Full sized view SAHS Coach Derek Christian

SA Coach Derek Christian hopes to improve on last year’s 8-4 record and second-round playoff appearance.

Articles

Reprint of article in the August 1, 2007 edition of the Charleston Gazette.)

Big shoes to fill at SA with shifty Jeremy James gone, Dragons

turn to Marcus Fox By Tommy R. Atkinson, Staff Writer

For sure, the absence of Jeremy James will affect St. Albans’ offense in some way, shape or form, and most likely not always in a good way.

You don’t lose a running back the caliber of James, who gained more than 3,500 yards in three seasons and will be playing at Marshall as a walk-on this fall, and not lose something in terms of leadership or production.

But the Red Dragons are banking on experience and hard work to minimize those damages as a new season approaches on the horizon.

For starters, James’ replacement, junior back Marcus Fox, enters the first week of football practice in the best shape of his career and hungry to prove he is more than capable of stepping into a leading role.

T. J. Feazelle is back for his third season as the

Red Dragon’s starting quarterback.

“We’ve got Marcus and he’s up there where Jeremy was his junior year,’’ said SA senior quarterback T.J. Feazelle after practice Tuesday evening at Crawford Field. “He’s gotten a lot stronger, faster, everything since last year. He’s worked his butt off. He’s got the skills, definitely.’’

Fox, a 6-foot, 195-pound battering ram, gained 552 yards on 126 carries and scored nine touchdowns as a sophomore playing a supporting role alongside James last season.

“Marcus had a lot of experience last year,’’ said SA coach Derek Christian. “We feel comfortable with him filling that role. That’s some big shoes to fill, but I think Marcus is up to the challenge.

“He was productive for us last year and he’s a hard worker. He’s been in our weight room since football was over last year. He’s dedicated to the program and he wants to be successful. There’s still a lot to prove there, [but] he’s got the right attitude.’’

Fox’s straight-ahead, power running style, which is dramatically different from James’ shifty style, also fits perfectly into the Red Dragons’ plans.

“We like to try and control the ball if we can, have some sustained drives and eat some time up,’’ said Christian.

Fox, however, won’t have to carry the entire load by himself this season. SA also returns Feazelle, a three-year starter,

and his top receiver Zach Hodges along with five of six starters along the offensive line.

Feazelle passed for 1,111 yards with seven TDs and eight interceptions last season while Hodges caught 18 passes for 248 yards, averaging 13.8 yards per catch, and two scores.

Welcoming nearly everyone back on offense also has some advantages for a team trying to find a new rhythm.

“We don’t have to spend a lot of time on what to do, it’s just execution,’’ said Christian of his focus on fine-tuning.

“I don’t think it’s going to be different,’’ said Feazelle of the new season. “I think our offense is stronger this year than last year.

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