James Wood Looking To Build On Last Season’s Football Success

Posted: August 6, 2015
By ROBERT STOCKS
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — There’s no way other area high school football teams are going to spend more time on the practice field than James Wood.

Especially through this first week of two-a-day practices because the Colonels are living on their practice field — literally.

A year after spending three days at Camp Paddy Run in Star Tannery, the Colonels, coming off a 5-6 campaign which was their best season since 2010, are just past the midway point at “Camp Colonel.”

James Wood’s 32 varsity players go through two daily practice sessions during the day and then sleep in tents set up on the side of the practice field until camp breaks on Saturday afternoon.

Third-year Colonels coach Mark McHale hopes this week’s camp helps the team carry some momentum from last year’s 5-5 regular season that earned the program its first playoff berth since 2011. The Colonels’ five wins more than doubled their win total from the previous two seasons after finishing 1-9 in both 2013 and ’14.

“We’ve had a big carry over from our spring and summer workout program,” said McHale, following Tuesday night’s practice. “All the guys made their 110s on time and they’re in great shape.

“We’ve had some hot practices and they’re working hard and they’re in shape so I’m very impressed with that. Their mental attitude and focus is good and I’ve been real pleased.”

The Colonels, who beat Handley for the first time since 2007 and only the second time since 1992 last year, enter the season with six starters returning on offense and five back on defense.

James Wood must replace quarterback Brady Hepner, fullback Landon Rutherford and wide receiver Nick Manuel, but first team All-Northwestern District back Tyler Bishop returns along with seniors backs Ryan Funkhouser and Asa Brewer, who takes over for Rutherford at fullback. The Colonels’ ground game gets to run behind a veteran offensive line (that lost just two starters to graduation in Cody Feltner and Tyler Owens) anchored by senior center Adam Vadell, a second team All-Conference 21 selection last year.

“Last year was definitely a great step for the team,” said Funkhouser, a first team All-Northwestern District and second team All-Conference 21 selection who ranked second in the area with a team-high 130 tackles last season. “Everybody knows we’re not the same 1-9 team we’ve been.”

“[Going 5-6 last season] definitely motivates you to work harder this year and get a better record this year,” Brewer added. “They’re definitely stepping up and even our freshmen and sophomores are stepping up.”

If the Colonels are going to build off last year’s five-win campaign, Wood’s running backs know that success on offense starts with a productive ground game.

“[The key is] running the ball,” said Funkhouser and Brewer in unison.

“That’s what we’re going to do,” added Brewer.

Bishop, who returns as James Wood’s leading rusher after running for 894 yards and nine touchdowns a season ago, said the team’s offseason program should help offset the loss of departed playmakers.

“We lost some good seniors but right now we’ve replaced them pretty well I think,” said Bishop, who also had 15 catches for 261 yards and three scores a season ago. “We’re practicing hard and the first couple days have been tough.

“We’re determined — we’re ready to eat. I think we can play with anybody just not right now but we’re working on it and building it. I think we’re tougher and stronger this year. Our weight program has helped over the summer and we’ve gotten faster so I think that’s going to be a strength.”

Junior quarterback Dade Carroll — who made one start a season ago — takes over the offense with the departure of Hepner.

“[Carroll] started against Broadway and we beat Broadway [21-14] and they were better than us,” McHale said. “He managed the game well. He’s got experience and I put him in every game [last year] so he’s got some experience. He’s going to be our general.”

The Colonels have another week to prepare for their first of two scrimmages. James Wood travels to face Hampshire County (W.Va.) on Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. and then hosts Musselman (W.Va.) at Kelican Stadium at 6 p.m. on Aug 21 before the season opener at Heritage on Aug. 28.

James Wood’s 32 varsity players is five fewer than what McHale started with a season ago, and he said keeping first-team players injury-free will be key.

“No. 1, we’ve got to stay healthy,” McHale said. “That’s going to be big because our depth is very young. I think our first group on both sides of the ball is going to be good but we’ve got to make sure we stay healthy. We’ve got to be blessed in that area.”

Other than a thunderstorm at about 3 a.m. on Monday night that forced the team to take cover in their fieldhouse, McHale said this year’s camp has been a positive experience.

“I think it’s been pretty good,” McHale said. “I don’t think anyone wants to go away to camp — they like to go home with mommy and daddy and be in their own bed.

“I feel real good about it. The Touchdown Club is feeding them. The [players] like it. We just happened to get rain the first night. I like it [overall] and I think the players do, too.”

— Contact Robert Stocks at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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