Football preview: New coach, players look to lift Mount Vernon this season

When Monty Fritts was hired as the new football coach at Mount Vernon in April, his first priority was recruiting. The Majors had suffered through a string of losing seasons in recent years, and Fritts knew that part of the problem was that not enough kids were coming out for the team.

So Fritts asked his assistant coaches who’d been at the school in previous years to make a list of 25 kids they’d like to see suit up. Then Fritts and his assistants went into full recruiting mode, calling the students on the phone, setting up a robust social media presence for the team and even writing letters.

The strategy worked. Fritts says approximately 100 players are in the program this year, including nearly every one of the 25 players on the list.

“Since I got hired all I did was recruit kids in the building,” Fritts said.

The revamped Majors will be among the first Northern Virginia teams to begin the regular season when they host Washington-Lee on Friday, a week earlier than most schools. Coming off a 2-8 season last year and playing in one of the toughest districts in the area, Fritts has been preaching a simple mantra to his players: You have to believe.

“I think the most important thing is belief,” Fritts said. “It’s really just about believing that we can win games.”

Who to watch

One of Mount Vernon’s new players is senior Mikel Gamble, who will start at running back in the Majors’ power spread offense. A starter on Mount Vernon’s basketball team, Fritts says Gamble brought instant leadership to the field and was named a captain.

“In both of our scrimmages he’s really been untackleable,” Fritts said. “I think he’s really going to catch a lot of people by surprise.”

Joining Gamble in the backfield will be junior quarterback Timothy Heltzel, a starter last season who Fritts believes is one of the more underrated players in the district. Heltzel will have a dynamic weapon in senior wideout Darrien Newton, who played running back last season. Fritts says slot is a more natural position for Newton, and says the senior has the potential to play at the next level.

Damian Burke, a senior wide receiver, is another new player who Fritts is excited about. A sprinter, high jumper and long jumper for the Mount Vernon track team, Burke gives the Majors’ passing attack added athleticism and playmaker ability.

“I think he’s going to make a lot of big plays for us,” Fritts said.

Defensively, linebackers Maurice Aziz and Andrei Golding return from last season. Golding, who was also a member of the Fort Hunt club rugby team that won the Virginia state championship in the spring, is one of Mount Vernon’s captains.

Aaron Busby is a returning starter at defensive end, and gives the Majors a tall and fast presence on the edge.

Outlook

Even with the increased numbers, it will still be an uphill climb this year for the Majors, who have gone 5-26 in the past three seasons. The team isn’t physically big, and they’re stuck playing in a district with powerhouses Lake Braddock and South County, both of whom are ranked in The Washington Post preseason Top 20, as well 2015 playoff squads West Potomac, Annandale and Woodson.

While speed is a strength of the Majors, a lack of big bodies is an issue.

“One of our bigger weaknesses is size,” Fritts said. “We have a few big guys but we don’t have a lot.”

But Fritts thinks the Majors can surprise some folks this year, and expects this year’s squad to play with a chip on its shoulder.

“I think the kids are just super hungry,” said Fritts. “I think they are kind of tired of everyone putting Mount Vernon football down.”

2016 Schedule

8/26	7 p.m.	Washington-Lee
9/1	7 p.m.	at Stuart
9/9	7 p.m.	at West Springfield
9/24	1 p.m.	at T.C. Williams
9/30	7 p.m.	Wakefield
10/7	7 p.m.	at Annandale
10/14	7 p.m.	South County
10/21	7 p.m.	W.T. Woodson
10/28	7 p.m.	at Lake Braddock
11/4	7 p.m.	West Potomac