By David Wagner
Head JV football coach and varsity assistant Robert Crickenberger has his Junior Varsity squad off to a hot start with three straight wins. The Warriors opened the season at home, defeating Waynesboro 27-12, and followed that win by crushing Fort Defiance, 41-0. Next they won what turned out to be an exciting 34-20 game against Orange County High School.
The team is led by sophomore captains Henry Kreienbaum, who is playing quarterback and free safety, wide receiver Michael Vale, offensive lineman Jackson Sours and Bowen, playing both running back and linebacker.
Kreienbaum is the team’s leading passer and rusher with five touchdown passes and six rushing TDs. He’s also the team’s leading tackler. Bobby Bowen is a close second in total rushing yards, adding one touchdown run of his own. Vale is the team’s leading receiver in yards and has three touchdowns. Wide receiver Derek Domecq and running backs Victor Becerra-Garcia and James Buetow have also been significant contributors.
Up front on offense, the Warriors are led by sophomores Sours and Harrison McGrady. The offensive line has provided room to run for the rushing attack and given Kreienbaum time to pass.
On defense, Kreienbaum’s leadership and athletic ability have him leading the team in tackles. Linebackers Jarrett Smith and Bowen and defensive end Tazhon Tyler have tallied a high number of stops also. Freshman Peter Slechta and eighth grader Domecq have also contributed on a defense that is very active and seems to have a nose for the ball.
It’s pretty rare that you find a JV team that mirrors their varsity counterpart—the athletes, the schemes, strategy, execution and the results—as closely as this one does. The JV squad is running the same playbook as the varsity and it looks as though varsity head coach Ed Redmond has a program in the making. There’s obviously still plenty of work to do, but with the talent on the JV team, their transition to varsity should be smooth.
JV squad will host Monticello High School October 16 and the Charlottesville Black Knights Oct. 23. Game time is 6:30 p.m. at WAHS.
