On Campus: Catawba Ridge Copperheads

Brandon Stockdale May 22, 2024 @ 07:10 PM

Catawba Ridge head coach Zac Lendyak and the Copperheads wrapped up their final practice of the spring with a two-hour session that consisted of mostly scrimmage work with a lot of good competitive plays on both sides.   There are some returning veterans along with a lot of young promise that will have a chance to make an impact in 2024. Let's jump into our notes and observations from the session:   The biggest question that will need to be answered between now and the season opener on August 23 at home against Chapin is who will run out first at quarterback? The Copperheads worked with four quarterbacks – [player_tooltip player_id='1574007' first='CJ' last='Couch'], Brady Compton, Will Griggs and EY Young.   We saw Couch (pictured middle) take the first few snaps of the 7 on 7 period and the senior has good size and can manage the offense well. He looked comfortable running the offense making the quick throws during the scrimmage. Young did a nice job of standing in and making a completion on an out route and the ball came out smooth. Compton showed good presence in the pocket to connect on a corner route.    During the 7 on 7 period, wide receiver Jalen Cunningham did a nice job of running a dig and finding the green grass to make the catch. [player_tooltip player_id='1603804' first='Colton' last='McCauley'] made an impressive move over the middle before the defender could make a play on it – and McCauley made them miss too.   Curtis Dayson is a rising sophomore running back who did a good job of catching the flare pass and making a man miss.   A name you'll want to keep your eye on is [player_tooltip player_id='809747' first='Brady' last='Ambrose']. He is a guy that will be tough to guard from his tight end position with his size and great hands. He is a reliable target in the quick passing game. He even got in at defensive end and knocked the ball away at one point.   Another name Lendyak expects to have a big year is wide receiver Braylen Burgis. We watched him during pre practice and he did a good job working his releases and was quick off the line. He took a screen to the house and then came back on a reverse, showing off his speed on both plays.   The defense had their moments in the spotlight. Rising sophomore defensive back Jalen Richardson read the out route and took it back for six. [player_tooltip player_id='1592500' first='Darius' last='Sutton'] did a nice job tripping up the running back with good technique to break down and make the tackle. They also stiffened up in the red zone to make a pass break up on fourth down.   On the defensive line, [player_tooltip player_id='1360198' first='Lewis' last='Price'] at nose guard will be a handful for opposing offensive linemen in 2024. He absolutely bull dozed past the offensive lineman to get into the backfield at the snap of the ball on a run play. He got in on several more plays as well. Another guy who you should keep your eye on is defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1422524' first='Josh' last='Dobson'], who is carrying six Division 1 offers currently, including one from Virginia Tech he just earned on Monday.

Catawba Ridge head coach Zac Lendyak and the Copperheads wrapped up their final practice of the spring with a two-hour session that consisted of mostly scrimmage work with a lot of good competitive plays on both sides.