Training Camp Tour Day 1: Heritage Pride
The Heritage Pride enter 2006 with an even bigger challenge this year, can they duplicate their success from a year ago where they won the Dulles District title for the first time in school history. The Pride started their training camp today with 5 key questions:
Who is left to fill the void left by All-Gameday quarterback Brian Brosnan?
The Pride enter camp with two talented individuals in senior Joe Laura and Junior Kyle Nelson. With both being talented in multiple ways, Coach Wes Driskill stated that it should be a tough battle, with the one not selected probably starting on defense. However, if the starter goes down to injury, there will be little to no drop-off at the position.
How will a relatively inexperienced offensive line be able to protect the Pride backfield?
Even though the O-line is very young, Coach Driskill is excited about this year because of the tremendous amount of effort put in during off-season weight training. Driskill stated that the amount of people that attended the strength and conditioning really showed him that there was a solid corps of athletes that are committed to the program this year. Even though the unit isn't as big as last year, Driskill still expects big things throughout the year.
Who is going to fill the giant hole left by the three-headed running game?
Coming into camp Bobby Edmonds looks to be the leader for the running back race. However, Edmonds could also play the wide receiver position to go along with his All-Gameday performance at defensive back. Another key part could be senior Sean McCoy, but like Edmonds, McCoy is talented at wide receiver and defensive back.
How will Heritage be able to stop the run with the key losses on the defense?
Even though Heritage lost lineman Cyp Yankey to graduation, Coach Driskill believes that linebacker Zak Burkhard can lead this defense both physically and emotionally. The front 7 for the Pride is one of the fastest and most athletic in the entire district. With that talent, it will be hard for opposing teams to run the ball against Heritage this season.
Will the Pride's non-district schedule make them or break them?
The Pride open up the season with games against Freedom, Millbrook, Brentsville, Briar Woods, and Handley. Even though many believe that the biggest non-district game will be the rematch against Handley, Coach Driskill believes that no one can be overlooked. "We start out with a tough Freedom team and they are better than anyone is expecting. We got a tough schedule, but we got to play solid football to beat every team we play this year,"said Driskill.
Featured Game
Thursday night football comes to Leesburg as the Pride host the Handley Judges on September 21. The Pride lost last season 20-14 in Winchester and had a chance to win the game in the final minutes. The Pride should definitely be pumped up for this early season match-up of two teams that could make a serious playoff run.
Extra Fact
The Pride return only one of the school record five All-Gameday selections. The Pride lost quarterback Bryan Brosnan, wide receiver Quinn Tibbs, defensive lineman Tyler Langmead, and defensive back Dale Taylor, but return defensive back Bobby Edmonds.
All-Gameday Watch List
DB Bobby Edmonds
LB/TE Zak Burkhard
WR/DB Sean McCoy
WR Darius Tibbs
2006 Heritage Football Schedule
Aug. 25 @ Freedom
Sept. 1 @ Millbrook
Sept. 15 vs Brentsville
Sept. 21 vs Handley
Oct. 6 @ Briar Woods
Oct. 13 @ Park View
Oct. 21 @ Broad Run 1:30
Oct. 27 vs Dominion (Homecoming)
Nov. 3 @ Potomac Falls
Nov. 10 vs Loudoun County
All Games at 7:30 unless noted
