’ high-octane offense got most of the attention during the team’s run to the regional playoffs in 2007. But the defense was just as impressive, holding opponents to 14 points or fewer in all seven of the team’s victories. Despite the losses of 2nd team all-region defensive back Devin Barber and linebacker Max Rassman, Briar Woods could be even stingier on the defensive end in 2008. Senior linebackers Andrew Davidson, J.T. Bailey and Jake Ashton looked like they’d beefed up over the off-season. With nine returning defensive starters, Davidson told me he expects his unit to be especially strong stopping the run. Up front, senior linemen Austin DeMoss and Jamie Caldwell could wreak havoc for opposing quarterbacks as the Falcons look to mix up their approaches. The main question will be the secondary where Barber’s graduation leaves a large void.

OTHER NOTES

-- Quite a few players were sporting shirts with the team’s new “Band of Brothers” theme on the front. With 18 returning starters, including Pierce’s first four-year senior class, the Falcons are familiar with the system and one another. After last season’s breakout campaign, they’re looking to take the next step…which leads us to their team motto…

-- 2008 Dominate! As senior wideout Jeremy Gray told me, the Falcons “are not the underdogs any longer.” They expect to win this season and contend for a Dulles District title and a repeat Region II berth.

-- Speaking of Gray, he looks to be in excellent shape and was making sharp cuts and catching passes left and right during the wide receiver drills. Overshadowed by 1st team all-region standout Tim King, Gray still managed 40 catches a year ago and is determined to up that number this season as the top receiving option for new quarterback Austin Fratalli.

-- As for Fratalli, the junior has huge holes to fill after the departure of 2nd team all-region star Alex Munro. But in speaking with him, he sounded confident and eager to tackle the challenge of being a starting QB. He learned plenty from Munro as a backup last season but told me he isn’t going to try to replicate Munro’s game, but rather be himself. I watched Fratalli on the baseball diamond a couple times this spring and he definitely has the arm to find his weapons downfield.

-- Fortunately for the young quarterback, he won’t be expected to do it all. As they did last season, the Falcons have plenty of skilled tailbacks to wear down defenses by pounding the ball down the middle of the field or bouncing it to the outside. Between senior J.T. Bailey (67 carries, 459 yards, 6 TDs) and juniors Billy McDonald and Allen Jackson the backfield is full of bruising fullbacks and speedy running backs.

-- In case Pierce’s troops needed a little extra motivation heading into their first game of 2008 they open up shop against Millbrook on August 29th. Yes, the very same Millbrook team that edged the Falcons by a mere three points in last year’s Region II playoffs, ending their season. That rematch should be a dandy.

And now for your poll question…