"New Tornado in town"

[BigD4VT 11]

 

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

 

New Tornado in town

Posted: Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 - 11:54:39 pm EDT

By LLOYD COMBS

for the Daily Telegraph

 

 

Football players don't smile...Richlands' Caleb Jennings is expected to play a big role for the Blue Tornado this season. (Staff photo by John Nelson)

 

RICHLANDS, Va. -- Richlands will have a lot of new faces and, quite possibly, a few new looks this season after losing 17 starters from an 11-2 squad that reached the state semifinals.

 

Blue Tornado fans will see one familiar face in a new role as 5-foot-7 sophomore Caleb Jennings takes over in the backfield for Cain Ringstaff, one of three first-team All-State stars the Blues lost to graduation.

 

After losing so much size and power - and to take advantage of the talents of the speedy Jennings and 6-feet-4 wide receiver Rob Stanton - Richlands may decide to take a new approach offensively this season.

 

"We're not going to be a team that can line up, foot to foot, and just blow you off the ball and kick you out and run it up between the tackles," veteran Blue Tornado head coach Greg Mance said Monday. "We're going to try to spread the field and get the ball to people in open spaces."

 

 

 

Enter Jennings, who electrified Richlands fans often last year as a kick returner, and while backing up Ringstaff in the backfield.

 

"We're excited about Caleb Jennings," Mance said. "He was honorable mention all-state and first team all-region. He did a good job for us returning kicks.

 

"He's going to go to tailback," Mance added. "He's 145 pounds, so he can't run the ball up inside between the tackles a lot like Cain did, but we'll have to find ways to get him the ball in the open space. We think he'll do a great job."

 

The Blues' full-time returnees include three All-Southwest District standouts in guard Garrett Arms, defensive lineman Travis Payne and linebacker Brett Clayburne.

 

"We'll build around those guys," Mance said. "We've got our work cut out for us, we'll be inexperienced. But we like what our kids have done in the off-season."

 

Richlands reached the 2004 Group AA Division 3 state semi-finals before losing to Salem 42-28. The Blue Tornado last won a state championship in 1992.