Dominion - Season Previews

SpartanOfYore

All-Conference
Sep 15, 2009
1,995
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For folks like myself who might have known very little about Dominion's team, aside from the info on VHSL-Reference, I offer these links to preseason previews. The Loudoun Times one has more info.

Both previews talk about the Titans' two stud linemen, Crist and Pierre. Yet I've seen no mention of them in any posts. Does anyone know if they're both healthy and playing?

Loudoun Times-Mirror:
http://www.loudountimes.com/sports/article/2016_dominion_titans_football_preview759

Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...83333a-680e-11e6-99bf-f0cf3a6449a6_story.html
 

falcettik

Senior
Nov 3, 2004
1,900
873
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Pierre (#55) played both ways in their last game against Woodgrove. I noticed him because he was appreciably bigger than just about anyone else for either team. I believe he came out of the game healthy so he should play again this week.
 

one man

Senior
Dec 8, 2002
2,296
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For folks like myself who might have known very little about Dominion's team, aside from the info on VHSL-Reference, I offer these links to preseason previews. The Loudoun Times one has more info.

Both previews talk about the Titans' two stud linemen, Crist and Pierre. Yet I've seen no mention of them in any posts. Does anyone know if they're both healthy and playing?

Loudoun Times-Mirror:
http://www.loudountimes.com/sports/article/2016_dominion_titans_football_preview759

Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...83333a-680e-11e6-99bf-f0cf3a6449a6_story.html

Since I'm bored during my planning period. Here you are good sir.

Dominion is spead based on offense, usually two backs (on each side of QB or I-form on 1 side, H-back type look). They use jet motion for sweeps, QB keeps and PA passes. The backs are #20 Alex Wertz and #4 Billy Walker. Jet motion WRs are usually #33, #13 and #3 Jayson Robinson. Standout WR is #10 George Richardson. #7 Mccants is the guy, awkward delivery but very strong arm and as most people have already mentioned, he's the most explosive athlete in 4A West. Freeland of Dinwiddie is the only guy close to him in terms of phone booth agility, vision and breakaway speed. Nobody Salem has played has all 3 like he does, Terry and Beck of BBurg have the straight line speed but not the wiggle or vision. The offensive line is headed by Christ (UVa) commit. They want to run the ball but will take what you give them in the passing game and they'll take deep shots every now and then to keep you honest.

Defensively, the base is a 3-4 with two high safeties. #20 Wertz and #11 Kyle Smith are the inside backers. #4 Walker & #33 are the stand up outside backers setting the edge. Christ and #55 Jade Pierre hold down the interior, best pair of interior DL in the West IMO. Richardson, McCants and Robinson all have double duty as starting DBs. So approximately 7 guys play both ways all night. Some say it can be a hinderence. I think it was during the first meeting against Woodgrove but as the season goes, guys get used to it and don't tire as much which looked to be the case in the rematch, the Titans didn't appear as tired late in the game. All of the two way guys can play some football as you might expect. Defensively I've seen them run press cover 2, press bail cover 4, off man and off cover 2. Against our option attack they occasionally would spin down a safety to the motion and run cover 3. Saw in scrimmage a 4-4, essentially 6 man front with 4 DL and 2 stand up outside backers but it was rare, mainly against goal line jumbo set.

Special Teams the kicker is best we saw all season, put all the kickoffs in the endzone and booted a 35-40 yarder against us. Punter, not sure if same kid, was serviceable as well. Coverage units are unknown mainly because most kickoffs aren't fielded.

Overall, they've got their schemes on both sides and they stick to them. I'm sure they've got some tricks up their sleeve offensively, all teams should at this point. The core group of two way starters(all seniors except #55) are seasoned, some of them have been starting for 3 years now. I'd expect this to be as tough a game as Salem has had. Physically Dominion is comparable to Amherst and Byrd. Not quite the team speed of Amherst but McCants is special.

Salem should be favored as the home team and defending state champ but I look for a very good football game. Hoping for good health for both teams and hoping the stripes let the boys play. Good Luck and may the best team win.
 

SpartanOfYore

All-Conference
Sep 15, 2009
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Since I'm bored during my planning period. Here you are good sir.

Dominion is spead based on offense, usually two backs (on each side of QB or I-form on 1 side, H-back type look). They use jet motion for sweeps, QB keeps and PA passes. The backs are #20 Alex Wertz and #4 Billy Walker. Jet motion WRs are usually #33, #13 and #3 Jayson Robinson. Standout WR is #10 George Richardson. #7 Mccants is the guy, awkward delivery but very strong arm and as most people have already mentioned, he's the most explosive athlete in 4A West. Freeland of Dinwiddie is the only guy close to him in terms of phone booth agility, vision and breakaway speed. Nobody Salem has played has all 3 like he does, Terry and Beck of BBurg have the straight line speed but not the wiggle or vision. The offensive line is headed by Christ (UVa) commit. They want to run the ball but will take what you give them in the passing game and they'll take deep shots every now and then to keep you honest.

Defensively, the base is a 3-4 with two high safeties. #20 Wertz and #11 Kyle Smith are the inside backers. #4 Walker & #33 are the stand up outside backers setting the edge. Christ and #55 Jade Pierre hold down the interior, best pair of interior DL in the West IMO. Richardson, McCants and Robinson all have double duty as starting DBs. So approximately 7 guys play both ways all night. Some say it can be a hinderence. I think it was during the first meeting against Woodgrove but as the season goes, guys get used to it and don't tire as much which looked to be the case in the rematch, the Titans didn't appear as tired late in the game. All of the two way guys can play some football as you might expect. Defensively I've seen them run press cover 2, press bail cover 4, off man and off cover 2. Against our option attack they occasionally would spin down a safety to the motion and run cover 3. Saw in scrimmage a 4-4, essentially 6 man front with 4 DL and 2 stand up outside backers but it was rare, mainly against goal line jumbo set.

Special Teams the kicker is best we saw all season, put all the kickoffs in the endzone and booted a 35-40 yarder against us. Punter, not sure if same kid, was serviceable as well. Coverage units are unknown mainly because most kickoffs aren't fielded.

Overall, they've got their schemes on both sides and they stick to them. I'm sure they've got some tricks up their sleeve offensively, all teams should at this point. The core group of two way starters(all seniors except #55) are seasoned, some of them have been starting for 3 years now. I'd expect this to be as tough a game as Salem has had. Physically Dominion is comparable to Amherst and Byrd. Not quite the team speed of Amherst but McCants is special.

Salem should be favored as the home team and defending state champ but I look for a very good football game. Hoping for good health for both teams and hoping the stripes let the boys play. Good Luck and may the best team win.

Awesome! Many thanks for taking the time to share that knowledge and insight.
 

DinwiddieProud

All-American
Dec 9, 2013
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Great job there coach.

I had to chuckle when you mentioned a player named "Christ". Man, talk about devine intervention!

How many key players does Salem play both ways most of the game?
 

SpartanOfYore

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Sep 15, 2009
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Great job there coach.

I had to chuckle when you mentioned a player named "Christ". Man, talk about devine intervention!

How many key players does Salem play both ways most of the game?


The ones I'm sure of: Fox - fb, lb; Burnette - hb, s; Wade - wr, s; Quinn - wr, cb; Pinello - te, dl, long snapper. Owen will start at the other cb, and could see significant time at hb, possibly more than Burnette; depends how the game goes. I'm hazier on the linemen, but I think Cardwell might be the only two-wayer, if that. Others please feel free to correct me if needed.
 

Shabutie

All-Conference
Dec 2, 2006
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The ones I'm sure of: Fox - fb, lb; Burnette - hb, s; Wade - wr, s; Quinn - wr, cb; Pinello - te, dl, long snapper. Owen will start at the other cb, and could see significant time at hb, possibly more than Burnette; depends how the game goes. I'm hazier on the linemen, but I think Cardwell might be the only two-wayer, if that. Others please feel free to correct me if needed.
All of those players play both ways but Salem will use some other players at FB from time to time and they have quite a few sets that don't have a FB on the field. Quinn and Wade both play limited snaps on offense but will probably play more these last potential couple of games. Burnette has been playing quite a bit at RB but they play Robinson and Owen there pretty often... not as much against Byrd. Pinello probably plays the most snaps both ways but he does get some breaks on offense. I haven't seen Cardwell on defense very much in awhile though.
 
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DinwiddieProud

All-American
Dec 9, 2013
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Thanks guys. About the same as Dominion, I think. So not much of an advantage/disadvantage there.
 

salemfan32

Redshirt
Oct 12, 2011
306
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All of those players play both ways but Salem will use some other players at FB from time to time and they have quite a few sets that don't have a FB on the field. Quinn and Wade both play limited snaps on offense but will probably play more these last potential couple of games. Burnette has been playing quite a bit at RB but they play Robinson and Owen there pretty often... not as much against Byrd. Pinello probably plays the most snaps both ways but he does get some breaks on offense. I haven't seen Cardwell on defense very much in awhile though.
Yea, Cardwell no longer starts on the dl and doesn't see much playing time there anymore. He was in for a couple plays against Byrd when Hale lost his shoe. Other than that I haven't seen him play defense much since the first game.
 

salemfan32

Redshirt
Oct 12, 2011
306
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The ones I'm sure of: Fox - fb, lb; Burnette - hb, s; Wade - wr, s; Quinn - wr, cb; Pinello - te, dl, long snapper. Owen will start at the other cb, and could see significant time at hb, possibly more than Burnette; depends how the game goes. I'm hazier on the linemen, but I think Cardwell might be the only two-wayer, if that. Others please feel free to correct me if needed.
There are no two way starters on the lines. The dline consists of #32 Croke, #53 Haley, and #61 Hale. O-line consists of Mundy, Terry, Wolfe, Staples, and Cardwell.
 
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shauntclair

Senior
Oct 19, 2008
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For folks like myself who might have known very little about Dominion's team, aside from the info on VHSL-Reference, I offer these links to preseason previews. The Loudoun Times one has more info.

Both previews talk about the Titans' two stud linemen, Crist and Pierre. Yet I've seen no mention of them in any posts. Does anyone know if they're both healthy and playing?

Loudoun Times-Mirror:
http://www.loudountimes.com/sports/article/2016_dominion_titans_football_preview759

Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...83333a-680e-11e6-99bf-f0cf3a6449a6_story.html
This does give some clarity on Dominion and the post is appreciated. There are names we have not heard before. That's true.

But I'm not sure how a pre-season preview has much bearing here any longer. Some names. That's about it. It's how the season went that matters and Dominion has proven they belong in this semi-final. They have some players and will compete. Hard. GL against Salem.
 

anon_vu6vqwsr4nf3b

All-Conference
Aug 28, 2005
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I was wondering where all the McCants at QB talk came from all of a sudden. Against Charlottesville, he played RB, so I left thinking Dominion has a really fast RB, but the QB didn't do much. So after finding out McCants was moved to QB, it all makes sense now.
 

hamspear

All-Conference
Nov 3, 2009
5,137
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Against Woodgrove QB for Dominion was a one man wrecking crew, constantly beat them by making plays. I can't see Salem letting that happen, they totally shut down the last team who had a one man show. He is a good player, but I don't think he is a " special " player. I was shocked Woodgrove played so poorly in that game, but goes to show us , if a team don't show up, anything can happen.