WOODSTOCK -- Matt Sherfey saw first hand what playoff football was all about. As Central made it to the postseason for the second year in a row, he was there on the sidelines.

Sherfey's brother, Sean, was one of the Falcons' top receivers in 2004 when Matt was a waterboy.

Matt Sherfey still thinks about that year and it motivates him as he tries to lead the Falcons back to those glory days.

"As a kid you always dream to play in the blue and gold on Friday night," Sherfey said. "Playing for Central is a privilege. When you think back to what they did and how great the feeling was to win, that's what we want to bring back. We want the kids coming up now to want to play in the blue and gold."

Sherfey said he was treated just like a little brother by most of the guys on the team in 2004. That was the last time the Falcons were in Group A -- until now.

This season Central returns to the single-A level, playing in the Shenandoah District. Sherfey will be leading the way at quarterback.

Sherfey is a self-proclaimed natural at the position, which he has played since he was 9 years old, and he understands the importance of leadership.

"I love being a leader," Sherfey said. "That's something I was born into, was being a leader. My dad's always told me to step up and take control.

"Being a quarterback really develops your character as a person overall. I really believe once you're a leader on the football field, you're a leader in the school, you're a leader in your town, you're a leader with your family and your friends."

Last year Sherfey came into the season thinking he would be the back-up behind John Baroncelli. By the end of the preseason, Sherfey had won the starting job and got his first taste of varsity action.

Sherfey had a strong year for the Falcons as he threw for 1,210 yards on 77-of-154 passing. His yardage is the most of any of this season's returning quarterbacks.

While he felt like he did well for his first year, Sherfey was more concerned with Central's 1-9 record.

"Personally, I just want to win," Sherfey said. "I hate losing. It's the worst feeling ever. Especially losing on your home field in front of all these fans out here. It's a big disappointment. That's my job is to help this team win."

The Falcons did have success during basketball season by finishing third in the Northwestern District. Sherfey, who played on the basketball team, said that success has carried over to football.

"I think everybody kind of got excited for basketball season," he said. "Everybody wants to take that winning attitude over to every sport. I think everybody will. I think everybody will have a winning attitude. I think this year's going to be a lot more positive."

Sherfey worked hard in the offseason in the weight room. He believes the added strength has helped him feel more confident to stay in the pocket longer and brace for a big hit.

"He had a good summer at camp and I think he really learned to read the defenses a little better," Yew said. "He's really learned to take what they're giving him instead of just looking for the deep ball."

Sherfey's development as a player and a leader led to him being named team captain for his final year.

"I'm going to really try to step up this year and be a leader and try to lead this team places," Sherfey said.

BERRYVILLE -- There's little room for error in the trenches of a football field, especially when a game hinges on the success or failure of a single play.

Clarke County lineman Damian Tomblin knows this as well as anyone on the Eagles' roster. And so, when the he takes his position on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage, he cycles through a checklist of observations to ensure he guesses right.

Tomblin first glances to the set hand of the offensive lineman across from him. Is his hand raised off the ground, indicating his intent to fall back into pass protection? Or is it pressed so firmly to the dirt his knuckles turn white, revealing his plan to run block.

If he reads pass, Tomblin's plan is obvious: "Just put the other guy on his back, that's pretty much all I'm thinking," he said.

If the play is a run, Tomblin then looks to his opponents' eyes, which often point to where the hole is supposed to open.

So how does Tomblin understand these nuances of the offensive line? Simple: Before he broke his ankle in a midseason game against Strasburg last season, he anchored an Eagles offensive line that allowed running back Sam Shiley to rush for 1,259 yards.

"I know pretty much what's happening on the other side of the ball because I'm doing that, too," Tomblin says of his defensive play. "I just try to read whatever that lineman's doing 'cause I play across from what I would be, so if I read what he's doing, that helps me get to the ball."

Last season the Eagles' defense led the area with 182.6 yards allowed per game.

But even if Tomblin's guesses were wrong, even if he had a very limited knowledge of his responsibilities on the field, opposing linemen still have his gargantuan size to deal with. As Tomblin admits, "I'm bigger than two guys combined on the other side."

"If they can run at him and be successful, then more power to them," Eagles coach Chris Parker said. "But I'd like to see it, I don't think they can do it."

Parker said that Tomblin has returned from his ankle injury in a spectacular way this offseason, "not only in the weight room, but aerobically, and he's been a leader as far as being in condition."

And Tomblin's success opening holes for Shiley on offense, of knocking defensive tackles on their rear, only inspires him to perform well on the other side of the ball.

"It makes me feel better because I know I'm going to put them down," Tomblin said. "That gets me just pumped up again. Then when defense rolls around, I get to hit somebody there, too."

At the end of practices, when Parker lines his team up for conditioning drills, Tomblin can only laugh as the smaller, more agile running backs zip up and down the practice field, past the larger linemen. He laughs because he knows that although it's the flashy backs who score the touchdowns, it's the linemen who win the games.

"We know we don't get any cheers or anything for us because we don't score," Tomblin said. "But it's us that get them there.

"We feel good about it because we made the hole for [Shiley]."

With Tomblin leading an offensive line that lost Dusty Canterbury, Ben Sipe and Jared Shiley, Parker and the Eagles expect to improve upon last season's 9-3 record and Region B final appearance.

As long as Tomblin keeps guessing right, the Eagles have a great shot of doing just that.

"Our goal is to even improve on it, Parker said. "Personally, I take it one game at a time. We take each week and each game one game at a time, but our goal is to go as far as we can."

WINCHESTER -- Elijah Washington loves the weight room.

He enjoys going in and challenging himself day after day, pushing himself to hit a new mark. It's that mentality that's helped him become the strongest player on Handley's team and molded him into one of the team's leaders.

"When he's in the weight room he takes it to another level," Handley senior Leonard Grant said. "He gets everybody pumped. If you're on your last rep, he's there to cheer you on."

Washington, who can squat 525 pounds, and Grant have a friendly rivalry in the weight room. Handley coach Tony Rayburn lists the top marks in several weightlifting categories, and Washington and Grant are usually at the top of them.

They take turns battling for bragging rights.

"During school we didn't have the same weightlifting class, but if he did some number I would try to beat it," Grant said. "If I beat it, I go back and tell him. Then we keep on fighting to get No. 1. It makes us stronger because we keep fighting for No. 1."

"Leonard and Derek Dowrey are right behind me, so I try to be the strongest guy," Washington said. "I try to keep pushing them so they can be bigger and stronger."

Washington, Grant and fellow senior Jeremiah Wilson have all known each other for about 10 years and played together in rec leagues or backyard games.

"He was always bigger than everybody," Grant said. "When we was little he was like twice the size of me then. Everybody was scared to get tackled by him. I wasn't scared -- I always picked him to be on my team."

Once the trio came to Handley, they each made the varsity team as freshmen. Washington started at both offensive and defensive line as a freshman and said it was a big adjustment for him.

Last year, Washington emerged as one of Handley's top defensive players. He finished with 51 tackles and 5.5 sacks.

"It feels great to get a sack because you know you did your job and you did everything right," Washington said. "But you just got to go back to the huddle, because it's just one play. After that play's over you gotta go back and try to make another tackle."

The Judges won the Northwestern District title last year, and finished with a 10-2 record, losing in the Region II, Division 3 final. With a lot of talented players back there have been a lot of lofty expectations placed on the team this year.

"The team is great. It's very big and physical," Washington said. "Our team goal is just to keep working hard and try to make it back to the playoffs and hopefully make it to states."

Washington has had some of his best performances throughout his career in big games, but Handley coach Tony Rayburn said he wants Washington to be more consistent.

"This year instead of just being hyped up for the big games, I want to be hyped for all the games," Washington said. "I just want to work hard every game. You never know who's going to see you."

There's sure to be scouts watching Washington this season. He attended several camps in the offseason and is looking at both FBS and FCS schools, including Louisville, Boston College, William and Mary and JMU.

Washington understands that at the next level he will have to keep pushing himself, but that's something that all his work in the weight room has showed him.

"I know I have to keep working hard," Washington said. "I know even if it hurts I have to just keep pushing through it. If you work hard it will pay off for you in the long run."

WINCHESTER -- It was a busy summer for Trae Tinsman. The James Wood senior spent most of it traveling from one football camp to another, but that's the life of a recruit trying to gain more attention from college programs.

"It was a good experience," Tinsman said. "It helped me a lot."

Tinsman was invited to and attended camps at UMass, Richmond, Villanova and Tennessee, among others.

The 6-foot-4 quarterback has improved with each year, which may be a scary thought for the rest of the Northwestern District this season.

James Wood coach Mike Bolin said Tinsman's footwork is better and his release is quicker.

Tinsman has also finally learned how to use height to his advantage.

"He's playing taller," Bolin said. "He used to slouch when he threw, now he's playing like he should be playing."

When Tinsman first started playing football, he was a center because he wasn't as tall. Tinsman said the experience helped him understand how important offensive linemen are.

"You have to make friends with the lineman so you know they'll protect you," Tinsman said. "I have a lot of respect for them and what they do."

This is Tinsman's third year starting for the Colonels. As a sophomore, Tinsman threw for 854 yards, but tossed only 84 passes in a run-oriented offense. As a junior his yards (1,183), completions (66) and attempts (152) all jumped markedly.

Tinsman admits he would like to throw the ball even more this season, but mostly he just wants to win.

Winning has been something new for the Colonels, and James Wood struggled to win games until Walter Barr took over the program. During Tinsman's freshman season, James Wood produced a 7-3 record, but missed the playoffs.

Two years ago, the Colonels made the playoffs for the first time in 26 years. Last year they duplicated the feat, but added a victory over rival Sherando for the first time since 1993.

"We made history," Tinsman said of the game. "They had a great team. It was great game, and we came out on the upper end."

The win also gave Tinsman bragging rights over one of his friends -- Sherando grad and current University of Virginia quarterback Ross Metheny.

Tinsman said he and Metheny have known each other since the fourth grade when they played on the same youth football team.

"I've always looked up to him," Tinsman said. "We've been great friends. We're friends off the field, but on the field when you're playing against each other, you're never friends -- you're enemies."

The Colonels had a solid season last year, finishing with an 8-3 record, losing to Potomac Falls in the Region II, Division 4 semifinals. James Wood played against Handley in the final game of the regular season in what was basically the district championship. Unfortunately for the Colonels, they came up short in a 17-10 loss. Tinsman had a pass intercepted by Handley's Geremi Long at the Handley 3-yard line in the closing seconds to end the Colonels' chances.

The loss is still in the back of the mind of Tinsman and his teammates.

"I think last year's loss will pump us up more this season," Tinsman said. "I still have dreams about that game. We want to beat Handley and we want that district title this year."

Tinsman has a bright future ahead of him at the next level, and said his top two college choices right now are UMass and Villanova. Bolin is just glad that his star QB is around for one more season.

"As a coach, he's the type of player you want to have," Bolin said. "He's a hard worker. He's smart. He's a team leader. He takes control on the field. I feel lucky as a coach to have Trae on the team."

WOODSTOCK -- The play still stands out in Carl St. Amand's mind.

It was third-and-four against St. John's, and the Massanutten Military Academy cornerback picked off a pass at the 40-yard line that swung the momentum in the Colonels' favor. MMA ended up winning that game due in large part to the interception.

"The pass was over the middle and I returned it 20 yards to set up our eventual winning field goal," said St. Amand, a 5-foot-8, 155-pound defensive back. "It was a spread formation, two wide receivers to the left and two to the right. A wide receiver ran a post route and I was reading the quarterback and anticipated the pass and it fell right into my hands."

Football runs in St. Amand's family.

"I have an older brother, John, who [played] linebacker at Delaware State," St. Amand said. "During the summers, I've gone over to the Delaware State campus and practiced with the players. So I kinda grew up with college players."

The Colonels have seven returning players, all seniors: Josh Barquero, Luke Beebout, Kyle Green, Byars Holland, Richard Magnotti, Stele Pompilio and Chris Riker.

"The values and ethics of our military school situation give our kids strong leadership, perseverance and teamwork factors and can make up, somewhat, for skills shortages," MMA's first-year head coach Todd Baldwin said.

"If we don't play together as a team, then we can't go forward," he added. "If we don't practice as a team, if we don't eat as a team, if we don't get the whole team concept down, we won't make it. Because it's not about one player, or two players, it's about 11 guys on the field pushing forward together. If we don't choose to practice as a team and hustle as a team, we just can't go anywhere."

MMA has about 90 male cadets in grades 9-12, a small pool for player candidates. There are eight returning players on what looks to be a 30-player roster. Off-setting the small number somewhat is the academic requirement for participation in general fitness activities or on an interscholastic sports team every semester.

"I think we're fairly well balanced on offense and defense -- obviously we're having a couple of kids go both ways," Baldwin said. "We would like to play as many kids as we possibly can who are ready for the field of competition from a pure conditioning standpoint. Some of them you just can't ask to play 80 snaps a game, because they get too tired."

Last year's 1-9 record provides plenty of opportunities for improvement as Baldwin and new assistant Johnny Burnett drill the squad into shape for the 2009 campaign.

"Right now we're really concentrating on our offense and defense, to really get that stuff in as soon as we can, but we're also still looking for some kicking specialists. We hope to find some good kickers because it always helps to get those points and good field position."

Baldwin acknowledged that, with a new coaching staff and an almost entirely new roster, he's taken a deliberate approach to make sure the program is built from the ground up.

"Being a new coach with only a few returners, we want to get our foundation set with basics at the beginning, so that, as the season goes on, we can add more pieces of the house," he said. "Only the foundation of a house is built in the first few days. How we go from there during the season will determine how we add the sections to complete the house."

WINCHESTER -- Doug Murrell learned how to play on the offensive line the hard way.

As a sophomore he was forced into the starting lineup and had to go against players such as Sherando's Joey Christine, who was all-state on the defensive line that year.

"[Christine] was hard to block," Murrell said. "I think I did a pretty good job that year. I learned a lot."

Due to various injuries, Millbrook coach Reed Prosser had to put an inexperienced Murrell into the starting lineup in 2007, but it's paid off in the long run. Now Murrell, along with Michael Warr, anchor the Pioneers' offensive line.

The experience of playing as a sophomore showed throughout last year as Murrell earned second-team All-Region II honors and helped lead the Pioneers to the playoffs for the second year in a row.

"I think he has done a fabulous job in the weight room," said Prosser, citing the main reason for Murrell's improvement on the field. "He's worked really hard at it."

Murrell openly admits he's still not a huge fan of the weight room, but he's learned to like it more then he used to. However, the 300-pounder isn't just all strength, as he has some moves on the field.

During a 7-on-7 drill, Prosser used him as a receiver on a play. Murrell caught the pass, setting up a Pioneers' score.

"He's probably got some of the best hands on the team," Prosser said. "He might be on our hands team."

"I always wanted to be a tight end," Murrell said. "I'm just a little too big. It was fun making the catch. I like to do whatever I can to help the team."

Some of Murrell's agility comes from being a black belt in karate. Murrell said he started taking karate lessons when he was 13 and it took him a few years to work his way up to the black belt.

"It was really hard," Murrell said. "It was fun. You get to break boards."

Prosser said Murrell is one of leaders on the team and has become a more vocal leader so far this year.

This season Murrell is even more excited than normal because he's finally going to be allowed to play on defense. Prosser normally tries to keep his offensive line strictly on offense, but said Murrell has been begging him for three years to play on the defensive line.

"Sometimes blocking can get a little boring," Murrell said. "Playing defensive tackle is the most fun I've had. You get to tackle running backs. I like football because of the defense and the hard hitting."

The Pioneers lost several key players from last year's team, including quarterback Andrew Oates, and two-way starters Calvin and Clayton Rodney. The Northwestern District is smaller this year with just five schools, but three of the five made the playoffs last year and the worst record among the five schools last year was 6-4.

"I think we're doing good. Hopefully, we can make the playoffs again," Murrell said. "It feels weird being a senior this year. It's hard to believe I've been playing for this school for four years."

FRONT ROYAL -- Trust, respect and the genuine care and concern all come to mind when one thinks of family.

That's exactly how senior teammates Nathaniel Earp and Josh Temple described the link between the members of the 2009 Randolph-Macon Academy football team -- a family.

Heading into their third season under the helm of coach Frank Sullivan, the two seniors believe that the relationships players have at R-MA on and off the field will translate into success.

"One of the biggest differences we have versus public programs is that we live with everybody," Temple said. "We are a family and we stick together no matter what. If we fight on the field or in the dorms, we get over it. There is a lot of trust in a family and that is what we are."

"We have been best friends since ninth grade," Earp said. "We have played ball but we also live together and we joke and talk off the field too. We have really become close. It's a big difference [compared to] public schools."

The Yellow Jackets have endured change under Sullivan, who began his current stint in 2007 when he moved to Front Royal from Florida. Now entering his 20th season of coaching, Sullivan thinks the players that have been in the program have developed a sense of trust with each other and with him.

"In any good program, there is a high level of trust," Sullivan said. "Now the guys talk to each other all the time on the field. When I first came here, no one knew me. Now the seniors trust in me. They know I believe in them and respect what I say. Guys that are back from last year know they can trust me. We have two or three new guys this year and they are learning that trust."

Temple, a senior left tackle from Fairfax, wants to conclude his high school career with a winning season. That is a task the Yellow Jackets have been unable to accomplish recently. Last season, R-MA finished the season 2-8 after losing the first eight games.

"Even though we ended the year with two wins, last season left a bad taste in the players' mouths around here," Sullivan said. "I think they are coming back with something to prove. We had a lot of participation in camp this summer. My first year, the guys had no idea what to expect. Last year, they were a little better, but I think we limped into camp. This year I am pleasantly surprised with how well the guys have done so far."

"Our record last year is something we are using for motivation to show that we can do it," Temple said. "A lot of guys from school came here this summer to work with coach Sullivan and everyone worked real hard to be in shape by the time camp got here."

Besides anchoring the offensive line, Temple also figures to make his presence felt on the defensive side of the ball at tackle. Alongside Temple figures to be senior Rashid Oord, who plans to plug the middle and allow the linebackers to make plays.

The consensus appears to be that the linebacking corps will be the greatest asset to the team. With five players who figure to see playing time at the position, Sullivan has employed a style of defense used by Virginia Tech in the 4-4 to maximize the strength of the team.

"On defense, we have crazy linebackers," said Earp, who plans to start in one of the slots. "We have plenty of speed and agility and guys who can definitely make plays."

The incorporation of the 4-4 style is one of the adjustments that Sullivan tends to make based on the players who come out for the team.

"So often we don't know what we have until we get to camp," Sullivan said. "We get guys' names on a piece of paper, but until we see them, we're not sure what we're working with."

STEPHENS CITY -- It's hard to tell whether Sherando linebacker Baxter Newman is flexing or not. The deep crevices of his arms, which define first his shoulder, then his triceps and biceps before slithering down to his forearm, suggest that he probably is flexing.

But then Newman takes hold of the famed Sherando spear, which is thrust into the field at Arrowhead Stadium to begin every Warriors home game. Newman slowly raises the spear and then violently smashes the blunt end of it into the ground; his muscles explode upon the spear's impact, and he grinds the spear even farther into the ground.

As it turns out, Newman hadn't been flexing earlier.

"I think he's about 210, 215 [pounds] and he's ripped at that weight, so his numbers in the weight room are pretty impressive," Warriors coach Bill Hall said.

"[He's] physically very gifted, so he takes that and puts it to good use on the field."

As a senior, Newman has made sure he puts his leadership qualities to use off the field.

In the offseason, for example, players were awarded points for each lifting session they attended; a certain number of cumulative points was necessary in order to play football.

"Everybody was in there lifting," Newman said. "They didn't even care about the points ... we were in there lifting, having a good time."

Newman said that he was in the weight room so often he couldn't keep track of how many points he had accumulated, and the same could be said for many of his teammates.

The team's dedication to this season, according to Newman and senior linebacker Nick Bakos, stems from the brotherhood which flows from the seniors down through the juniors and underclassmen.

"All three of our linebackers, we're all real good friends. We all hang out, we're always lifting," Bakos said. "I mean our team's closer than last year -- back when we went to the [Group AA] championship, we're that close.

"It's different than last year."

That unity, especially between the linebackers, will help lead a defense that ranked second in the area last season with 187.7 yards allowed per game. Hall said that despite the attention constantly cast upon Sherando's star-studded offense in recent years, it was his defense that most contributed to the Warriors' winning seasons.

"Well, I think our defense has been ranked first or second each of the past six years, so the reason we've won hasn't been because we've had a pretty good offense, but our defense," Hall said. "You win football games with defense and special teams, that's always been a point of emphasis for us."

He expects nothing different this season. With the loss of quarterback Ross Metheny and wideout Derrick Dehaney, Hall hopes that Newman and the rest of the Warrior defense will start the season strong, allowing the offense "time to grow and mature as a unit."

For Newman, who also will spend an occasional play on the defensive line, getting motivated as a defensive unit should hardly be a problem.

"I think we're gonna have a good season," Newman said. "I think we realized what was wrong last year, I think we can capitalize on that and get a better season this year."

FRONT ROYAL -- Cliff Woodard is bigger than he's ever been.

He's stronger, faster, more explosive off the line of scrimmage, and from the first day of practice, every one of the Hawks has taken notice of their feature running back.

"He's really explosive so, I think it will be a good thing for us this year," said junior quarterback Josiah Patrick. "I'm not putting any type of expectations on myself. It's more just managing and let Cliff do what he does."

Skyline coach Heath Gilbert agreed.

"He's our go-to back, no doubt," he said. "He's gonna get the bulk of the carries -- he's improved dramatically with his strength, his blocking, his speed has gotten better, so he's really improved over the offseason."

A year ago, there was no question Woodard would split carries with fellow tailback Kieren Caison, since both were too talented for one to be featured over the other. Caison and Woodard each rushed for 623 yards, though Woodard had only 60 carries to Caison's 84.

With Caison's graduation, Woodard has spent the entire off season knowing he would carry the workload for the Hawks in 2009.

"I just hope to improve from where I came from last year," Woodard said. "Hopefully stay healthy and just take off from where I left last year."

With the delight of Woodard's successful outing last season also came the grievous calf injury he sustained at Millbrook in September.

Woodard expects that his vigorous offseason training will ward off any potential injuries this season.

While a typical weightlifting program might call for a long period of rest in between sets, giving the muscles time to relax and recover, Woodard instead keeps his muscles under continual pressure. He gives himself 45 seconds between sets, time spent not resting but adding weight and spotting his lifting partner. Before his body has recovered from the previous set, he pumps out another one.

Woodard said he's added about 20 pounds to his bench press weight and more than 50 pounds to his squat weight.

"It's just intense, you don't get any rest, any breaks," Woodard said. "It's like training your body for what it's going to have to work for."

And Woodard will have to work.

Without the ravishing tandem of quarterback Nathaniel White and second-team all-state wideout Andrew Thorne, Skyline's passing game has taken a heavy hit.

While Gilbert said there may not be any drop-off in the transition from White to Patrick, he also said the Hawks' ability to compensate for the loss of Thorne's 837 receiving yards will depend on a combination of Woodard in the backfield and a new core of receivers.

"Our running game could control how our play action game comes along, and maybe that's where he makes up for that yardage from those kids," Gilbert said. "I'm not gonna know, obviously, until we get out there and play."

What Gilbert does know is just how talented a group of tailbacks he has waiting behind Woodard in case of injury. With Kwaunte' Stewart, Jonta Baltimore, Rodney Custer and Travis Custer all capable talents, Skyline has other options that should keep Woodard fresh and healthy for each game.

"We have kids that can run. We're getting to the point in our program where we're just gonna reload," Gilbert said. "So I'm hoping that we cannot miss a beat, that those guys will be ready to step in there and they can make plays."