2025 Preview: Christ Church Cavaliers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 was a year of transition for the Christ Church Cavaliers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They moved up to the 3A classification and completed the 2024 season with an overall record of 6-5 and lost to Crescent in the second round of the playoffs. The Cavaliers know they didn't finish the way they would've liked, but they are excited about what they bring to the table to make another run in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I think we're going to be a really strong, fast, physical team this year. I think we have more depth this year for sure. I think all the players have been putting in a lot of work during the summer practices, spring practices, and the weight room. We're all taking a step up. We're taking it more seriously now,” senior wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816751' first='Jude' last='Hall'] </strong>(pictured above) said at the Prep Redzone Media Day at Hillcrest on June 27.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1199124' first='Judd' last='Windham'] </strong>will likely be the starting quarterback for the Cavaliers following the graduation of Tucker Hendrix. He has taken the majority of the snaps in the summer 7-on-7 period and has taken meaningful snaps on the varsity level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592657' first='Rody' last='Barnett'] </strong>will be one of the anchors on the offensive and defensive lines. Barnett was offered by Davidson on June 27. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the Cavaliers begin to look ahead to the 2025 season opener at home against Hammond on August 22, head coach Quin Hatfield wants his guys to focus on consistency and having that competitive fire on a daily basis.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We talk a lot about consistency in the program and not just showing up. That's part of it, right? But, having that standard set every day and rising that standard, holding that standard every day. So I think the biggest thing is consistency and continuing to work hard on the practice field and in the weight room. And you heard these guys talk about that competitive fire. Finding ways as a coach to make sure we're bringing that into every practice in different ways to compete, to continue sort of stoke that fire,” Hatfield said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816751' first='Jude' last='Hall'] </strong>WR, 2026 — The top wide receiver in the PRZ Class of 2026 rankings will be one of the leaders for the Cavaliers' offense in 2025. The Memphis commit will be a matchup problem with his size and speed out in the open field. He had 57 catches for 795 yards and five touchdowns last season, and we expect that touchdown number to grow in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Improvements heading into 2025: “For me, working on my route running, my body language and just being able to do the little things more.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>On the decision to commit to Memphis: “It was the coaching staff because they've all been there more than four years. They all have this bond, like a special bond and we've been in touch for a long time and they were really nice to my family and it's going to be a place where I can go and probably play early. That's also an exciting factor.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734501' first='George' last='Michael Stathakis'] </strong>OL, 2026 – Stahakis will be one of the leaders up front on the offensive and defensive lines. He has good size and will be a part of a group that Hatfield is excited about as they have gelled together and they're bigger and stronger up front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Improvements heading into 2025: “Finishing the play until the very end. If I'm on the back side (of the play) and the ball's on the other side, just stop but this time, I'm trying to go after it (and) keep myself going until the whistle.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Expectations heading into the season: “I think there's definitely more of a crave for competitiveness and energy and we're trying to keep the levels of energy and hype high every day to keep things going efficiently.”&nbsp;</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1213961' first='Anthony' last='Atkins']</strong> CB/WR, 2026 – If you want a cornerback that can go stride for stride and stay in the hip pocket of receivers, Atkins is your guy. He excels in one-on-one coverage and has the speed and the eye discipline to stay with an opposing team's No. 1 wide receiver, and the majority of the time, it was an incomplete pass. He finished last year with 51 tackles and 7 pass breakups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Improvements heading into 2025: “Explosiveness. Foot speed and just treating every single play like it's the championship.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>On the decision to commit to Navy: “It was pretty much their whole program. All the coaches there were great coaches and everything about the school, it just sets you up for life in general.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Expectations heading into the season: “I think everybody on the team wants to get better. I'm seeing everybody improve upon themselves a lot over time.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1403912' first='Reid' last='Hipp'] </strong>TE, 2026 – Hipp will be a matchup problem for opponents in 2025. When you look at him on film, he's tough to guard because of his size and he has great hands to be able to go up and make catches. He runs good routes and can line up on the outside or in the slot. He finished the 2024 season with 149 yards receiving and one touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEY LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tucker Hendrix</strong> QB – Hendrix threw for 1952 yards and 16 touchdowns in his senior season. He will take advantage of a preferred walk-on opportunity at Clemson University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jackson Repp</strong> WR – Repp was a speedy receiver on the outside, recording 197 yards and two receiving scores in his final season. He is now at the University of South Carolina.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='293593' first='Michael' last='Martin'] </strong>RB, 2028 – Martin is the No. 1 running back in the Class of 2028 PRZ rankings currently, and with good reason. He looks more like an upperclassman when you watch him run. He runs with a level of speed, power and the ability to run someone over when he needs to. He can catch the ball out of the backfield on swing passes or on wheel routes. Colleges are already taking notice with Syracuse, Rhode Island and Wake Forest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16839641/67523ab03d112d85ebec5b81' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686eaa78abd03"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP AND COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bates Mann </strong>WR, 2026 – Mann is one of the returning wide receivers alongside Shields, and he will be another solid go to weapon. He has good speed and hands to be able to catch the ball and get yards quickly after making the catch. He had 189 yards receiving and one touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hampton Shields </strong>WR, 2028 – Shields saw time as a freshman last year and made significant contributions to the Cavaliers offense. He primarily lined up in the slot and has soft hands to be able to make catches in traffic. He can run routes to the middle of the field or to the sideline and knows how to execute the play once the ball is snapped.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1628240"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1706409,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-686eaa78ad4b1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Childers saw time as a sophomore and made the most of it. He is disruptive in getting into the backfield, especially against the run. He can really engage with the offensive lineman to disrupt plays before they can get going and build momentum. He finished with 29 tackles along with 3 tackles for loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19444751/67b9394cb9291d37d3a405f1' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686eaa78ad4e5"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->