Indians focused on winning titles in ’22
Published 2:07 am Friday, September 2, 2022
The 2022 Southampton High School varsity football team members pictured include, from left, sitting in the front row, Eric Wyatt, Zayden Pope, Levintae Brown, Jacob Wesson, Quatrez Bynum, Jayden White, Miguel Bradshaw, Kemon Eaton, Kashawn Marrow, Carl Phillips; kneeling in the middle row, Travian Wilkerson, Xavier Tyler, Steven McClenny, Trevor Cumbey, Shawn Way, Tremir Roberts, Christopher Blue, Brandon Joyner, Zavien Malone, Hunter Darden; standing in the back row, Assistant Coach Eric Benton, Assistant Coach Vernon Bryant, Head Coach Travis Parker, Jackson Whitley, Amari Boyd, Christian Belcher, Jaeden Warren, Raynard Holloway, Leslie Dilday, Adrian Turner, Peyton Clements, Alvin Hicks Jr., Whitman Clark, Jacob Peden, Jakari Mack, Timmy Jones, Assistant Coach Greg Scott, Christopher Jordan, Assistant Coach Kenneth Barnes, Izaiah Williams, Shawn Saunders and Assistant Coach Xavier Scott. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Southampton High School Head Coach Travis Parker said he and his staff are looking for big things this season from returning running back Alvin Hicks Jr., No. 21, who is a senior. (Photo submitted by Travis Parker)
Southampton High School’s Whitman Clark returns at quarterback for his senior year after having transitioned into the position around the midpoint of the 2021 season. (Photo submitted by Tony Clark)
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Southampton High School Head Coach Travis Parker made it clear that the 2022 Indians have championship goals.
“In our vision statement, we have in there that we want to be a football program that is doing the right things in order to win district, region and state championships,” he said.
He acknowledged that there is a stair-step process to this.
Southampton went 6-4 last year, reaching the Region 3A quarterfinals.
Parker looks for his team to achieve even greater success this season.
“Our ultimate goal is to win some championships this year,” he said. “And the first championship that we have our eyes on is the Tri-Rivers District championship.”
This title will belong to the Indians if they achieve another one of their goals — going undefeated.
“That’s our goal and what we’re working toward,” Parker said.
Then, Southampton will look to earn a Region 3A win and march on to claim a regional title.
“So we have our stair-step goals that we definitely need to accomplish that’ll get us to where we want to be,” Parker said.
The coach noted that in recent years, about a third of the Southampton varsity team has been composed of seniors. That was true for the 2021 season, and it is true for the 2022 campaign as well.
“I really love the way that this year’s senior class has stepped up as a whole and really exhibited leadership since even just before practice started, even in our summer workouts,” Parker said.
He pointed out that the seniors have realized the younger players will do as they do, so the elder players have successfully exemplified how to perform and act as an athlete. Consequently, they have rarely had to use their voices to lead.
The 2022 Southampton squad is composed of around 45 players, with about 15 seniors, 15 juniors and 15 sophomores.
“We have a couple of ninth-graders that have been looking really good that could possibly make the varsity roster as well, but there’s only about two or three of those,” Parker said.
The Indians will miss three veteran starters on its defensive line that graduated earlier this year and are now playing college football.
“It’s not just (that) we lost three seniors, but we really lost three really, really good football players, so therefore we’ll just be less experienced at that position,” Parker said. “However, the guys that are being put in those positions are working hard and doing well.”
The one returning starter on the defensive line is senior Juelz Cooper
“He’s going to end up being the quarterback of that defensive line,” Parker said.
The one returning starter in Southampton’s linebacking corps is junior Levintae Brown.
Junior Tremir Roberts and senior Jaeden Warren return at the defensive back position.
On offense, senior Whitman Clark will be back under center after having been switched into the quarterback role around the midpoint of last season.
“We’re looking for some big things from our returning running back too,” Parker said, referencing senior Alvin Hicks Jr.
The offensive line features two returning starters — senior center Hunter Darden and junior Kashawn Marrow.
Southampton was set to open its season on the road Friday, Aug. 26, against Poquoson High School.
In an Aug. 17 interview, Parker stated that he was expecting that game to be the litmus test revealing where his team is at in its development process.
“Every team, every year, you change up athletes and everything,” he said. “However, (Poquoson’s) system is fundamentally sound, and it is a good team to go up against to really be able to see where you are, because they don’t ever change.”
The season continues for the Indians with their home opener Friday, Sept. 2, against Lakeland High School. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Southampton High School Indians Schedule
Head Coach
Travis Parker
Varsity
Friday, Aug. 26 Poquoson High School — away at 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 2 Lakeland High School — at home — 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 9 Bye
Friday, Sept. 16 Colonial Heights High School — away at 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 23 Amelia County High School — at home — 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 29 Sussex Central High School — at home — 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 7 Brunswick High School — at home — 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 14 Greensville County High School — away at 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 21 Surry County High School — away at 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 28 Windsor High School — at home — 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 4 Franklin High School — at home — 7 p.m.
