Former LCA coach praises Rocco, program

When Wayne Lance coached Liberty Christian Academy’s football team from 2002 to 2003 and met Atlantic Shores in the Virginia Independent Schools Division II playoffs, the Bulldogs were usually the underdogs.

“It’s changed a lot,” said Lance, now in his fourth year as coach of the Seahawks, who face his former team tonight at 7:30 at Liberty University’s Williams Stadium. “When I was there, LCA was a little bit smaller than Atlantic Shores. LCA’s grown so much. Atlantic Shores has a similar enrollment (while) LCA’s enrollment is three times the size of ours now.”

Lance, who formerly served as defensive coordinator at E.C. Glass, helped initiate the Bulldogs’ transformation from a Division II contender to a Division I power, taking them to the state championship game in 2003. That was a breakout year for future LU standouts Rashad Jennings at running back and Chris Rocco at quarterback and safety, which ended with a loss to St. Anne’s-Belfield in the final. The Bulldogs, under former LU offensive coordinator Frank Rocco, went on to win three of the next four state titles.

“The year before I took over at LCA, they had 13 varsity players,” Lance said. “It’s an interesting picture to see where it was then and where it is 10 years later and look at the empire. Frank has done a tremendous job building that program.”

The teams have maintained a rivalry throughout the decade, though as Lance points out, it’s been “kind of a lopsided one.” LCA has won the last six meetings by a combined score of 228-26, including a 55-0 rout last fall.

“LCA’s always going to be one of the top teams we face, year-in and year-out,” Lance said. “We’re going to come down and compete. We have some good ballplayers and I know our kids will step up to the challenge.”

Rocco expects the Seahawks to come in with confidence.

“They feel they have a shot to beat us,” he said. “They’re the top dog in their division and they have a lot to play for.”

The Bulldogs have gotten off to an especially strong start, with road wins over three quality opponents — at Amherst, 13-11, in a VHSL Benefit Game, Gretna, 31-0, in a rematch of their season-opener, and defending North Carolina state champion Charlotte Christian, 23-13, last week, avenging a 28-14 loss last fall, the only regular-season defeat in Rocco’s six-plus seasons at LCA.

“We’re still not playing as well as we really can play,” Rocco said. “Our youthfulness rears its ugly head a little bit at times. To the naked eye, we’re winning and people seem to say things are going good. But we’re not a very precise team right now. We’re not executing as well as we need to. We’re encouraged that we’ve got a long way to go before we really reach our potential.”

The Bulldogs have employed a makeshift backfield since top returning running back Cory Harrington was suspended in the preseason and transferred to Heritage and backup Kyree Washington broke his ankle on the second play of the game at Gretna and will be out for the season.

“We’re a little bumped and bruised (but) we’ll be OK,” Rocco said, noting LCA is playing with its third- and fourth-string tailbacks, Jeff Hurtak and Ronnie Stringfield. “We’re really doing running back by committee. Two other guys are also getting carries. We’re trying to find, out of about four guys, which one is going to take the lead and go.”

Quarterback Seth Good gives the Bulldogs a true multi-dimensional attack. Last week, when Charlotte Christian kept star receiver Demitri Knowles without a catch, Ray Jones and Lucas Smissen each stepped up and had big games.

“Ray Jones is doing a phenomenal job leading his team,” Lance said of the senior tight end/linebacker. “That kid does not make mistakes. Defensively, I don’t think LCA’s changed much over the years. (Rocco’s) got a talented secondary (and) their defensive line is one of the best they’ve had there in a while. They’re a solid group. In the 3-4 system, if they’re able to control the front line, that allows the linebackers to be able to flow.”

Lance admits his line is a little inexperienced, though it has managed to open plenty of holes for senior Jaquay Hall in the Seahawks’ first two games, routs of Broadwater (39-0) and Covenant (56-14), when Hall rushed for 191 yards on just eight carries.

Atlantic Shores runs a multiple offense behind first-year QB Quentin Williams.

“We use a variety of formations to attack, anywhere between three running backs and five receivers,” Lance said. ”We run a little old school E.C. Glass and a little new school spread offense.”

Though he said the Bulldogs’ line is not one of their biggest strengths right now, Rocco believes it will have an edge up front.

“They have a very outstanding running back and good linemen, (but) their guys go both ways,” he said. ”Their offensive line is pretty much their defensive line. That’s one area where we feel we can take advantage.”

“Frank does a great job of exposing teams’ weaknesses and taking advantage of them,” Lance added.