Season Preview: Stonewall Jackson Raiders

By Brian Hunsicker

Published: August 27, 2008

In the months since Mike Dougherty became Stonewall Jackson’s head coach, he’s had time to acclimate himself to the school and put the beginnings of his imprint on the Raiders’ program.

The time to actually install an offense and defense has been much shorter, only since practice opened, and he knows that drastic changes often take time to stick. Since serving as an assistant coach at Louisa County in the late 1990s, Dougherty has had two head coaching jobs — one at Prince Edward County, one at Dominion — so he knows how long these transitions take.

“Definitely by our first game, these kids are going to understand what we’re trying to do,” Dougherty said. “The ebb and flow of a season really dictates how quickly they take to it.”

Defensively, that means an unconventional look: a 3-3 stack, which features three down linemen and three linebackers. While the simple description of it makes it sound like a pass-prevention defense, Dougherty said it’s more effective against the run.

That’s accomplished by rushing several players in an effort to keep the opposing offense confused.

“People don’t realize that just because we have three linemen, we’ve got six or seven people coming on every play,” he said. “Just a lot of misdirections, a lot of stunts.”

He added that he began running the scheme a few years ago as a way to help make up for a lack of linemen.

With a shortage of linemen in the Raiders’ camp this fall, the scheme worked perfectly for them, too.

Dougherty said that Stonewall started off the preseason with a player count in the mid-60s, but has had to deal with a rash of injuries early on.

Among them was standout running back Damien Thigpen, a Tennessee commit who, during a recent practice, watched from the sideline
while wearing a boot, which made his injury look more serious than it actually was.

Dougherty said Thigpen had a bone bruise, and keeping him out of practice was merely a precautionary move to ensure his health for later in the season.

“This is a marathon for us. We want to have him all season,” Dougherty said.

The benefit, he said, was giving practice reps to the reserves who wouldn’t have otherwise gotten them. Barring further injury, Thigpen will be the Raiders’ starter at running back, especially now that Ryan Williams, last season’s leading rusher, is at Virginia Tech.

Thigpen rushed for 592 yards and seven touchdowns last season, but was slowed by an ankle injury that limited his playing time over the second half of the season.

“He’s already established himself, and he’s learning the system,” Dougherty said.

As are the rest of his teammates. But come opening night, they’ll be expected to have everything down just in time for when the game matters.

Team info
2007 record: 4-6
Offensive look: Spread
Defensive look: 3-3-5
Returning starters: 6 (offense); 6 (defense)
Last playoff appearance: 2004
Overall record last five years: 25-27
Speed merchant: RB/FS Damien Thigpen (5-foot-7, 170, sr.) has won the Group AAA state title in the 300-meters the last two outdoor seasons. The four-year starter has been timed at 4.34 in the 40.
Powerhouse performer:
Coach Mike Dougherty identified two-way junior lineman Mike Pitts (6-0, 250) as among the Raiders’ strongest.
Blue collar special: Senior Aaron Dial (6-0, 195) has filled in where he was needed on offense, whether at tight end or fullback.
Other key returners: QB/DB Jordan Baird (5-11, 175, sr.); OL/DL C.C. Davis (6-6, 260, sr.); OL/DL Bradley Helmick (6-0, 215, sr.); OL/DL Caleb Lewis (6-2, 240, sr.);
RB/LB Derek Lett (6-0, 215, sr.); WR/DB Kevin Parks (5-8, 165, sr.); OL/DL Don Sanchez (6-0, 225, sr.); WR/DB Orlando Budd (5-7, 160, jr.); C/NG Corey Kaiser (5-9, 205, jr.)
n Promising newcomers: RB/OLB Sean Blackman (5-8, 175, jr.); OL/DL Drew Danner (6-2, 275, jr., transfer from Liberty); QB/S Brandon Simmons (5-11, 175, jr.)
Head coach
Mike Dougherty
Age: 37
Year as Stonewall
head coach: First
Overall Record at Stonewall: 0-0
Coaching background: Assistant coach, Louisa County H.S., 1996-2000; head coach, Prince Edward H.S., 2000-2003; head coach, Dominion H.S., 2003-2007
Teaches: Advanced P.E., weight training
Family: Wife, Jenny, daughter Logan Kate and son Drew
SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted)
Sept. 5 at Hylton
Sept. 12 Forest Park
Sept. 19 Freedom
Sept. 26 at Battlefield
Oct. 3 at Liberty (7 p.m.)
Oct. 10 Loudoun Valley
Oct. 17 at Fauquier
Oct. 24 Osbourn Park
Oct. 31 at Osbourn
Nov. 7 Culpeper