By Greg Taylor
Contributing Writer

Powhatan started their training camp back on August 13th and there is a lot of talent out on the practice fields.  Shawn Minor returns for his third season under center and looks to take the Indians deeper into the postseason as last season Chancellor’s come from behind win, 41-32, denied Powhatan their fourth consecutive Region I title. 

The Indians graduated only four starting seniors in Shawn Henderson, Vance Hendren, Hunter Gordon and Derek Christovich.  With a solid nucleus returning, the pieces are in place for another strong season.  As the coaching staff finalizes the team this week ahead of Friday’s 6:00 p.m. scrimmage at Matoaca, let us take a quick look ahead at who they will play this season.

Powhatan opens the season at home on September 11th against Group AAA Midlothian (2-8).  The Trojans have a strong line with Virginia Tech commitment Matt Arkema and Division I prospect Danny Klein for speedy tailbacks like Mitchell Pereira to run behind.  The Indians have not opened with nor played an AAA opponent since a 13-10 win over Henrico in 2004.

Brud Bicknell’s Monticello Mustangs (11-2) next await Powhatan in Charlottesville.  Though the Mustangs lose star QB Michael Graham and a host of others to graduation, this is one team that always plays Powhatan tough regardless of location but especially at home.

New head coach Ben Boyd has brought the spread offense to Caroline (6-4) and it will be on display in Powhatan on September 25.  The new offense could pose a problem for Powhatan especially with speedy wide receivers such as Quinton Broaddus and Lamont Smith making catches.

A home game with Nottoway (8-4) opens Southside District play and for the first time in almost forty years the Cougars have a new head coach in Waverly Jackson, formerly the head man at Park View.  Longtime coach Joe May retired over the summer but Jackson inherits a team that went to Region I championship last year and returns a solid group of players.

A road trip to Greensville (4-5) means another game against an up tempo spread offense.  All Southside District QB David Sloan returns for his senior season and he will be looking downfield often to wide receivers Lance Darden and Tyon Moss for big plays.

October 16th is Homecoming for the Indians and they welcome the newest member of the Southside District, the Southampton Indians (2-8).  Southampton operates using a heavy run based offense centered on senior Andre Rawls who ran for 851 yards last season and ten touchdowns.

An away game at Bluestone (0-10) is followed by the biggest game of the year as Brunswick (7-4) travels to Powhatan on October 30th for the Indians’ final home game which should decide the Southside District race.  Brunswick returns a BIG team as the offensive line’s smallest player is 275 pounds while the largest is 350.  They have a new senior QB in Kurtis Jefferson (6’5”, 235 lbs) whose main target is All-Region I wide receiver Devone Dugger (6’4”, 200lbs).  The Bulldogs defense will be stout and aggressive once again when these two teams square off.

The following two games at Prince Edward (6-4) and at Park View (3-7) should allow Powhatan the opportunity to fine tune things before the playoffs if they are fortunate to find themselves advancing after the regular season as both the Eagles and Dragons are looking to rebuild this year.

However, the playoffs are many months from now.  The team’s focus is on Friday’s scrimmage at Matoaca and working into game shape for Midlothian.  Soon we will find out what type of team Powhatan will have this season.