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2010 RICHMOND PREVIEW
POSTED: 6/15/10
By: Donnie Smith |
Preview of the 2010 season
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Head Coach Eric Gillespie is beginning to turn the Richmond program back to the
dominant force it was in the late 90s and early 00s, when they went 50-24 in seven seasons. While he only has a 12-9 record to show for it in the past two seasons, it marks the first back-toback winning seasons since that run of success.
Gillespie is hoping the Red Devils “RYFP” with the “3 T’s” this season, the team’s
slogans this year (Reach Your Full Potential; Teammates, Toughness, Total Focus). They will have to do so without six All-Area performers from a season ago. eight former players from last season’s squad are now playing at the next level.
However, the Red Devils appear to have the ammunition needed to return to their winning ways, returning 16 total starters including their top passer, rusher, and receiver from a season ago.
Leading the way on offense is senior quarterback Steve Jarrett. The 5-10, 182-pound signal caller led the state in passing yards per game last season on his way to All-Conference, All-Area, and Honorable Mention All-State honors. Jarrett threw for 247.8 yards per game and completed 25 touchdown passes.
Lining up in the backfield behind Jarrett is junior running back Tavonn Crisp. Crisp rushed for 409 yards and 6 scores a season ago. He is joined in the backfield by senior Michael Farris and sophomore Taylor Kidd.
Returning to lead the receivers is 6-4 junior Chandler Miller, who earned All-Conference, All-Area, and Honorable Mention All-State honors last season. Miller caught 53 passes for 903 yards and 9 visits to paydirt. He is joined by senior Israel Saylor, juniors Jake Bottoms and Anthony Thompson, and sophomore A.J. Smith.
Digging into the trenches is 6-1, 257-pound senior center Josh White. He is flanked by 275-pound junior guard Austin Lipscomb and 260-pound sophomore guard Skyler Coleman. Along the ends are two-year returning senior starters Colin Ferguson and 275-pound Cain Baker. Defensively, the Red Devils strength is in the linebacking corps: three three-year starters return, all earning All-Conference and All-Area honors. Senior Eli Garland totaled 100 tackles and three sacks, senior Hiram Thompson added 90 tackles and one sack, and senior Jon Trawick garnered 70 tackles and two interceptions.
On the defensive line, senior Dezmon Walker and Travis Santos return at the ends, combining for 52 tackles and four sacks, while senior Roc Deloney returns up the middle with 38 tackles.
In the secondary, senior Cody Hillard anchors a relatively young group, along with sophomore Jimmy Bailey and junior Cameron Jones. The trio combined for 33 tackles and one interception.
For Coach Gillespie, it’s about commitment to the intangibles. “We are going to be successful if we totally commit to maximize the intangibles of being hungry, focused, driven, physical, leaders, and team-oriented.”
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