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[Jeff Cunningham]

HRVarsity Two-A-Days
By Jeff Cunningham | jcunningham@hrvarsity.com

Preseason practice begins Wednesday for most of the football teams on the Southside, and HRVarsity is here to make sure you're prepared for the first kickoff of the season.

Beginning Aug. 7, HRVarsity will present Two-a-Days. For 15 straight days, the website will feature two team preview capsules a day, as well as video clips of the coaches and star players giving their thoughts on the season to come. Among the questions and storylines heading into preseason practice:

-Will Salem repeat its 10-0 performance of a season ago in the Beach? Or was Bayside quarterback E.J. Manuel on to something when he promised earlier this month a state championship for the Marlins -- who went 5-5 last year?

-Three Beach teams are faced with new coaches, the most interesting of which being First Colonial. Joe Clark abruptly resigned two weeks ago from a Patriots team that went 5-5 last year. Bill McTyre is the interim coach, and it remains to be seen how he -- and his team -- handles being thrust into the head coach's slot just weeks before the kids put on the pads.

Also new to the district are Princess Anne head coach (and former Denbigh assistant) Juan Jackson and Green Run head man Shawn Wilson. Jackson takes over a team that went 0-10 last year and was outscored 364-43, while Wilson comes to 1-9 Green Run after serving as offensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Kempsville.

-Oscar Smith has won three straight Southeastern District titles, thanks mainly to its star trio of wide receivers. Todd Harrelson, Kerry Boykins and Jamal Wilson are among the state's best wideouts and should figure heavily as the Tigers look for a fourth straight district crown and another trip to the state semifinals.

Also of note: Harrelson has committed to North Carolina, while Boykins has committed to Maryland. Wilson's decision is expected soon.

-Grassfield makes its football debut Aug. 30 at Nansemond River. The addition of the new Chesapeake school means the loss of a non-distrct game for all the Southeastern District schools, but perhaps more importantly, how will the new team fare under coach Marty Asprey?

-Maury won the Eastern District crown in 2006; can they repeat in 2007?

Beach District schools begin regular-season play the weekend of Aug. 24, while the Southeastern and Eastern Districts kick off the weekend of Aug. 30. Full team schedules are available in the HRVarsity forums under their respective districts. Stay with HRvaristy.com as we get you ready for the 2007 high school football season.