Last year, the South Lakes High football team was a squad that loved to throw the football. And why not? The Seahawks had perhaps the best wide-out duo in the Northern Region with AJ Price (Penn State) and Thomas Mayo (Concordia University). And then-senior quarterback Scott Reed did a nice job getting the ball to both.
With all of its offensive passing firepower, South Lakes struggled to win games as it went 3-7 over the regular season. The Seahawks, however, still gained a Div. 5 postseason spot as a result of last year's expanded playoff format to eight teams.
This season, South Lakes coach John Ellenberger said the offense will rely more on its running game. The program lost Price, Mayo and Reed to graduation. Also, the coach is impressed with the talented backs he has this season.
"Last year with AJ and Thomas we threw it a lot," said Ellenberger. "I want our best athletes on the field this year."
And that means getting his slew of running backs plenty of touches.
"We never lack for skill kids," said Ellenberger. "The last two years we've had two scholarship receivers [in Price and Mayo]. This year, we have a ton of running backs. We have four or five [backs] I think we have to get the ball to."
South Lakes opened its season earlier this week with a loss to Heritage High, but will look to rebound when it travels to local rival Herndon this weekend.
<b>SOUTH LAKES</b> has changed offensive schemes to the run-oriented Wing T this season, in which a full back lines up in the backfield along with two other slot running backs.
Some of this year's running backs include senior slot back and third-year starter Brandon Price, AJ's younger brother, and sophomore fullback JaJuan Jones. Two other slot backs are seniors Bralynn Harris and John Stewert.
Two quarterbacks were in the mix for the starting spot in training camp. They were senior transfer student Justin Zeller, who was a student at Oakton High last year, and junior Ray Howard.
"Justin is a great leader," said Ellenberger, who said the newcomer made an immediate good impression upon his arrival to South Lakes. "The kids have known him a month and they elected him a captain. The kids have responded to him and he has command of the huddle. Ray is learning the offense and throws the ball well."
Ellenberger said the Seahawks have gone through the normal growing pains of learning a new offense.
"I think we're going to run it pretty well," he said. "We struggled in our first two scrimmages with blocking assignments, things you'll struggle with when you're learning a new offense."
<b>ALONG WITH THE SKILL</b> position players, key players this season are expected to be senior defensive end Quintin Fortes, a second year starter, inside linebacker Josh Anderson, a transfer student from Langley High, and senior defensive linemen Daron Shorts and Tayo Falaiye. Another player to keep an eye on is offensive tackle Kevin Ball, a junior who could also see some time on the defensive line.
Ellenberger has liked what he has seen from Anderson, the former Saxon.
"He reads keys really well [at linebacker]," said the coach. "He's making some plays for us."
South Lakes has a mix of experienced and younger players.
"We're not that senior laden," said Ellenberger. "We're hoping to crack the playoffs again. We snuck in at 3-7 [in '07] and we're hoping to win more than that."
The tough Liberty District that South Lakes is a part of includes defending state AAA champion Stone Bridge, as well as solid teams such as Madison and Langley.
Following this Friday's game at Herndon, South Lakes will travel to Falls Church the following week. Its district opener is set for week four against visiting Madison on Sept. 19.