Max Meadows…The Pioneers of Fort Chiswell will try to get back on the winning side of things Friday as they travel to Buchanan, Virginia to play the Knights of James River.
Jacob Phillips, who’s in his second season, coaches the Knights. Last year they went 8-3. They went to the playoffs and lost to Graham 35-16. It was the first home playoff in the history of James River High School. The Knights defeated Fort Chiswell last year 35-6 at Fort Chiswell.
This year’s Knights team is 1-4 on the season; they have scored 69 points and have given up 130. They lost their opening game to Lord Botetourt 56-0 and then played Glenvar and lost 21-14. They then beat Chatham 34-19. During the last two weeks they lost to Floyd Co. 24-14 and Radford 10-7. The Knights were beaten on the last play of the game to Radford. They lost a lot of real good players from last year but return four starters on offense and three on defense.
The Knights have 12 seniors and seven of those are starting. Their main weapon is senior QB Luke Harman. Tyler Whiting and Daniel Holter get most of the carries of the ball. Kavin Vest is the tight end and Michael Hays is one of their best wide receivers. On defense Travis Sisson, Jacob Crawford and Donta Wright anchor their line play as well as the offensive line.
Fort Chiswell head coach Todd Tiller said, ”James River likes to spread and use the pistol formation. They will use flex-bone as well. The Harman (Luke) kid is a real good athlete. He’s a dual threat. He’s a good runner and passer. Whiting, Holter and Hays are good players for them on offense.”
Coach was then asked about the Knights defense and he remarked, ”They have used both 50 and 40 schemes. Linebackers haven’t blitzed much at all from the film we have watched. They like to send a safety blitz though.” Coach then added, “The secondary like to play zone mainly, but we show man to man some.” He then remarked, ”They have some big athletic looking lineman.“
The Knights are big in that Sisson is 232, Crawford is 215 and Wright is 260. All three are seniors. One of their best linebackers is Davis Fenster a 5-10, 180 senior. Whiting, Harman and junior Erik Tolley lead the secondary.
The Pioneers come into the contest in good health with the exception of Billy Shrewsberry and Ethan Woods. Shrewsberry got a stinger in his left arm but should be able to go Friday night. Woods will be out for this game and probably for next week’s game as well.
Kick off is slated for 7 pm Friday night at James River High School.
Photography courtesy Tina Quesenberry from Fort Chiswell vs Parry McCluer game on Friday, September 23, 2016.