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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Pioneers reloaded and ready for 2008
2008 Wayne High School football team
Purchase this photoWAYNE -- When talking about the 2008 edition of the Wayne Pioneers, one word comes to mind.
Experience.
The Pioneers lost just nine seniors from last season's 12-1 team that fell in the Class AA semifinals to James Monroe. With seven starters returning on each side of the ball, Wayne will once again be a Class AA front-runner.
"We're very fortunate to have a good core group of returners that got some valuable experience last year," Wayne coach Tom Harmon said. "We hope the experiences that they had last year and the accomplishments made continue on and get even better."
Among the returnees is senior quarterback Joey Ferguson, a three-year starter who set a school record with 20 touchdown passes last fall. Ferguson is just Wayne's third starting quarterback since the 2000 season.
"In a sense, it's like having another coach in the huddle," Harmon said. "There are not too many scenarios he's not at least somewhat familiar with. The ability to expand with somebody who has the basics down is definitely there."
Gone is all-state running back Justin Gilkerson, but returning is 1,000-yard rusher Jason Thompson. Harmon said Thompson is one of nine running backs in the mix for playing time.
"We're more concerned with the plays working instead of who's running them," Harmon said.
Paving the way for Wayne's multi-dimensional offensive attack will be a line that brings back four starters.
"We faced a lot of big defensive fronts last year, and we had a somewhat inexperienced group. I thought we performed pretty well in most games," Harmon said. "That's a place you definitely have to have it, and we're trying to find our best formula to keep us in games this year."
Scottie Fry returns at wide receiver, while the duo of Chase Perry and Dustin Shreve will offset the loss of big-play tight end Jeremy Maynard.
After allowing less than 10 points a game in '07, Wayne hopes to stay consistently strong on defense.
Harmon, who is tied with Scott Jarrell for most wins in school history at 102, said the battle for defensive line playing time has been competitive during summer practice.
"These guys are in a heated competition for spots," Harmon said. "The more (versatile) and physical a player is will increase (his) opportunities."
Shreve, a three-year starter and all-state selection at linebacker, anchors the defense, and said the familiar faces can do nothing but help the Pioneers this fall.
"Some of us have been starting varsity or getting time for three years now," Shreve said. "It makes adjustments on the field smoother because you know what everyone is going to do in certain situations."
Harmon said the strength of the program, which has averaged 10 wins per year in the last decade, is a direct result of stopping opponents.
"Offense by nature is inconsistent and the one thing you have to be consistent with is your defense," Harmon said. "We spend a lot of time with that, especially during the season. We hope to continue that but there are no guarantees."
Wayne faces five AA playoff teams from 2007 and two AAA opponents. A Week 2 trip to James Monroe will likely be the Pioneers' toughest game after both schools went a combined 19-1 in the 2007 regular season.
