Amherst seeks fourth Group AA final in four years

After winning back-to-back Group AA, Division 4, state titles in 2006 and ’07 and finishing as the runner-up to Broad Run last fall, Amherst is on the verge of dynasty status — if it’s not there already.

The Lancers, who return their entire backfield, including senior quarterback Anthony Rose, have the chance to again be a very strong football team this season.

“Our kids played extremely hard last year and as a group of coaches and as a group of athletes last year we felt we lost a state championship ring on the field at Liberty University,” Amherst second-year coach Cecil Phillips said. “We feel like we can play with (Broad Run) any given day of the week. It’s kind of been our theme from Jan. 2 — we want to make sure we’re doing the things as a football team that will give us the opportunity to play very competitive football.”

Broad Run stunned the Lancers 13-0 on a snowy day at Williams Stadium in last December’s state final, blanking a dynamic offense that averaged nearly 34 points per game and extinguishing Phillips’ chance to capture a state title in his first season at the helm.

While Rose and a backfield full of playmakers, headlined by twin brothers Jamal and Jamar Glover, ensure the Lancers will have the firepower to stay with anyone on the field, Amherst will again rely on a defense that allowed a meager 10.5 points per contest last season. Chris McDaniel and Mario Vaughan will lead the charge from the secondary and, if last year’s numbers are any indication, the defense is in capable hands. McDaniel picked off six balls and Vaughn led the team in tackles.

“We’re real aggressive,” McDaniel said. “We want the football every time we can get it and when we can we go after it”

“Most people don’t have the kind of speed we have,” Vaughn added.

Speed was little help against Broad Run’s 6-foot-4 monster wideout Adrian Flemming, who grabbed a touchdown in the title game as well as a crucial fourth-down conversion in the fourth quarter.

“We know we should have won,” Vaughn said. “I guess we let them down a little bit in the secondary,”

Phillips need not worry about the performance he will get out of Vaughn and McDaniel this season but is concerned about the offensive line. The Lancers will plug new starters into all six spots up front and the success of those new faces will go a long way toward determining how good this team can be.

“The more confidence they gain throughout the year will allow them to play that much faster which will enable us to be obviously more successful with our offensive packages,” Phillips said.

Along with the Glover twins, the offensive line will be responsible for opening up holes for senior Josh Braxton, a 1,026-yard rusher two seasons ago as a sophomore who did not play last year. Kirby Anderson also will see a fair number of snaps at quarterback, which will allow Rose more chances to slide out from under center and provide another playmaker at wide receiver.

“He brings another dimension to the offense,” Phillips said of Anderson.

Amherst should again contend for the Seminole District title, but if it is to do so it will likely have to beat Brookville, something it failed to do last season. The two will square off Oct. 16.

“I think that’s one you circle on your calendar every year,” Phillips said.

“Circled and underlined three times,” Vaughn added.

Vaughn and McDaniel also cited Jefferson Forest and Heritage as two teams to watch in the Seminole.

“The Seminole District is obviously very strong top to bottom,” Phillips said. “We’ve got to take care of the football, eliminate foolish penalties, and not give up the big play on defense.”

Schematically, little will change on either side of the ball this year and if recent results are any signal, it probably shouldn’t. Phillips said the primary goal of the coaching staff is to get the ball in the hands of their playmakers in any way possible.

“As a staff, we’re trying to find a little wrinkle here and there, but other than that there isn’t anything too much different,” Phillips said.

The approach to each week and each game will also remain largely unchanged. And while there are always question marks this early in the year, there is no questioning how Phillips prepares his team for Friday night.

“We took the approach last year and that’s going to be the same approach (this year),” Phillips said. “It’s a business-like mentality. We’re going to go to work Monday through Thursday and have the opportunity to collect a paycheck Friday night.”

For all of those who have been paying attention the past three years, those paychecks have been pretty good.