#12 BETHEL BRUINS
Bethel breaks the opening huddle and gets ready for practice in the rain. Bethel opens their season against rival Kecoughtan on Friday night.
Rashad Manley watches his touchdown pass to his receiver during a wet practice on Monday. Manley will be the starting quarterback for the Bruins this year.
Photo By David Ludi
Bethel Bruins High School Football Preview
By: David Ludi
Head Coach: Jeff Nelson
2008 Record (8-4)
In '08 the Bruins made a strong statement for one of the top teams in the Peninsula District. Making it to the second round in playoffs losing to, now state champions, Oscar Smith 35-6.
Key Game
The first game is a big district game between the Bruins and Kecoughtan High School. "Every game is a key game for us this year, we always look to who we are playing next, not who's down the road," Coach Nelson said. Nelson and his staff have been together for 3 years now with no changes to the coaching and are very optimistic for the '09 season. Along with a highly projected year from; Isaiah Gibson and Jamal Parker and of course their player maker in Rijo Walker, Bethel should make some noises again in the PD.
2009 Schedule
9/4 at Kecoughtan, 7pm
9/12 Norview, 2pm*
9/18 Heritage (NN), 7pm
9/24 Gloucester, 7pm
10/2 at Denbigh, 7pm
10/10 Woodside, 2pm
10/16 Hampton, 7pm
10/22 at Menchville, 2pm
10/29 Warwick, 7pm
11/6 at Phoebus, 7pm
Offense
Quarterbacks- Coach Nelson will have to replace their QB position after losing Aris McGlown-English to graduation, which he is now playing for Virginia Union. The Bruins will feature two senior quarterbacks that can run and throw the football in Rashad Manley and Devan Maddux. Coach likes that both are solid leaders and both will see time on the field and behind the center.
Running Backs- Bruins lost a speedy back in Jontel Evans to graduation and he is now playing basketball at the University of Virginia. Coach again has solid back ups in two seniors; Ronnie Sanders, and Isaiah Gibson; who weights 170lbs but can squat 395lbs. Both are returning from last year's team.
Wide Receivers- "Dime a dozen" Coach Nelson said about his receivers, which is a great luxury when running a pass heavy offense. Coach said, "Every 3 plays will be a new group of 4 wide outs" The Bruins player maker in Rijo Walker, a strong physical player in Jamal Parker; who can bench 275 lbs and squat 390 lbs, also Stephen Clark and Deshaun Thomas.
Tight End- Will not be used much other than to down block. But if needed in the passing game Coach Nelson will look to his senior Robert Copeland.
Offensive/Defensive Line- The O-line is a strong point for the Bruins this year returning 3 guys who have been playing together for the past 3 years; only losing Jordan Bowen who was the center. They are returning 3 seniors; guard Kameron Shearn, guard Roderick Mason, and center Derek Spivey. The D-line will be Coach Nelson's biggest concern; graduating James Gayle who will be playing at Virginia Tech. Daryell Walker who will be playing for Hampton University. Coach now has young guys to fill the space, and the one guy is he looking to is his senior leader at DE Robert Copeland. At nose guard will be junior Tyvell Studwell who is 6'3" and 365 lbs.
Defense
Linebackers- Coach Nelson will have a young group of guys but they are no means new to the game, only losing Marcus Crouse to graduation. Two seniors in; the powerful Isaiah Gibson and Deshaun Thomas will be the outside linebackers. Filling the middle will be young juniors in Gaston Ledford and Walter Oden-Thomas and Davon Hodges coming off the bench.
Cornerbacks- Rijo Walker, who has already committed with UVA, Jamal Parker and Isaiah Gibson, will be very talented lock down corners for Coach Nelson and the Bruins.
Safeties- The Bruins are still looking for another solid corner so Coach could move one of his DB studs to the safety position to work along side of William Burrell.
Special Teams- Lost kicker Kenny Steelman to graduation, Coach is looking at the soccer team to produce another kicker. PR/KR will be by committee Rijo, Jamal, Isaiah, and Saunders.
