Brian Woodson Bristol Herald Courier
EMORY, Va. – There will be a lot of optimism for Emory and Henry college football when fall training begins in August.
One reason for that is that the Wasps return 10 defensive starters and eight offensive starters from a team that finished 5-6 for the second consecutive year since joining the South Atlantic Conference in 2022. It is in.
“I think our expectations need to be higher than what we've accomplished the last two years,” Emory and Henry College head coach Kurt Newsome said. “To show growth, to show that we can be in the top half while we're in this league. I think we can prove that.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Noah Sage, a graduate of Lee High School and one of four returning offensive linemen, who said he feels the Wasps have worked hard to become a better team.
“From the beginning, everything was fast-paced and very competitive, from the winter workouts to the mat drills to the conditioning,” said the All-SAC honoree last season, originally from Virginia Tech. said Sage, who was playing. “Everyone brought a lot of energy. There was never a really down day. Everything was always competitive, people were always pushing each other. I felt like a lot of people were stepping up as leaders. “I think everyone will participate.”If we get to the right spots, we'll have a good season. ”
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Emory & Henry gave a glimpse of what to expect at their annual spring game at Fred Selfe Stadium on a sunny and breezy Saturday afternoon. The teams are split into blue (offense) and white (defense) uniforms, with defense outranked 30-17 thanks to an improved scoring system that allows points to be scored on defensive touchdowns, fumble recoveries, interceptions, three-and-outs, and drives. It ended in – and stop possessing.
“It went really well,” Emory & Henry quarterback Charles Mutter said. He threw for 30 yards and two touchdowns to Cam Abshire on the first drive of the game, and finished the scrimmage with a 50-yard scoring strike to the speedy Abshire. end zone. “We were a young team in the fall, so we've really grown. I think our performance in today's spring game shows that we have a very good lockdown defense. , we have weapons on offense as well. We're going to be special in the fall. I'm really looking forward to it. ”
Trace Butcher made a 25-yard field goal to give the Blues a 10-3 lead in the second of four quarters lasting 7 1/2 minutes. That's all the scoring was until Mutter's late scoring pass to Absher, and the defense got a Demetreus Graves interception and a fumble recovery that Trey McBride returned for a 24-yard touchdown and another wave at the goal line. Mason picked it up. Parham was counted as a sack in addition to several quarterback touches.
“Today's spring game result was exactly what we hoped for,” Sage said. “Obviously we want to compete and we want our offense to win, but I'm excited about the direction of our position group. We have a lot of players returning and a lot of experience. , there's a lot of really new young players that bring a lot to the table.
“We have a lot of good additions. Running back Jordan (Jackson) is going to be really productive for us, we have some great additions on defense and the defense looked really good today. “I thought it was good for us.'' It's competitive and I'm really excited about the direction this team is going. ”
Newsome saw the Wasps good and bad on both sides of the ball.
“First of all, the priority is to not hurt anyone,” he said. “After that, you want to see them compete and you want to see them not get some stupid penalties. One thing you don't want to do with what we did today is take too many Big plays and too many turnovers. Those are the two things we want to distance ourselves from. ”
This defense is expected to cause similar problems for opposing defenses when the season begins on Aug. 31 against Glenville State in the West Virginia Mountain East Conference. Senior Addison Nicely was named the Wasps' Spring Ball Defensive Player of the Year and was an All-SAC defensive player in 2023.
“It's just working hard every day and trying to get better every day,” said Kneisley, who was third on the team with 92 tackles and also had five interceptions last season. “I think this year is definitely going to be our best year. We have to keep working hard and the results will come.”
Newsome looked for depth on the defensive line in the offseason and found his answer in Elijah Harper, a Detroit native transferred from Charleston Southern where he won the Wasps' spring ball rookie of the year award. He is expected to play linebacker or defensive end.
“I’m just going to do what the coaches tell me too, stay the course, try to make everyone better and just continue to be me,” Harper said. “It was different, especially coming from Charleston, but it was a nice reset. It helped me get my priorities and values right and give everything to my Lord and Savior. Because it's really the end of the day.'' Who are you doing it for? That day. ”
Harper sees a bright future for the Wasps once the fall season begins.
“We are young, really young, but we have players who are willing to work, so we just need people to believe in them and give them the right morals and values and keep working on their craft,” he said. said. . “I'm telling you, Emory is going to be a problem in the near future.”
Jordan, a Virginia native and transfer from St. Francis, Pennsylvania, both shined as a 39-yard running back, while Abshire will look to build on last season's accomplishments, when he had 38 receptions and six touchdowns.
“Jordan is a very good transfer and coming from Virginia, that's the kind of player we're looking to get first. I think he'll be a big help,” Newsome said. “Cam was a freshman last year. He's been outstanding so far, he's a walk-on, he doesn't play like a walk-on.” He's not a walk-on now, so he's a really good player. is. He's really the fastest guy on our team. ”
Mutter certainly seems to like his surroundings at quarterback, with skill position players and the addition of Trey Secrist in place of graduate Ricky Dodson III.
“Jordan is a baller, obviously Cam Absher, Cam Peoples, and Jakari (Moselle) and Jaylin Mitchell,” Mutter said. Quarterback Coach The quarterback coach is former E&H starting quarterback Kyle Short. “Our interior is really, really special. As far as the offensive line, I think we're going to be a lot better this year. I'm really excited about that and really happy.”
One of the better stories for Wasps is former South African water polo player Wally Venters. He immigrated to the United States four years ago and began punting as a high school senior in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. He attended his NAIA school at Culver Stockton, then connections led him to Emory & Henry. The left-footed junior punted twice during Wasps' scrimmage.
Venters, who took his chance at Wasps, said: “I like it better here. There's beautiful scenery around me, and I like everyone.'' “I've been putting in the time and working hard and just continuing to work hard and seeing where football takes me…”
“I think it's going to be very good next year and I think it's more intensity and a higher level of football than I'm used to. I'm adapting to it and enjoying it.”
Newsome was pleased with the performance of Mutter and freshman Eli Fouts at quarterback, but Abingdon graduate Cole Lambert struggled at times in the game.
“Charles is playing really well. I think Eli had a really good day,” Newsome said. “Cole didn't have a typical day. He's usually very consistent. It wasn't his best day, but I trust him. We know he's I know what he can do and I’ve seen him do it with the lights on.”
Emory & Henry took a big step up in competition two years ago, leaving NCAA Division III's Old Dominion Athletic Conference for Division II's South Atlantic Conference. Don't complain about Nicely not being very good on the soccer field.
“I love the physicality of it and I love the camaraderie that it brings. The biggest thing about it is being out on the field with my teammates and just having a good time out there,” Nicely said. Fan of the move to SAC. “I enjoy every second. I love moving up and I love competition in general. Facing good competition just to test myself and see how good I am. I really enjoy it because I love it.”
The Wasps' spring baseball season isn't over yet, with two practices remaining, followed by exit interviews with players, exams later this month, and plans to return to summer school in May. Coaches will continue to be busy and will be entering a new world of recruiting.
“We're going to start recruiting,” Newsom said. “What's changed is we're in the portal at certain positions, and high school players at every position, so if we need a receiver or we need a linebacker or something like that in the portal, we're in the portal. You’re going to be kind of isolated if you need to be.”
The countdown to the 2024 season has begun, and Newsome feels the Wasps got better in the spring.
“I thought we got better. I thought we had good leadership throughout. Our group is a little different because of the seniors. We have 10 stars back on defense and eight on offense. We've got a lot of starters back, we only have four seniors on the team.''So it's an exciting time at Emory right now,'' Newsome said. “It's good to have a little bit more age and leadership. They've started doing that in the weight room and it's carried over into spring practice and winter training, so I'm happy with where the team is at right now.” ”
Halftime award ceremony
Winter 2024 Workout Winners: Team Captain: Deshaun Sharp. Members: Zach Alexander, AJ Burgess, Trace Butcher, Cendrick Kang, Cyrus Fitzgerald, Caleb Harper, Jarrell Harrison, Colby Johnson, Justin Long, Willie Purvis, Maeke Thomas, Christian. Young.
Spring ball offense: Most Improved Award: Rudolf Pohl
Spring ball defense: Most Outstanding Award: Tyreon Porter
Spring Ball Newcomer Award: Elijah Harper
Spring Ball Offensive MVP: Parker Prioleau
Spring ball defensive MVP: addison nickley
2023 All-South Atlantic Conference Returnees: PK: Trace Butcher. WR/RET: Cam Peoples. OL: Noah Sage. DL: Andrew Crowley Jr., Ian Rea; LB: Caleb Lundy. Former All-SAC players: J'Quan Anderson (absent). P: Ethan Muncy.
