by Larry Chowning
The Middlesex High School (MHS) Chargers football team will open its regular season this Friday, August 30, at 7 p.m against arch-rival Mathews at the Syd Thrift Athletic Complex.
The Chargers have 30 players on the varsity team this season but, like last year, there are not enough players to field a junior varsity team, said MHS head football coach Billy Jarvis.
MHS will have an experienced line this season as the Chargers have 10 seniors on the team and six on the offensive and defensive lines.
The senior linemen are Alex Crittenden, Edger Gonzalez, Jo Mari Gonzalez; Andrew Gwyn, Cole Ruark and Landon Norwood.
Another senior, Matt Hart will play quarterback and defensive back; senior Jaden Reed will play tight end and linebacker; senior Adam Smith, running back and defensive back; and senior Brandon Ward, wide receiver and defensive back.
“We do have experience on the line and we played well in the last scrimmage against Bruton,” said Coach Jarvis. “We do need to continue to improve our offensive and defensive blocking and, if we do, we will succeed.
“In the scrimmage against Bruton, we did not have a turnover and we only had two penalties,” said Coach Jarvis. “That’s really good and a big deal this early in the season in a scrimmage. We can build off that. Mistakes are what kills a good team.
“We do not have a junior varsity team and that is not good,” said Coach Jarvis. “We are hoping to get enough students interested in playing football next year that we can field a team.”
The juniors playing for the Chargers this year are Mike Barney, wide receiver and linebacker; Wyatt Brown, defensive back; Brayden Deel, lineman; Bryan Diggs, running back and linebacker; Troy Moncrieff, running back and linebacker; and Chris Stokes, lineman.
Sophomores will include Philip Hart, offensive line and linebacker; Nathan Hogge, wide receiver and linebacker; Austin Lundy, lineman; Brock Parris, wide receiver and linebacker; and Cassidy Ward, wide receiver and defensive back.
The ninth and eighth grade players on the team are Rowan Anderson, wide receiver and linebacker; Brandon Barney, lineman; Cole Harris, lineman; Jayden Hogge, wide receiver and kicker; and Owen Wynberry, lineman.
