Loudoun Football 2008: Loudoun County

Spread's the Word for the Raiders This Season

By Paul Tenorio

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

It was just the second day of training camp, but the optimism on the practice fields at Loudoun County was palpable.

The Raiders had shown growth at the end of last season, snapping an 18-game winless streak last October against Freedom-South Riding and winning two of their final three games. That improvement continued through the offseason and into training camp, Coach Todd Hill said, and after a particularly strong practice at the start of camp, coaches and players brimmed with excitement over the potential of the team.

"Our practice today was as good or better than practices we were having week six or seven last season," said Chase Williams, the Raiders' returning all-district linebacker. "So we’ve come a long way."

Williams, the son of former Redskins assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams, is one of 15 returning starters for Loudoun County, and his skills on both sides of the ball are expected to help open things up for the Raiders this season. Hill said the team will go to a spread offense – one of several teams in the county to make the switch – and will install a 50 defense up front.

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Loudoun County Season Preview

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Chase Williams, a junior, is expected to be a force at tight end and linebacker this season. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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Joe Bushrod, a senior, will likely be the starting quarterback for Loudoun County this season. He played quarterback and wide receiver last year. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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Sophomore Andrew Messina was one of the three players vying for Loudoun County's starting quarterback job this preseason. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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Austin Campbell, a junior, was also in the mix for quarterback duties at Loudoun County this season. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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Defensive lineman Teddy Orrison is back for Loudoun County. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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Strong safety Tim McLister is expected to lead the Raiders' secondary. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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Coach Todd Hill enters his second season leading the Raiders. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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The move to the spread comes as part of the rebuilding process, Hill said, as last year the offense was limited to a more basic offense because "we had to learn to block and tackle and do things the right way." But with a full season under its belt and several options at wide receiver – Hill said he could think of as many as nine different players challenging at that position – Loudoun County expects to put four and five wide receivers with an empty backfield at times this season.

"It's going to allow our athletes to get the ball in their hands more than we did last year," Hill said.

That spread offense sparkled in its debut in scrimmages last Friday. Led by quarterback Joe Bushrod, who has likely won a three-man battle for the starting quarterback job, the Raiders scored 10 touchdowns and allowed just one against Wakefield, George Mason and Kettle Run.

The wins only provided more reason for what Hill called "guarded optimism" with seven different wide receivers making a catch and transfer Terrance Ferrell turning in a two-touchdown performance that drew plenty of praise.

But perhaps most important, Loudoun County discovered depth they had lacked last year. In games against the top two teams in the district last season, Park View and Broad Run, the Raiders were within striking distance late only to falter down the stretch, as kids playing both ways seemed to tire. That will be less of a problem this year, Hill said, as several younger players have stepped up and reduced the need for two-way players.

"We've got some depth and we've got some kids that can step up and play," Hill said. "And honestly that’s one of the biggest things that will make or break us this year."

Hill said the depth is a direct result of the numbers in the program increasing in general, with more than 130 kids playing this year as compared to just 80 two years ago. Those numbers, he said, are yet another sign of the change in the perception of the team.

And with results like that of Friday's scrimmages, that mentality will only continue to shift.

"We came in Saturday afterwards and had practice and film sessions and the kids were extremely pumped up and very excited," Hill said. "And we're trying to teach these kids that we can be successful. We've changed that attitude [to one] that we can win and can be successful."

Tagged: 2008 Football Preview, football, high school sports, Loudoun County High School, Redskins

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