Lake Braddock Reloaded for Another Title Run

Jim Poythress does not sound like a man who just took his team to the Virginia High School League AAA Division 6 state championship game last year. Rather, the Lake Braddock head coach sounds like a man focused on getting back there this season.

"We return a really strong nucleus," Poythress said before turning his attention away from his team's strengths. "We only return one starter on the offensive line. This year's [secondary] is untested. It's filling in [those] positions that will determine whether or not we're as good as we were last year."

Spreading It Out

Indeed, the Bruins were a force last year, especially on the offensive side of the ball where they racked up 32 points per game. That owes in large part to former West Springfield head coach Bill Renner, whom the Bruins brought in last offseason to implement his spread offense. The new scheme proved a perfect fit for quarterback Michael Nebrich, who rode his arms and legs to All-State honors, piling up over 4,500 total yards and 46 combined touchdowns.

Like his coach, Nebrich remains focused on the season ahead. He said that while the team waved goodbye to a lot of important players, this year's team looks improved.

"I think this year we've got a lot more speed, especially on offense," Nebrich said. "Our offensive line is faster than last year's, which will help in run blocking and pass blocking."

No matter whom you talk to with the Bruins, speed is always on the tip of their tongues. For a team that values fast, agile players, their dramatic turnaround from 5-5 in 2008 to the state championship last year embodies the speed it wants in its on-field product.

Although Poythress mentioned the offensive line as a unit he's keeping his eye on, he echoed Nebrich's point about the line's versatility.

"We move much better," Poythress began. "We should be able to trap [block] better, counter better, reach block better."

The spread offense is so named because it employs five wide receivers, thus spreading out the defense, not allowing for any double teams and making it susceptible to the run. With Renner on the road watching his son, former West Springfield star and current University of North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner, the offense rests in the hands of coordinator Chris Weiler.

"We started working with Bill last winter," Weiler said. "He was mentoring me on how to implement the system, how to run the practice, what plays to call against different coverages. I'm more than prepared to come into this year ready with all the information from Bill."

Not only does the spread suit a dual threat-quarterback like Nebrich, it's also tailor made for a wide receiver like Matt Zanellato, a 6'4 transfer from rival Robinson High.

"For me it's a lot more efficient of an offense," Zanellato said. "It's fun knowing that on Friday nights I'm going to be getting the ball a lot more [than I did at Robinson]."

The run-first Robinson offense limited the talented Zanellato, but that won't be the case this year. He had a lot to learn to get up to speed with the rest of his teammates, and Weiler is very pleased with what he has seen from his new weapon.

"[Zanellato] came from a run-oriented offense and he needed some wideout training on releases and coverage recognition," Weiler said. "There are a lot of little nuances in how we run our offense, and he has picked it up very well."

Leaders Up Front

Defensively, Lake Braddock looks strong in its front seven, led by All-State defensive end Emmanuel Adetunji and defensive tackle Mike Newman, who registered 12.5 sacks in a part-time role last season. Middle linebacker Andrew Weidinger joins Atatunji and Newman to give the Bruins a vaunted defensive front.

They'll have to be as good as advertised to take the pressure off a young secondary that's looking to fill the shoes of one of the most talented units of last season's championship team.

"The secondary registered 30 interceptions last year," Coach Poythress said. "This year's crew is untested. They'll be helped by what I think is going to be a really good front, and the defensive front is much faster than last year's."

There's the speed element again, always at the core of what the Bruins want to do. Newman perhaps summed up the mentality of the defense best.

"We play fast, we hit hard and we're one big family," he said.

If the Bull's Eye Fits...

It's safe to say no one outside the Bruins locker room saw last season's trip to the state championship game coming. Nebrich understands they won't get the underdog treatment in 2010.

"Last year we had a good year, a lot better than anyone in the area thought we would," Nebrich said as he and his teammates readied themselves for another intense practice. "Coming into this year expectations are pretty high for us, and we're looking to take that next step and actually get the state championship."