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Stafford, VA - The Brooke Point Blackhawks traditionally have been a strong high school football program sprinkled with Division I talent. Primed to break out and contend for their first Virginia state championship on the heels of playoff defeats the past three years, Head Coach Jeff Berry, coaching staff and players feel that "something's in the air" this year.
I had a conversation with Brooke Point Head Coach Jeff Berry about his team, star running back Chase Barnett, this season's expectations and what he's doing to "coach his boys up" sort to speak. Here are his thoughts.
Coach Berry for those that may not know about Brooke Point Football in the immediate DC area enlighten us?
"We have been able build quite a program down here. We've made the playoffs three straight years and in row and graduated a number of players who went on to college.
Last year we sent Donovan Miles and and Isaiah Hamlette to West Virginia and Virginia Tech respectively. Our philosophy has worked well and we have good coaching staff."
Coach tell me about your team this year. I understand you guys are loaded.
"I'm pleased with this group. We have 14 returning starters from last year's team. Most have been playing since they were sophomores. It's an experienced group who have seen many different situations now. I feel comfortable empowering them to make decisions out there. Right now our philosophy is to take it day by day, game by game."
"Tell us about your star running back Chase Barnett.
"Chase is a dynamic runner. He's as tough and brilliant a between the tackles runner there is. I'd pick him everytime if it came down to running backs in the state of Virginia. The kid DeAntwan Williams in Woodbridge is good and so is David Wilson out of GW Danville but I wouldn't put them over Chase."
For some reason college recruiters haven't been flocking to Chase, what's with that?
"That baffles and bewilders me. A lot of talk is his size and long speed. I tell you this, no one and I mean no one caught Chase down from behind last year. College coaches have to get away from size and look at pure ability. I know it definitely not the grades. It's not that colleges don't know about him because they do, they just have to look at his football playing ability. So far Liberty University has committed to him."
What's he working on to better his game?
"Chase is really excited about his improved pass blocking ability. He's worked on that along with his kick return skills. He also wants to excel in the passing game."
Who are some of your other playmakers this year to watch out for?
"Well, we have Langford Collins, a D1 prospect who has a bunch of schools looking at him. He will play defensive end and tight end for us this year. There's Larry Lowe who plays wide receiver and defensive back for us and has a couple D1 and a few D1-AA schools looking at him. Watch out for Alex Goodman on defense. He plays linebacker for us. Alex is going to be a player. At quarterback we have Brian Hudson who will do really good for us this year. He's been with me since he was a sophomore. He did well for us last year but we had to make things simple. This year we're taking off the governor and allowing him to make more decisions out there on his own. Hudson's getting some D1 and D1-AA attention. Last but not least I have to mention Gershom Reed. He's the quarterback of our secondary out there at safety."
How do you feel about your schedule?
"In the commonwealth district that we play in every team is tough. Osbourn is only 2 years removed from state title, they're going to be tough. We feel that we can line up and beat any team we play and we're fortunate in that our district prepares you for the playoffs."
How high are the expectations this year?
"We have made the playoffs three consecutive years and like I mentioned we feel good about what we're doing. We feel good about our mindset and the key is our kids have experience. The kids are more mentally prepared because they have since so many situations out there. The kids are excited."
The Brooke Point Blackhawks start their 2008 campaign at home September 5th against Osbourn.
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