Seaon Preview: Battlefield Bobcats

By Brian Hunsicker

Published: August 27, 2008

With 30 returning seniors and nine returning starters on each side of the ball, all with the experience of a first-round loss to Woodbridge in last year’s Northwest Region playoffs, Battlefield appears ready to take the next step.

Head coach Mark Cox, however, knows that some further development is necessary. The Bobcats’ offensive line needs to replace three starters; two of them — tight end Austin Tuell and tackle Joe Breithaupt — graduated while a third, Austin Butler, was lost to a knee injury early in practice.

Returning quarterback Bo Revell filled in for injured starter Corey Thacker last year. But Revell was injured after only two games.
Senior kicker Ben Burden, who was the team’s second-leading scorer last season with 53 points, won’t be back until at least the fourth game after having offseason knee surgery.

And the Bobcats’ defense “is always a key to what we do,” Cox said. Ensuring that the defense is playing well will go a long way to ensuring that Battlefield has the kind of season it wants to have.

But in the larger picture, the Bobcats are much better off than some teams. The wealth of talent and experience returning and the depth at crucial spots like running back puts Battlefield in an enviable spot.

Running back Adrian Ingram, for instance, had a breakout season last year, rushing for 1,552 yards and 18 touchdowns. Yet his greatest contributions come on defense, where he has started at linebacker since his freshman season.

Cox hopes that Ingram has as great an impact on defense. If it means less time on offense, he said, so be it; backup Gerald Khosa can be just as effective.

A similar situation can be found all around the Bobcats, where depth gives Cox and his coaches greater flexibility with their personnel. In fact, they’ve nearly reached a saturation point.

“Instead of just a couple of impact players, this year we’ve got five, six, seven of them. We’re struggling with the best way to utilize them,” Cox said. “We’re getting more and more kids out, and more athletes. It’s a good problem to have.”

Battlefield should also benefit from having qualified for the postseason. Though their season ended with a loss to eventual Division 6 runner-up Woodbridge — in a game in which the Bobcats took an early 17-0 lead — there were plenty of lessons that could prove useful this season.

“It wasn’t just the kids [that learned a lesson], it was the coaches, too,” Cox said. “We can’t lose our composure. We had a big lead and maybe the kids relaxed.”

And against a team like the Vikings, he added, one cannot relax. So discipline has been a key theme in camp this year.

“You have to do what you’re coached to do,” Cox said. “A lot of it is Woodbridge was experienced. We had never been in that situation. [Now] those 30-something seniors will be better players, if we get in that situation again.”

Team info
2007 record: 9-2
Offensive look: Multiple
Defensive look: 4-4
Returning starters: 9 (offense); 9 (defense)
Last playoff appearance: 2007
Overall record last five years: 15-18 (school has only fielded a varsity team since 2004)
Speed merchants: WR/S Blaine Mason (5-10, 165, jr.) is the fastest starter, head coach Mark Cox said, but senior RB/LB Adrian Ingram (5-9, 175) isn’t far behind.
Powerhouse performers: Junior OT/DL Jimmy Long (6-0, 250) is one of the Bobcats’ strongest players along with G Tyler Smith (5-10, 260, sr.).
Blue collar special: Cooper Bull (6-0, 185, sr.) has been an H-back and quarterback for Battlefield and has played on all of the Bobcats’ special teams as well.
Other key returners: K Ben Burden (5-9, 165, sr.); HB/LB Vince Drzal (5-10, 190, sr.); RB/DB Gerald Khosa (5-10, 190, sr.); WR/PR Matt Plum (5-8, 165, sr.); G/DL Peter Psihas (5-9, 220, sr.); WR/DB Chris Richman (5-9, 160, sr.); QB Bo Revell (6-6, 210, jr.); DL Zavier Stringfellow (5-10, 195, so.)
Promising newcomers: None

Head Coach
Mark Cox
Age: 45
Year as Battlefield’s head coach: 5th
Overall Record at Battlefield: 15-18
Coaching background: Assistant coach, Annandale H.S., 1987-90; assistant coach, Chantilly H.S., 1992-94; head coach, Falls Church H.S., 1995-97; head coach, W.T. Woodson 1998-2003
Teaches: Physical education and weight training
Family: Wife, Kelly; sons Cody and Kevin
SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted)
Aug. 28 at Potomac
Sept. 12 at Gar-Field
Sept. 19 Hylton
Sept. 26 Stonewall Jackson
Oct. 3 at Osbourn Park (7 p.m.)
Oct. 10 Liberty
Oct. 17 at Osbourn
Oct. 24 Fauquier
Oct. 31 at Culpeper
Nov. 7 Loudoun Valley