Richlands Hopes To Pass Another State Playoff Test

RICHLANDS, Va. – Richlands won its fifth straight regional football title last week on the mud-caked field of a Tazewell County rival.
The first step to that championship victory over Tazewell began months ago.

While many athletes and coaches were enjoying summer vacation, Blue Tornado coach Greg Mance and his players were sweating through various seven-on-seven passing camps.
“We started doing the 7-on-7 camps five years ago,” Mance said. “Our players love the experience, and it’s paid off for us.”

The Blues (9-3) hope to benefit from their summer school sessions again today when they travel to the Lynchburg area to face Brookville (12-0) in the Group AA Division 3 semifinals. Game time is 1 p.m.

Brookville, ranked No. 1 in the Group AA poll most of the season, features one of Virginia’s top-rated players in six-foot-six senior quarterback Logan Thomas.
Richlands counters with senior quarterback Joel Elswick, who has thrown for 44 scores and nearly 4,000 yards the past two seasons.

“Joel is a student of the game, and he understands what we have to do Saturday,” Mance said. “Brookville will put six-to-seven men in the box and play man-to-man coverage. Accuracy will be a must for Joel.”

Elswick has soaked in many dimensions of the Richlands spread offense through passing camps at Honaker, Abingdon, the University of Virginia, Wake Forest and two high schools in Kentucky.

The mission this fall for the Blues was develop an entirely new corps of receivers. After a slow start, Elswick has been on target over the second half of the season. He completed touchdown passes to four different receivers as Richlands stopped Patrick County 41-14 in the opening round of the playoffs, then connected with three targets last week as the Blues held off Tazewell by a 28-27 margin.

“In our offensive scheme, it’s vital to have depth at receiver because we require our guys to make plays, blocks and just be versatile,” Mance said.

The passing camp environment, often featuring speed-laced Group AAA teams from the Hampton and Richmond area, is a proven training ground for receivers, quarterbacks, defensive backs and athletic linebackers. Richlands actually won the talent-stocked camp in Charlottesville three years ago with former quarterback Justin McCracken.

“We’ve seen a lot of different defensive looks and good players over the years like Percy Harvin (Florida) and Cam Chancellor of Virginia Tech,” Mance said. “Everybody is faster than us, but we run our usual offense.”

Richlands will be the slower team again today against Brookville. Players to watch for the Bees include senior tailback Stacey Houston (1,364 yards rushing, 19 touchdowns), junior receiver Lorenzo Smith (33 receptions) and Thomas, who has accounted for 1,686 total yards and 29 touchdowns.

Thomas, who has committed to play at Virginia Tech, has ranked as the No. 1 prep tight end in the nation and the No. 2 overall player in Virginia by one recruiting service.

“We’re talking about a legitimate five-star recruit,” Mance said. “Thomas is very intelligent, he can throw the ball like a cannon and his play fakes are tremendous.”

Mance compares the 5-8, 190-pound Houston to former Richlands star Caleb Jennings in terms of elusiveness.
Brookville also relies on 6-7 receiver Corby Weiss and 6-3 junior Zack McCray, who has been ranked as Virginia’s No. 1 end.

“This is a big challenge for us,” Mance said. “Brookville is loaded with weapons.”

Richlands stopped Brookville by a 24-14 margin last season in Richlands behind the play of receiver Matt Davis and Austin Fuller. Now a freshman at Virginia Tech, Fuller contributed a pair of one-handed interceptions and excelled on kick returns.

“That was one of the better games we played last season,” Mance said. “We’ll need a similar effort Saturday against Brookville.”

All five offensive linemen and three defensive starters returned this season for Richlands.

Senior linebacker Derek Jackson (125 tackles) directs the Blue Tornado defense, while players such as sophomore Brad Strong (six interceptions), Cody Bartoski, Christian Hearl and sophomore defensive end Will Lowe have emerged. Hearl is the primary target for Elswick

“We’ve got a bunch of unsung guys,” Mance said. “In fact, we’ve had nine different receivers catch passes.”

According to Jackson, the consistent success of the Blues is a team effort.

“We have one of the best coaching staffs in Virginia, and all our players lay it on the line every game,” Jackson said. “We’re like a bunch of brothers.”

The Richlands linebacker credits Elswick for setting the unified tone.

“Joel is one heck of a quarterback,” Jackson said. “He’s always busting it, from the off-season workouts to practices and games.”

There will be many obstacles today for Elswick and company, yet lack of experience will not be a factor.

“Our kids are accustomed to playing big games in front of large crowds,” Mance said. “They don’t panic in crucial situations. They just believe they can get the job done.”

Mance hopes his players can draw off their summer sessions once more.

“You wouldn’t believe how much those passing camps help,” Mance said.

Region IV, Division 3

Richlands at Brookville

On paper, Brookville has the edge with its speed, size and college prospects. Meanwhile, Richlands has overcome long odds during its three-year streak of state title game appearances. In addition to wise coaching, the Blues feature a gritty defense and a multi-dimensional passing game. The quarterback battle between Joel Elswick of Richlands and Logan Thomas of Brookville should be fascinating. This will be a physical struggle, but the lack of a running game will doom Richlands.

Prediction: Brookville 21, Richlands 17

agregory@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2544