2014 High School Football Preseason Top 25 Early Contenders presented by Eastbay: No. 8 Centreville

See the full team preview

It's going to be a great year for high school football fans in Virginia, as there are very good teams from top to bottom in Old Dominion.

Entering the season, Centreville sits at the top of the list.

Quietly, the Northern Virginia school located just outside Washington, D.C. finished 2013 with a very impressive season top-to-bottom.

Starting with a 51-7 drubbing of West Potomac to open its season, not a single team came within 20 points of Centreville. It closed the season with a 35-6 victory over perennial powerhouse Oscar Smith.

That sort of dominance in a solid football state like Virginia is noteworthy. What makes the feat stand out even more is that fact that 16 of the team's starters in 2013 were underclassmen, meaning the sky seems to be the limit for Centreville in 2014.

Key offensive weapons A.J. Turner and Taylor Boose spearhead the team's rushing attack. The duo combined for 2,491 yards and 34 touchdowns last fall. Turner, a three-star recruit according to 247Sports, has nearly two-dozen offers from schools across the country.



Charles Tutt and David Liddle, the team's top receivers as juniors, bring a wealth of production back to the starting lineup. Tutt hauled in 36 catches for 861 yards and 13 scores. Meanwhile, the 6-foot-4 Liddle was nearly unstoppable in the red zone. Of his nine receptions, six of them went for touchdowns.

Kainoa O'Connor, an all-state selection and one of the team's leading linemen last year, returns alongside 6-6 tackle Justin Skule. They'll be responsible for blocking for senior quarterback Joe Ferrick, who will call the shots in the team's Wing-T offense.

Defensively, Centreville has very few holes. Skule may see time on the defensive line. Junior Christian Brooks is not a future star — he's a current star. The 6-4 defensive end had two sacks and a fumble recovery in the title game against Oscar Smith. Jordan Brooks and Devante Wright make the defensive front nearly impenetrable.



Tyler Love powers the linebacking unit in the absence of Chad Wiggins, the team's biggest casualty to graduation. Xavier Nickens-Yzer is another key returner.

In the secondary, Turner doubles as a top-notch defensive back. He snagged seven interceptions as a junior. Tutt, who earned All-Met honors, will do likewise.

Centreville is not a team loaded with numerous blue-chip recruits. But last year, when it played one such (unbeaten) team, it won decisively. It is well-coached, extremely stout defensively, and has enough talent on both sides of the ball to be a nationally elite team.

"Centreville broke through for its first Virginia state title under coach Chris Haddock in 2013, dominating an Oscar Smith team that entered as a heavy favorite. The Wildcats are primed to build on this success with 15 starters returning, including All-State seniors A.J. Turner, Charles Tutt, Tyler Love and Kainoa O’Conner. Boasting plenty of experience, explosive playmakers on both sides of the ball and an early-season test in private-school power Gonzaga, Centreville looks to be built for another championship run." -
 Brandon Parker, Washington Post (@brandoncparker)