2024 Preview: Wagener-Salley War Eagles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The beauty of the Wagener-Salley roster isn't some top-heavy list of stars we've come to see in other situations.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No, for the War Eagles, it's about the top-to-bottom look first-year coach Blaze Gillespie should be able to give opponents when he starts leading his team onto the field next month. In fact, this might only be the beginning of another rebirth of Wagener-Salley ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We can go as far as we want,” junior and second-year starting quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639816' first='Rayvon' last='Chandler']</strong> (pictured) said. “We've just got to put in the effort and do all that. Be us. If we do that, we'll go as far as we want."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Youthful bravado? Maybe a hair.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But more importantly, the movement of pushing younger players into increasingly important roles last year and two years ago under former coach Willie Fox is starting to look like it's going to pay off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the roster won't be complete for a few more weeks, the early look includes only five seniors. In contrast, there are nine juniors - many of whom start both ways - and seven sophomores who already have valuable varsity experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's not a bad return for a team that won seven games a season ago and advanced to the second round of the Class A playoffs. Are the Eagles state championship contenders? That would be premature.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's no confusion, though, that something could be building again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a big reason the gig was so intriguing to Gillespie after spending the last three years serving as an assisting during a dynamic run at Camden. Also, he loved how Fox used the players who would be coming back for least one more season, if not two or three.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Specifically, he was a fan of keeping the ball on the ground.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Seeing that made me not worry about taking the job, knowing that they weren't afraid to run the ball and with the talent [that was there before] not trying to set his house on fire,” Gillespie said. “With all those pieces coming in, I think the mold is starting to form, the family is starting to form.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zamien Capers</strong> RB/DB, 2027 - Capers didn't need long into his freshman season to show he could be an impressive ball carrier for a good while. He's adept at finding space and has the strength to drag would-be tacklers for a few extra yards. That'll be huge for a team that will be scraping for them come region play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jabari Amos</strong> ATH, 2026 - Amos has already seen time at defensive back, wing back, receiver and on special teams. He gained Gillespie's trust quickly and is going to be one of the players the War Eagles scheme around. He's shifty in close quarters and has the ability to make opposing players miss.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639816' first='Rayvon' last='Chandler']</strong> QB/CB 2026 - Chandler will again be charged with directing an offense that is going to change up its scheme somewhat while still remaining run-oriented. That's of little concern for him, as he's already got 11 games under his belt doing just that and surrounded by a ton of help.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honest Howell</strong> DB/RB, 2027 - One of the bigger hitters on the team, Howell is at times more linebacker than defensive back. Even at 5-foot-7 and 140 pounds, he's got no issue crashing the line and getting low to make stops against some much larger opponents. And thanks to some departures, he's about to get more of a workload on offense, too.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaiah Garvin</strong> OL/DL, 2026 - As Garvin got bigger and stronger, it was a natural transition for him to move into the trenches, too. He also proved he could multi-task, as he was asked to play center on offense and put his hand in the dirt on defense, too. He's one of those players the coaching staff will need to work in some breaks here and there. Otherwise, 80-90 snaps a game is going to become the norm.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20305136/65ef5905dfd84d0bd8a4c7ca' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669703f243770"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brandon Pontoon</strong> OL/DL - The Class 1A All-State and Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl selection was a huge two-way force for the War Eagles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816739' first='Rayfield' last='Bell']</strong> DL/OL 2026 - We got an early look at Bell during his freshman season and have loved his continued growth. He's been a two-way contributor for two seasons and still has another two to go at the high school level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kyree Tyler</strong> LB, 2025 - Maybe known a little more for his hoops abilities, Tyler has the physical tools and a 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame to do some damage for Wagener-Salley's defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1335618,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Quentin Sims","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"155","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Wagener-Salley ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669703f244e93"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sims isn't a new face to the rest of the roster. He started at two positions as a sophomore last fall and saw extensive playing time. While the War Eagles aren't going to slinging it around too much on offense, his value to this team is increasing because he's a corner with some significant skill. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17945561/658379a819afaf0bc49441da' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669703f244ec0"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->