#4 FRED T. FOARD

It might surprise some folks to see the Foard picked to finish ahead of both Bandys and Maiden but you might as well get over the shock because the Tigers could be for real this time. The Tigers return 17 starters from last season. With that kind of stability on both sides of the ball the boys from Propst Crossroads can definitely make waves in the CVAC in 2008.

AT A GLANCE

2007 Record: 4-7 overall, 3-5 CVAC

Coach: Ryan Gettys
Career: 17-40 (5 years)

Returning Starters: 17; 9 on offense, 8 on defense

Primary Strengths: The first thing that jumps out at you when examining Foard's prospects in 2008 is the experience level of the players. With 17 starters returning the Tigers may be the CVAC's most experienced team. Senior quarterback Landon Isenhour is a skilled passer (1,090 yards and 8 TDs in 2007) and a husky kid who can get some tough yards on the ground when called upon. He'll be joined once again in the backfield by senior running backs Alex Miller and Jaheil Washington. Their numbers last season were not impressive due to a "committee" approach to running the ball but they can be effective. Isenhour's top targets from last year, Taylor Lassiter and Trent Safrit, also return. The defense will also feature a heavy dose of experience and better-than-usual speed.

Potential Problems: The Tigers must do a better job of running the football in 2008. Last year's offense only managed 1,274 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns for the entire season. Only Bunker Hill and West Caldwell did worse than Foard in the rushing department. Contrast that with Hickory, which led the league in rushing with 4,284 yards and 59 touchdowns. The experience factor could be nullified if the offense is unable to make plays. Speed on defense is lacking.

Key Losses: The Tigers only lost five starters from last year's squad. By far the most valuable of those was the kicker, Jon Teague.

Overview: Fred T. Foard missed the playoffs last season and so getting back to "the dance" is the top priority in 2008. With the kind of experience the Tigers possess on both sides of the ball there is little chance of them getting left out again. In my opinion the Tigers will wind up in a four-team race for 4th place in the CVAC, along with Bandys, Maiden and St. Stephens. Foard may have an edge, not only because of experience, but also because the other schools have experienced upheavals and distractions in the off-season. The Tigers, on the other hand, have benefited from a slow-but-steady progression that should bear fruit this season.