Article by Chris Dollarhite

Bengal Football Preview

When cowboys in the westerns run out of bullets, they don't give up the fight. They reload. Such is the case with the 2008 Bassett Bengals football program.

After ripping through a tough Piedmont District and their regular season undeafeated in 2007, 20 talented and experienced seniors graduated from Bassett High School, leaving in their wake some awfully big cleats to fill up at Ed Bassett Stadium. It'll take an effort as big as a Michael Phelps' breakfast, but Bassett head coach Jay Gilbert says he knows 48 guys who are ready and willing to give it a try. "We definitely lost some talented players, but we've got 27 seniors ready to lead this team. Pretty much our whole backfield graduated, but we've still got our quarterback and a solid core on defense," said Gilbert. "We're really looking forward to coming together as a team and getting the job done."

Rashawn "Boo" Woods has been getting the job done at quarterback for the past three years. The senior signal-caller, with the help of Gilbert's multi-look playbook, has thrived at Bassett, racking up records in both rushing and passing while helping the Bengals remain atop the Piedmont standings. "Boo's started for us since he was a freshman, he's been a major part in our success over the last couple of seasons," said Gilbert. "He doesn't have quite the supporting cast he's used to, but we're hoping it won't take long for guys to step up and fill the roles and become even stronger than we were last year."

O'Shane Valentine, Emmanuel Alston and Vershaun Norman will be called on to handle the rushing load as the Bengals will again utilize their team speed with an option-filled offense. Wideouts Todd Draper and James Turner are both capable of being "home run" receivers as Woods isn't afraid to throw the long ball.

The most important part of a passing game is having an offensive line that's up to the job of keeping Woods' uniform clean and dirt-free. One of the biggest offensive lines in Bassett history will try to impose their will and make their QB's job easier. Senior stud Andrew Miller, Dameon Hairston, D.J. Morris, Michael Hodges and Joe Reynolds comprise an O-line that will make any defense struggle in the trenches.

But scoring points doesn't matter if you can't keep the other team from doing the same. The Bengals defense is renowned for bone-crushing hits and stingy stances near the goal line. Don't expect anything different from this squad. With seven returning starters on defense, Gilbert said this team's D will have to carry the load until the unexperienced offense comes around. Hodges, Alston, Hairston and Miller will anchor a defense that includes Paris Ragan and Shaq Finney.

Bassett's first challenge may be its biggest of the season. Facing foe Carrol County on the road this Friday, the Bengals won't have much time to gel together as a team before they're thrown right into the fire. The Bengals have handled Carrol at home, but haven't had a lot of luck against them on the road.

"They're extremely fundamentally sound, they don't make a lot of mistakes. That means we can't make many mistakes, either," said Gilbert. "When we've played them on our field, we've beaten them. When we go there, we've lost. "We hope to turn that around this week."

Bassett's home opener against Patrick Henry will be especially important to Gilbert as the game will be dedicated to the late Jerry Slaughter, renowned golf coach and educator at Fieldale-Collinsville High School, who was recently enshrined in the Virginia High School League Hall of Fame.