Raiders without Thigpen until October

By Dave Fawcett

Published: September 25, 2008

Damien Thigpen didn’t play Thursday night against Battlefield.
And at this point, Thigpen is listed as doubtful for Stonewall Jackson High School’s next game, Oct. 3 at Liberty.
But if Thigpen’s ankle continues to show improvement as he runs on it more, the senior running back/defensive back could be back in the lineup for the Raiders’ Oct. 10 game against Loudoun Valley.
“We’re hoping to get him back by week 5,” Stonewall Jackson coach Mike Dougherty said.
Thigpen, a University of Tennessee commit and one of the area’s top running backs, has been sidelined with an ankle injury since the start of preseason and has yet to play in a game this season.
He was cleared to begin practice on Monday, but Thigpen has been limited to running as he tests his ankle.
“It’s a wait and see thing with the ankle,” Dougherty said. “We still need to see when he cuts, how his ankle reacts. We will upgrade his status as we look at how he progresses.”

WEATHER WATCH
The forecast for heavy rain has tonight’s football schedule in limbo.
If the games are a wash, area schools are considering playing Saturday and or Monday.
One potential scheduling issue on Monday, though, could be Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish holiday that begins at sunset.
Prince William County schools mandate that there be no activities going on once Rosh Hashanah begins. The holiday ends at nightfall on Wednesday.
If games were to be played Monday, they would have to start in time to finish before sunset.
A decision will have to be made early for Freedom and Woodbridge’s games.
The Eagles are scheduled to host Amherst, which is located outside Lynchburg. The Lancers’ trip to Woodbridge is an estimated 3.5 to 4 hours long.
Woodbridge, meanwhile, was scheduled to leave at 10:30 this morning for its 4 hour and 20-minute drive to Franklin County.
CLAMPING DOWN
Osbourn Park’s defense has been allowing less than six points a game through its first three games of the season.
The Yellow Jackets returned seven starters, but head coach Brian Beaty attributes the defense’s success so far to the leadership of seniors Devon Edwards and Mike Noblit.
The two team captains took it upon themselves to lead by example, whether it be during offseason training in the weight room or just taking a young player aside and instructing him on how to correct a mistake.
“They are not screamers,” Beaty said. “They teach the kids and that’s fantastic.”
Noblit, a three-year varsity player at linebacker, is the team’s most experienced player on defense.
“He doesn’t accept his teammates loafing,” Beaty said. “He comes to practice looking forward to it. He brings energy to the team and to me.”
Both Noblit and Edwards, a cornerback, are returning starters.

effective combo
Coming into the season, Potomac had no established player at running back.
But after four games, it appears the Panthers have found two to help carry the load: freshman Matt Thomas and sophomore Desmond Spades.
Thomas rushed for 78 and 92 yards in Potomac’s two wins over Stafford and Osbourn Park.
Both he and Spades, who played on the freshman team last season, split time last Friday against North Stafford and played key roles as the Panthers won 27-14 for their third straight victory.
“Whoever has the hot hand, we will go with,” Potomac coach Tony Lilly said. “Both ran well against North Stafford.”
Potomac is off this week.