Middlesex Chargers will play at Bristow-Boxley Field;
Shane Glenn replaces Cameron Lambert at quarterback
(Editor’s note: This is the third of four Middlesex High School [MHS] fall sports preview packages. Watch future editions of the Sentinel for a preview of MHS cross country, which also starts a new season this month.)
The Middlesex High School (MHS) Charger football team will open its 2024-2025 regular season this Friday, Sept. 6, at home at Bristow-Boxley Field in the Syd Thrift Athletic Complex in Saluda against the Northumberland Indians. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Chargers are coming off a struggling 1-8 win loss season, but since it was a relatively young team last year, the experience gained should bring rewards to MHS this season. Only two seniors were on the squad last year as MHS stars Malik Dandy and Rowan Anderson were lost to graduation.
There are four seniors on the 2024 squad and MHS has 12 returning players off of last year’s offensive squad and 12 off last year’s defensive team. “We have grown up a lot,” said third year MHS Head Coach Mark Bowen. “All of our linemen have grown and have worked out all summer in the weight room.”
“We have a group that is vested in making this a successful football season,” he said. “They have proven that because of their dedication this summer to workouts.”
Shane Glenn is set to lead the Chargers’ offense at the quarterback spot as last year’s starting quarterback Cameron Lambert opted to run cross country and play golf this season. Glenn was the backup quarterback last season and Bowen said he will bring experience and strong football skills to the position.
All-region athlete JaQuan Griffin is back on the team and will be moved from the split end position to the halfback role this season. “ ‘Quan’ is one of the top athletes in the state,” said Bowen. “He is going to bring speed and athleticism to the halfback position.”
JaQuan’s brother, Davonte Griffin, will move into his split end position and Nathan Powell will play the end on the other side of the line. Powell caught two touchdown passes last week in a scrimmage against Colonial Beach.
MHS has a new face on the defensive line in the likes of Dylan Jenkins, a 280-pound tackle that can “run like a deer,” said Bowen. “We will have someone on the defensive line that will protect our linebackers now.”
Jakub Bowen is a returning linebacker for the Chargers and calls the defense on the field for MHS. Other defensive standouts are Luke McMurtrie, Hayden Brown and Payton Calhoun who are all returning.
In the Aug. 16 scrimmage against Colonial Beach, the Chargers put up a strong battle, said Bowen. “Colonial Beach was larger and faster than us but we scored four touchdowns to none for the Drifters.”
(MHS is not offering junior varsity football this year.)
