By Tommy Keeler Jr. -- Daily Staff Writer

WINCHESTER — While many of their classmates were sleeping in during the summer, or sitting on their couches channel surfing, members of Handley's offensive line spent most of their mornings at school lifting weights.

It wasn't an ideal way to spend the summer, but so far this season the Judges are enjoying the benefits from all the hard work.

"It was definitely tough," Handley sophomore Andrew Rogers said. "There were times when you're thinking 'Why am I doing this? Can I go home yet?'"

Whenever negative thoughts would creep in the players' minds, they would just think about the reason they were there putting in the work — last season's disappointing record.

The Judges went 5-6 last season, losing in the Region II, Division 3 semifinals to Monticello. After the season was over, Handley coach Tony Rayburn told the players they needed to make more of a commitment to the weight room. The offensive line decided together they would lift weights four times a week.

"Last year was a big driving force for us," Handley senior Wilson Kitchin said, adding that a 5-6 record is "just is not acceptable at Handley."

"The losing record is still in the back of my mind," Handley junior Elijah Washington said. "I still think about it all the time. We don't want that to happen again."

One player who wasn't bothered by the summer workouts is Chris Lewis. The senior transferred last year from Loudoun Valley after football season started, and didn't get much playing time until late in the season. The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder said at Loudoun Valley they lifted weights five times a week, so he tried to help the other players get used to the new regimen.

The workouts helped make the line bigger and stronger, and perhaps more importantly, helped make the Judges' tougher mentally and physical up front.

For the first time in six years, the Judges altered their offensive philosophy, going away from the spread and reverting back to the I-formation. Last year the Judges relied mostly on quarterback J.J. Dorsey and his ability to throw the ball and run whenever pressured. This season, Handley is looking to run first and use its big line to knock its opponents off the ball.

"Who wouldn't want to be an offensive lineman in this system?" Handley freshman Derek Dowrey said. "I love it. You get to hit people every single day."

In the Judges' first three games they have rushed for 779 yards, averaging 259.7 yards per game on the ground. Last season, the Judges only averaged 175.3 yards per game.

Handley junior running back Jeremiah Wilson leads the area in rushing with 560 yards on 63 carries and 11 touchdowns. Led by a potent running attack, the Judges are averaging 32.7 points per game.

The players said it wasn't much of an adjustment for them to get used to running the ball most of the time.

"With running plays you have to drive your block as opposed to sitting back more for passes," Washington said. "You have to be more aggressive. The first game against Harrisonburg it was tough, because it was really hot out. We were all dried out by halftime. After that first game we were used to the system."

Handley pulled off impressive wins over Harrisonburg and Loudoun County before falling to Park View two weeks ago. In the loss to the Patriots, the Judges were held to a season-low 164 rushing yards on 49 carries.

Handley is coming off a bye week, and used its down time to regroup. The coaches are using the rest period to keep things light. As Tuesday's practice ended, most players stayed on the practice field rather than make their usual beeline to get a freeze pop. Instead, they gathered in a circle around the coaches and laughed as the staff did a full minute of mountain climbers.

Assistant coach Jerry Putt had made a deal with the offense last week that if the team had an 86 percent efficiency rating, the coaches would do the full minute of mountain climbers. If the players fell short of the rating, they would have to do them.

"It was fun watching the coaches have to do them," Washington said. "It's just something to help motivate us."

The Judges don't need a lot of motivation for Saturday's game against Sherando. The Warriors have won 28 consecutive regular season games and were the Group AA, Division 4 state runners-up last year.

Sherando is averaging 394.3 yards of offense and is scoring 47.0 points per game, and the Warriors are allowing only 97 yards of offense and a paltry 5.7 points per game. Led by Virginia-bound quarterback Ross Metheny, the Warriors are focused on winning the Northwestern District title.

"All I hear is Sherando, Sherando, Sherando," Rogers said. "People are already talking like they've got the state title won. People are already talking like we've already lost. That just motivates us even more."

"I expect us to come out and smack them right in the mouth, and knock them down, and they better get up," Washington said. "They haven't been tested yet this year. We're going to go out and give them their first loss."

*Contact Tommy Keeler Jr. at tkeeler@nvdaily.com