When asked about the strength of his football team, D.H. Conley coach Brian Paschal didn’t point to a certain player or unit. instead, he pointed to the intangible edge his players have gained after suffering through multiple losing seasons.

“This team and this program has a lot to prove,” Paschal said. “I think a strength of these players is the unity they have right now. Sometimes, when the whole world gangs up against you, that creates a unified force and I think that’s kind of what we have right now.”

Conley went 0-11 last season, which led to the dismissal of coach Ken Whitehurst, who went 10-36 in four seasons.

Paschal, who played football at Wake Forest, was hired in March. He spent the last six seasons at Roanoke and the eight before that at Washington. Paschal led Washington to six playoff appearances and Roanoke to the 2007 1-A Eastern Regional finals.

Although Paschal has tried to create a positive attitude with Conley’s players this preseason, he also said the task of turning around the program will be tough.

“It has not been an easy journey, but it’s been one worth taking,” Paschal said. “This coaching staff is not going into this thing blindly. It’s something that we realize will take a lot of work and you have to be in for the long haul. but the kids are really buying into what we are doing and are working extremely hard.”

DHC opens the season with three straight road games, starting with Wilson Fike tonight. the Vikings play J.H. Rose next Friday and at North Pitt on Sept. 10.

Conley will run a wing-T offense, which utilizes misdirection in the backfield. Paschal said his backfield — led by junior tailback Keith Clark — is one of his deepest units.

Senior Chad Hardin will quarterback the Vikes. He split time last year with senior B.J. Evans, who has moved to running back.

“we feel like we’re pretty solid there,” Paschal said of his running backs. “Fullback J.B. Pearsall also had a really good scrimmage last week and we feel like we have some depth back there.”

Another weapon on DHC’s offense will be 6-foot-5, 200-pound receiver Chris McLawhorn, a senior who is also a standout at defensive end and on the basketball court.

Paschal said his team will be young, with plenty of sophomores and juniors in the starting lineup.

“we feel like we’re young and hungry, and we’ll see where that leaves us,” he said.

Conley’s offense often struggled to get going last season, as it was shut out four times with a season-high of 18 points against West Craven.

Paschal said he is taking a day-by-day and game-by-game approach with this year’s team.

“we feel like that if we play well, we’ll be able to compete at a high level,” Paschal said. “if we don’t, then we’ve seen the last few years what can happen.”

Contact Ronnie Woodward at rwoodward@reflector.com or (252) 329-9592.

ScheduleDate    OpponentAug. 20    at Wilson FikeAug. 27    at J.H. RoseSept. 10    at North PittSept. 17    Farmville CentralSept. 24    at West CravenOct. 1    at HavelockOct. 8    White OakOct. 15    West CarteretOct. 22    at WashingtonOct. 29    JacksonvilleNov. 5    South Central

ROSTERNo.    Name    Ht.    Wt.    Pos.    Class3    Keith Clark    5’9    186    RB/DB    117    B.J. Evans    6’0    183    RB/LB    129    Mitchell Lea    5’7    147    QB/DB    1110    Chad Hardin    6’0    185    QB/LB    1212    Davis Kirkpatrick    5’8    155    QB/DB    1015    Tyriq Morning    5’11    171    SE/DB    1220    Jaquel Daniels    5’9    148    RB/DB    1121    Chris Dizon    5’8    195    TE/LB    1222    Trevon Moore    5’7    166    RB/LB    1223    Chris McLawhorn    6’5    200    SE/DE    1224    George Bailey    5’8    150    RB/DB    1125    Haywood Johnson    5’8    161    SE/DB    1227    Brandon Price    5’7    160    SE/DB    1230    Jeremy Belcher    5’5    141    RB/DB    1132    Bryant Beaulieu    5’10    154    SE/DB    1034    Walker Cummings    5’5    149    RB/DB    1035    Ryan Bloom    5’7    160    RB/LB    1136    Aaron Vincent    5’11    165    RB/LB    1138    Dominic Fontana    5’9    141    SE/DB    1140    Matt Rouse    5’8    175    RB/LB    1144    J.B. Pearsall    5’7    173    RB/LB    1145    Deen Harrison    5’11    166    SE/LB    1150    Luke Jones    5’11    199    OL/DL    1151    Landry Price    6’1    217    OL/DL    1152    Sterling Mills    5’8    209    OL/DL    1053    Kameron Crandall    5’8    200    OL/DL    1254    Zach Crum    6’0    212    OL/DL    1255    Austin Haleyalpiy    5’8    180    OL/DL    1160    Jordan Butler    6’0    185    OL/LB    1161    Cody McGown    5’10    235    OL/DL    1062    Martique Lozada    6’4    178    TE/DL    1264    Deshawn Stevenson    6’1    284    OL/DL    1266    Zach Roberson    5’8    268    OL/DL    1170    Ryan Silver    5’9    240    OL/DL    1272    Zach Collins    6’5    260    OL/DL    1073    Joe Mayansik    5’11    201    OL/DL    1275    Jonathan Tripp    5’11    221    OL/DL    1179    Lamar Brown    6’4    290    OL/DL    1180    Tay Barrett    6’0    173    SE/DB    1181    Avery Thompson    6’1    160    SE/DB    1185    Thomas Bartz    6’0    163    TE/DB    1188    Tim Woodward    6’2    188    TE/DL    1189    Tanner Garner    6’0    181    TE/LB    11

PLAYERS TO WATCHChris McLawhornWR/DE  Senior6’5, 200 poundsPaschal’s take: “at 6-foot-5 and as a receiver, we think he has a lot of potential and is a great athlete.”Deshawn StevensonOL/DL  Senior6’1, 284 poundsPaschal’s take: “He’s a very good player and we really like him. He’s really steady and he’s just an overall good kid.” 

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