2024 Preview: Wando Warriors

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WANDO |</strong> Making plays throwing and running the football are the not the only talents quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592323' first='Harris' last='Stone'] </strong>(pictured) brings Wando.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Being a leader, a good mentor for my teammates, getting the ball to the playmakers and I can also use my legs,” he said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a Stratford assistant the past three seasons, new Wando head coach Isaiah Perrin saw firsthand the Warriors' strengths and weaknesses. In taking over a 1-9 program seeking its first winning season since 2019, Perrin is leaning upon his returning juniors and seniors to instill a “competitive mindset” in the players before and during games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Every night is going to be a competition,” he said. “It's not going to be any given night that ‘any team can win any game' night. Just teaching these guys just to be competitive in their culture, by physical, have a tough mindset. That's how we create a great team at Wando in just establishing a mindset that we want to be competitive, day in and day out.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors return their two leading rushers in rising seniors <strong>Reggie Grant </strong>and <strong>Michael Jenkins</strong>. The offensive line has three rising seniors in <strong>Harrison Hayes</strong>, <strong>Weston Adams </strong>and <strong>Jackson Ward </strong>and tight end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='205794' first='Brock' last='Feinberg']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Stone looks downfield, he'll have familiar faces at his disposal. Rising junior wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1738855' first='David' last='Vennard'] </strong>can make plays from the slot position and looks to develop into more of a deep threat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defense will have its share of two-way players in Feinberg at linebacker and Jenkins and Fletcher in the secondary. <strong>Anthony Marcella</strong>, <strong>Trenton Moore</strong>, <strong>Nicholas Flood </strong>and <strong>Loren Whitehurst </strong>lead the defensive line, <strong>Brayden Berry </strong>pairs with Feinberg at inside linebacker and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1241751' first='Matthew' last='Payes'] </strong>showed potential at outside linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wando will accompany its fellow Region VI teams to Region VII and join Lucy Beckham.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592323' first='Harris' last='Stone']</strong>&nbsp;QB, 2026 – With a year under the belt, the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder looks to make more plays in the multiple look offense being implemented by Perrin. He's worked during the off-season to build a rapport with the wide receivers and will be relied upon to maintain the team's confidence level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Michael Jenkins </strong>RB, 2025 – Expect he and Reggie Grant to be utilized more actively under Perrin's offense and hope not to contain with defenses geared to exclusively stopping the run. Jenkins is also a starting cornerback. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1738855' first='David' last='Vennard'] </strong>WR 2026 – The 2-year letterman provides the Warriors with a slot receiver with a knack to create open space for receptions. At 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, his size and 74-inch wingspan makes him difficult to defend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='205794' first='Brock' last='Feinberg']</strong> DL 2025 – A three-sport athlete and two-way starter at three positions (linebacker, defensive tackle, and tight end), the 6-foot-1, 223-pound rising senior plays each position with a rugged tenacity. In his first year at linebacker, he showed a keen awareness and instinct in knowing where to disrupt a developing play. On offense, Feinburg found ways to slip into the secondary for tough receptions and was also an effective extra blocker on the offensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/6407910/6508e174a676570578c0be0b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6685e60c4b61b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSS (es)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carter Adams </strong>WR – He accounted for three touchdowns in five games as one of Wando's most productive wideouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Corey Deas </strong>OL – A two-year captain and mainstay upfront as a nose guard and tackle. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jameson Bell</strong> LB – An effective pass rusher who could also line up and contain the running game. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578818' first='Cole' last='Fletcher']</strong>&nbsp;WR, 2025 – He will see action both as a wide receiver and preventing big plays at the safety position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brayden Berry</strong> LB, 2026 – One of the team's leading tacklers last season with a penchant of forcing fumbles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1241751"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6685e60c4e5a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, the two-sport athlete created havoc last season at outside linebacker. His speed enabled him to rush pass defensive ends in pursuit of the quarterback and he effectively used his long arms to force turnovers or defend passes downfield. His track and field ability comes into play in his field coverage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18160752/6557a0b6bd6a700f94544573' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6685e60c4e5fc"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->