WS Chronicle

In above photo:  Adonis Jones is the key figure in the defensive scheme for the Reynolds JV team. (Photo by Craig T. Greenlee)

Reynolds is looking for redemption in junior varsity football. It’s not that the Demons have been the expected “easy win” for opponents (7-12 over the past two seasons). It’s more a matter of them being able to consistently play up to their capabilities.

“We’ve put a lot of work in to help change the program’s culture and the mindset,” said first-year coach Rod Dunlap. “Play fast, play smart and be physical. That’s what we expect on every down of every quarter. As long as we can limit turnovers and get the ball to our skill guys in open space, we’ll be in good shape.”

Reynolds begins its season today with a home game against East Forsyth. Kickoff is 6 p.m. at Deaton-Thompson Stadium.

The Demons, which are said to be top-heavy at the skill positions, will operate their offense from the spread formation with one back. Bryant Nurse and Will Crowley are the stabilizers on an offensive line that’s expected to help RJR run effectively and control tempo.

The duo of DaShawn Adams and Trejan Cannon provide a blend of power and speed coming out of the backfield. Dimaggio Wilson and Rashon Bethea are the key figures at the receiver positions.

Entering the final week of practice prior to the season’s first game, the question as to who will be the starting quarterback was still unanswered.

Charlie Mensh and Mysta Goodloe bring different traits to the table, and both have played well during the pre-season. Mensh excels as a pin-point passer from the pocket. Goodloe is the more mobile of the two, but is just as accurate on throws, whether it’s in the pocket or on the move. So far, it’s been a dead heat between the two.

“The competition we’ve had at quarterback has been great,” said Dunlap. “Charlie has that ability to complete throws in tight spaces. Mysta is an exceptional runner, but he has a pass-first mentality. Even when he’s improvising, he’s always looking down field.”

Dunlap is confident that the Reynolds defense will more than hold its own this fall. Lineman Raymond Wilson leads the way up front for the Demons, who play a 4-2-5 as their base defense. The ringleader is linebacker Adonis Jones, whose relentless style enables him to make plays from sideline to sideline.

In the secondary, look for Jamoi Hodge to establish himself as one of the area’s top defensive backs at the junior varsity level. Hodge, a freshman free safety, excels as a run-stopper. And he’s equally skilled as a pass defender whose instincts allow him to make game-changing plays.

“With us coming in as a new staff, we want to build confidence, which will help us build a strong foundation for our program,” said Dunlap. “We feel like we can do that and win games, so that players will want to stay at Reynolds and not transfer to play somewhere else. This is an exciting time of year. We can’t wait to see what we can do.”

JV Football Today

August 27

Glenn @ Reagan, 6

Parkland @ Carver, 7

Mount Tabor @ Winston-Salem Prep, 6:30*

East Forsyth @ Reynolds, 6

*Winston-Salem Prep plays its home games at Atkins High School