MOUNT ULLA — West Rowan linebacker James Francis was the county’s defensive player of the year last season. His running mate, S.J. Culbertson, was often considered an even better player than his buddy before Francis finally edged by him during their senior years.
Both talked a good game and walked an even better one. Both lethal LBs attacked ballcarriers like a pair of hungry grizzlies pursuing a picnic basket. They created absolute havoc on special teams and were the driving forces in West’s most successful season since the Falcons first kicked the pigskin around in 1959.
It got to the point last fall that trembling opponents walked over to Francis and Culbertson before games even started, handed over their lunch money and pleaded for mercy.
There was one night when Francis nearly chased mighty Concord right out of its own stadium and another when Culbertson’s desperation effort on an onsides kick triggered 12-2 West’s first ever win over A.L. Brown and its first ever conference championship.
But just as Francis and Culbertson played together, they’ve strayed together. The twin terrors have graduated, leaving a couple of gaping craters smack in the middle of a feared defense that held 11 foes to 15 or fewer points.
“Oh yeah, James and S.J. leave us just a tiny hole,” says somewhat sarcastic defensive mastermind David Hunt, as he stares at the space between what should be a deep and devastating defensive front five and a secondary anchored by sensational safety Brandon Bailey.
“Linebacker,” admits head coach Scott Young, “is unsettled.”
Settling the situation satisfactorily could lead to West’s defense being every bit as stingy as last year’s, because across the front the Falcons will be immense and intense.
“Justin McInytre (6 feet, 250 pounds) is just an animal,” beams Young. “The bookends (Kendall High, who’s being chased by D-I schools, and solid Luke Drechsler) are gonna be fine. I’m just so pleased with that whole bunch.”
Young then ticks off the names of three more studs in the 250-range, including scary 5-9 soph Antuane “Bus” Gray.
But, uh, Coach, how about those linebackers?
“We’ve got four kids for those two spots,” says Young, naming Stephen Ashby, David Trenor, Brandon Culbertson and Chad Harrington as prime candidates.
Young offers that seniors Trenor and Ashby “know what we want done.” He says Culbertson, a cousin of you-know-who, is the best athlete of the quartet, then adds that Harrington is a shade small for the position, but has enough quickness to survive, maybe to thrive.
“So far in practice, they’ll take one step forward, then they’ll take one back,” said Hunt. “But that’s to be expected.”
The freckled Ashby’s an interesting character, who destroyed unsuspecting foes with high-voltage hits on kickoffs last season. His best asset is his wide-open physicality. Now he’ll be asked to play more under control, but it won’t be easy to hold back his natural aggressiveness.
“I just really like to hit people,” Ashby grins. ”I think I’m up to this challenge.”
Trenor’s the “veteran” among the new guys, and shows signs of becoming a thinking man’s linebacker.
“I’ve backed up S.J. and James for two solid years,” he said. “They were phenomenal players and I know I can’t be James and I’m not gonna be S.J. All I can do is my very best.”
Then there’s the next generation of Culbertson. Brandon C. is new to all this excitement, didn’t come out at all last year.
“I didn’t go out for the team because I didn’t think I could compete with S.J. and James at linebacker,” he said. “But now I’m ready. You know everybody calls me ‘Little S.J,’ so I gotta go out and make a name for myself.”
Young and Hunt are confident all four of their fresh-faced linebackers will turn out to be fine backers.
“People just have to remember it’s a learning process,” said Hunt. “But they should be fine. And with what we’ve got up front, they’ve got some time to learn.”
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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com
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