Season Preview: Osbourn Eages

By Brian Hunsicker

Published: August 27, 2008

Osbourn’s 2007 record didn’t show a successful season, yet head coach Steve Schultze believes differently.

Down the stretch, he said, the team came together and was playing good football by the end of the season.

If that momentum is to carry over to 2008, however, the Eagles will have to replace several veteran offensive linemen and hold onto the ball better.

“Up front, they have to get it done,” Schultze said. “We lost a lot of seniors there, but we’re way ahead of where we were last year.”

It helps that the Eagles can plug in some big bodies into those holes, like senior Rodney Allen (6-foot-2, 263 pounds), junior Alex Feidt (6-5, 260) and sophomore Marcus Matthews (6-3, 275).

They’ll open holes to keep the defense off of quarterback Jerell McFadden; Schultze said that performing those jobs — while perhaps menial to a casual observer — have become a source of pride for the linemen.

The strength of the team, however, lies in the depth at the skill positions. Some are returners and others have shown potential on the junior varsity and freshman level, but all help contribute to the depth at receiver and slot.

While the offense is coming along nicely, Schultze remembers the numerous turnovers that plagued the 2007 season. He counted 40 of them during the year.

“You can’t win football games like that,” he said.

Inexperience played a part, he said, but philosophy did as well. Schultze said that at the beginning of last season, the offense emphasis was on the passing game. As it turned out, the Eagles’ personnel was better suited to a strong running game.
Once the switch was made, the offense’s fortunes improved.

Schultze has high hopes for McFadden this season.

A starter since his freshman season, McFadden, who ran for 987 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in 2007, has turned into one of the team’s leaders.

During the offseason, Schultze said, McFadden ranked highest in attendance, despite his involvement with basketball in the winter.

Beyond leading by example, Schultze said McFadden has become a vocal leader as well, one who knows how and when to pick up his teammates.

Defensively, Schultze hopes that the depth at the skill positions will pay off; speed, he said, is the key to the defense.

“We want all 11 hats on the ball, flying the way we do,” he said.

Nose guard Tyler Brown will be a key figure on the defensive front. Though undersized from what many would expect in an interior lineman, Brown is one of the strongest players on the team.

The Eagles have also made it through camp relatively injury-free. Schultze said there was a scare with a knee injury — though an MRI later revealed nothing major — and one hip flexor pull, but nothing more substantial than that.
Team info
2007 record: 4-6
Offensive look: Spread
Defensive look: 50
Returning starters: 6 (offense); 6 (defense)
Last playoff appearance: 2006
Overall record last five years:
35-21
Speed merchant: Senior QB/DB Jerell McFadden (5-9, 172), not surprisingly, is among the team’s fastest players, according to coach Steve Schultze.
Powerhouse performer: A three-year starter and returning second-team all-district performer, RB/NG Tyler Brown (6-0, 192, sr.) needs that strength to hold his own in the middle of the defensive line.
Blue collar special: WR/S Tyler Del Rosario (5-8, 155, jr.) holds his own at slot and strong safety.
Other key returners: OT/CC/ DT Rodney Allen (6-2, 263, sr.); DE C.J. Barnes (5-9, 175, sr.); C/DT Travis Bruns (6-3, 222, sr.); OG/DE John Rapp (6-2, 212, sr.); G/DE Chris Grouge (6-5, 214, sr.); RB/DE/LB Amarciel Roy (6-1, 230, sr.); K Tyler Schultze (6-1, 150, sr.); WR/DT Denzel Wilkins (6-1, 200, sr.); QB/DE Chaz Bates (6-2, 180, jr.); WR/CB Vidal Greene 5-8, 160, jr.); SL/DB/LB Timmy Keith (6-1, 185, so.)
Promising newcomers: WR Gage Hughes (6-2, 180, sr.); OT/DT Alex Feidt (6-5, 260, jr.); QB/S Thomas Keith (6-0, 153, jr.); LB Casey Lucas (5-11, 194, so.); OT/DT Marcus Matthews (6-3, 275, so.); QB/SL/DB Rodney Whitehead (5-9, 142, so.)
Head coach
Steve Schultze
Age: 46
Year as Osbourn’s head coach: 7th
Overall Record at Osbourn: 37-29
Coaching background: Assistant coach, Loudoun County H.S., 1988-2001
Teaches: Physical education
Family: Wife Jan; son, Tyler
SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted)
Sept. 5 at Brooke Point
Sept. 12 Culpeper
Sept. 19 Woodbridge
Sept. 26 Liberty
Oct. 3 at Potomac
Oct. 10 at Fauquier
Oct. 17 Battlefield
Oct. 25 at Loudoun Valley (1:30 p.m.)
Oct. 31 Stonewall Jackson
Nov. 7 at Osbourn Park