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[Lynn Burke]

2006: 4-6 overall, 3-6 in the Peninsula District.
COACH: Glenn Tidwell (2nd year, 4-6)
SCHOOL COLORS: Green and white.
SCHOOL PHONE: 850-5000
WEB SITE: www.kecoughtan.org
HOME STADIUM: Darling.
LAST YEAR IN PLAYOFFS: 2002.
FAMOUS ALUMS: Jerod Mayo, Morocco Brown, Corey Davis.

KEY RETURNEES
Derek Mayo Sr. LB/FB 6-0/205
Isaiah Sheppard Sr. RB/DB 5-9/165
Anthony Dorsey So. QB/DB 5-9/1750
Calvin Ruffin Sr. OL/NG 6-2/295
William Tate Jr. RB/SS 5-9/170
Grant West Jr. WR/FS 6-0/170

STANDOUT
Derek Mayo, LB
He’s not the first Mayo to play linebacker at Kecoughtan, and two of his older brothers have moved on to college. (Jerod is at Tennessee, Deron at Hofstra). And just like the Mayos who preceded him, Derek provides the Warriors a quick-footed, hard-hitting presence. He’s starting to get some recruiting interest (Northern Illinois has offered) and another strong season can only help. “He does a lot of things you can’t coach,” Glenn Tidwell said. “He loves to practice and he loves to play.”

OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW
After scoring 46 points in its 2006 opener, Kecoughtan averaged 13.7 ppg the rest of the season. The Warriors will need to get better with the ball, and Tidwell believes he has the personnel to get it done. TB Isaiah Sheppard, who has rushed for 1,505 over the last two seasons, will carry a good hunk of the load now that backup El’Von George has moved on. Taking over for Earl Peoples at QB will be sophomore Anthony Dorsey, who broke his leg in last season’s second game.

DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW
Though not terribly big at 205 pounds, Derek Mayo is one of the best returning linebackers in the district. He’s a fine hitter who has excellent lateral movement. Calvin Ruffin is a 295-pound immovable object in the middle. Sheppard is a solid corner, both in coverage and against the run. Kecoughtan was eighth in the district against the run (217.0 ypg), and reversing that is key. Nine returning starters is a big help.

OUTLOOK
Going into October, the Warriors were 3-1 and had the look of a playoff contender. They went 1-5 the rest of the way, the low point being a 23-6 home loss to Gloucester. Though this is Tidwell’s second season as head coach, it’s his first full year with his team. And nobody has to tell him the Warriors need to get a lot better on both sides of the ball. Dorsey, who showed promise in 7-on-7 competition, needs to develop quickly. Ditto the defense, which gave up 76 points in the final two weeks.

2007 SCHEDULE
Sept. 1 at Warwick (5-5) 2
Sept. 7 at Churchland (5-5) 7
Sept. 14 at Gloucester (1-9) 7
Sept. 21 Menchville (2-8) 7
Sept. 29 Denbigh (7-3) 2
Oct. 4 at Woodside (7-3) 7
Oct. 13 at Heritage (4-6) 2
Oct. 19 Hampton (9-2) 7
Oct. 25 Phoebus (13-1) 7
Nov. 2 Bethel (4-6) 7

2006 RESULTS
Nansemond-River W, 46-14
Phoebus L, 10-40
Heritage W, 22-20
Menchville W, 20-7
Hampton L, 0-35
Gloucester L, 6-23
Warwick L, 13-35
Bethel W, 14-0
Woodside L, 18-30
Denbigh L, 20-46

DAVE JOHNSON