Making waves

By Shane Mettlen

Published: November 19, 2008

The Eastern View football team wasn’t officially part of the Battlefield District in its first year of play, but that didn’t stop the district’s coaches from taking notice of Cyclones running back Stevie Strother.

Strother, whose 1,968 rushing yards was second in the state only George Washington-Danville’s David Wilson, was named second-team All-Battlefield District.

Eastern View played in the Battlefield in all other fall sports and will compete for a district title in football starting next season. Wilson, who will play at Virginia Tech next fall, has rushed for 2,100 yards and leads the Eagles into the Northwest Regional championship game Friday at Liberty.

The Cyclones, who finished 7-3, played only one Battlefield team, losing to Caroline and normally players from a team playing an independent schedule wouldn’t be considered for district honors. But Battlefield coaches took notice as Strother rushed for more than 140 yards in nine straight games and scored 26 touchdowns and decided the senior running back deserved to be honored.

“That was something those district coaches approached us about,” Eastern View coach Greg Hatfield said. “It wasn’t like we went chasing this for Stevie or were ignoring other kids.”

No other Eastern View players made the Battlefield teams, but several likely would have under normal circumstances. Senior Cody Whitlock was 14th in the state in passing yardage, throwing for 1,207, senior Mo Safren recorded seven interceptions and a handful of others had all-district caliber seasons.

Chancellor running back Dominique Wallace, who committed to play for Virginia next season, made the first team. As a second-team selection, Strother won’t be eligible for all-region and all-state honors from the VHSL, but could still make the Associated Press’s all-state team, which will be announced next month.

Shane Mettlen can be reached at 825-0771, ext. 127 or