2004 Season Preview

This article was taken from the Murphy Fair organization.

What appears to be a rebuilding year on paper may turn into a pleasant surprise for Loudon fans as Coach Jeff Harig begins his third year at the helm of the Redskin program. Although starters at eight offensive and eight defensive positions are gone via the graduation route, the future certainly looks good for the program.

The big question has to do with time. Will the breakout year come this year, next year, or possibly the next? Numbers are high with 55 players listed on the roster in grades 10-12. Only seven of those are seniors. That means nearly 90 percent of this year's team will be back for more action in 2005.

Play at the skill positions certainly looks promising. At quarterback, junior Cody Fritts (6-0, 165) returns after a learning sophomore season which saw him complete 30 of 70 passes for more than 500 yards. His numbers should show considerable improvement this year.

The possibilities at runningback are quite strong with no fewer than six players listed. The group includes juniors Matthew Packett (5-10, 210), Brandon Dixon (5-11, 185), and Mark Harrison (5-9, 175), along with sophomores Josh Hawkins (6-1, 185) and Charlie Hampton (6-0, 185).

Packett is one of the team's strongest players, having recorded 340 in the bench press and 475 in the squat. He shines on defense where he made 38 hits at LB.

Dixon (torn ACL in last year's preseason), Harrison, Hawkins, and Hampton have all shown promise, both at runingback and in either Loudon's second or third lines of defense. Hawkins scored 34 points last year, rushing 29 times for 260 yards. He has great speed (4.5 in the 40).

Good speed is also present in the wide receiver corps. Seniors Josh McQueen (6-0, 205), Jessee Henry (5-11, 180), and Andy Belcher (6-4, 205) are joined by junior Cory Fritts (6-0, 165) as the strongest possibilities. McQueen is primarily a denfensive standout, having made 66 tackles from the Redskin secondary last year.

Henry also made a dozen stops from his DB slot while Belcher made seven tackles in parttime duty at linebacker. Fritts had a great spring and is considered on of the team's top newcomers, along with Charlie Hampton and junior lineman Jimmy McQueen (5-10, 235). All should see plenty of action this fall.

Possibilities in the line come strongest from seniors Adam Russell (6-2, 185) and Kyle Tallent (6-3, 235), juniors John Paul Hackney (6-2, 200) and Clay Matlock (5-8, 150), and sophomore Ricky Colon (5-11, 275).

Russell had 31 tackles at outside linebacker last year and is considered a strong candidate to start at tight end, too. Tallent and Hackney are both projected to be two-way starters in the trenches this fall. Matlock is another returning linebacker who made 31 stops as a sophomore. Colon has great strength, having benched 275 and 475 in the squat. All should be considered leaders in the Loudon trenches this fall.