Last season, the Indians (11-2) overcame multiple injuries to key players throughout the year to win their third consecutive Region I title and advance to the state semifinal game.  This season, they will have to contend with the loss of multiple starters on offense and defense to graduation.  However, one of the biggest hurdles for this team will be its recovery from the tragic loss of Tahliek Taliaferro over the summer.

Though Tahliek is sorely missed, not only as a player but as a friend, the team’s focus still remains on football and securing another Southside District title and with it an automatic playoff berth.  In order to do that, this team must find competent replacements at several key positions: wide receiver, tackle, center, safety and linebacker

Offensively, the Indians lost three starters on their offensive line in addition to three record setting players in Emmett Brown at wide receiver, Kevin Price at placekicker and Taron Hampton at running back along with Mr. Versatility, Eric Watts.  The aforementioned players represent 320 of Powhatan’s 505 points scored in 2007 and accounted for 2,711 yards of offense between them.

Despite losing those players, the offense’s main cog returns in quarterback Shawn Minor who Coach Woodson describes as a “tremendous athlete.” Not only will Minor be counted on to run the offense but he may also be a first option in the running game utilizing his speed and quickness against opposing defenses.

Taking over at running back will be Shawn Henderson. Henderson, who is blessed with the speed to turn the corner and outrun defenders, will have to be as decisive choosing his running lane as he is fast.  Waiting behind him is the hard running Vance Hendren who will plow through anybody despite his 5’10”, 175 lbs frame.

But who will be blocking for Minor, Henderson and company? The offensive line will have brothers, Derek (6’5”, 321 lbs) and Colin (6’3”, 273) Christovich returning but the coaching staff must work in three new players and have the line function cohesively as a unit.  The rest of the line should consist of Josh Mills (6’, 273), Jay Jackson (6’3”, 255) and at center Jonathan Foster (5’10”, 173).  The line does have the size for Powhatan’s running game but there will be a steep learning curve for this group as the team starts the season with four tough out of conference games.

While Powhatan’s bread and butter is the power running game, Coach Woodson has developed over the years a successful aerial attack.  Over the past decade, he has seen how prolific his offense can be with a strong passing game as the likes of Ryan Harris, Raymond Grenke and Emmett Brown have rewritten the Indians receiving records.  But this season that “go to guy” has not shown his face yet.  Tight End Hunter Gordon is the only player returning who has caught a ball in a varsity game. 

To say the receiving corps is unproven would be a gross understatement, yet there are players who have the capability to make the plays when called upon.  Kurt Taylor, Josh Ingram, Tony Bereznek, Christian and Nick Higuchi all will vie for playing time at the receiver position.  It remains to be seen who will step up and develop a rhythm with Minor to be effective in stretching the field keeping the defense off balance.

Speaking of defense, let us now turn our attention to that side of the ball. We will start with the linebackers which were to be a major strength of this team coming into this season.  However, Deon Watts transferred to Blessed Sacrament Huguenot, Mike Cable is probably out for the year with an injury and then there was the tragic loss of Taliaferro.  Josh Morris (81 tackles in 2007) returns at middle linebacker and will be joined by Gordon who moves next to Morris in the middle from his defensive end spot in Powhatan’s base 4-4-3 defense.  The outside backers should be Vance Hendren and Dustin Kingery, two very quick athletes who both had roles in those positions late last season. 

The only concern for the defensive line will be their conditioning as the offensive line minus Foster rotates to the defensive side of the ball after each series.

But the most troublesome part of the defense is in the secondary.  Both Shawn Minor and Shawn Henderson are the starting corners and they can be very effective in those positions.  But the big concern is having one or both of them get worn down playing both ways in that they become ineffective on either side of the ball.  Their backups are Nick and Christian Higuchi who have the speed to stay with anyone but lack varsity game experience as does Phillip Schoeffel who moves into the safety spot.  Until the secondary starts to gel and gets more experience, it potentially could be a major liability for the Indians.

Finally, we have special teams.  Powhatan has been very fortunate to have quality kickers come through its system over the past few years. From punters Mauriek Goode and Eric Watts to kickers Caleb Barnes and Kevin Price, each has been an outstanding contributor to the battle of field position.  Taking over the kicking duties this year is Ellis Moore who according to some eyewitnesses has a better leg than Barnes who regularly kicked the ball into the end zone.  Meanwhile, Minor will be handling the punting chores in addition to his QB duties.

This season boils down to three things: heart, pride and execution.  A heart hurting because of the loss of a teammate and a heart yearning to be that of a champion.  Pride in what it means to wear the jersey of a Powhatan Indian and what those before you have accomplished.  Finally, the team must execute the plays at the level that is expected of Powhatan football.

So, how far will this team go this year?  Who knows?  So much depends on the ability of the new players to mesh with the veterans and come together as a team.  The players must seize their opportunity to be great as their time to shine may be only short lived.  Every time they enter their locker room, there will a constant reminder of that as the #17 jersey just hangs in a locker, unworn, behind a sheet of Plexiglas.  Their season starts Sept. 5 with Louisa and when it ends is up to them.  Hopefully, it will be sometime in December, maybe on a cold Saturday in Lynchburg.

Photo Gallery: See photos from preseason practice.