Best is yet to come for inexperienced Cyclones

Expectations surrounding the Eastern View High School football team have been swirling since last November when the Cyclones finished their inaugural season with a 7-3 record.

Those expectations weren’t diminished by the long summer and may have even grown as a bevy of talented players made the jump to varsity from junior varsity and a heated quarterback battle ushered in the Cyclones’ first season in the Battlefield District.

But this year’s Cyclones are a completely different beast than the first team in the new school’s history.

I’m not saying Eastern View isn’t as explosive as it was a year ago. The Cyclones have speed in spades, but what they’re lacking is experience.

Last year’s squad was led by All-State running back Stevie Strother, senior quarterback Cody Whitlock and plenty of veterans such as linebacker Blake Smith, safety Moe Safren and tackle Heath Brown.

Several of those guys had two or even three years of varsity experience under their belts the first time they suited up as a Cyclone, but that’s a luxury this year’s team just doesn’t have.

A plethora of underclassmen have dominated the Cyclones’ leader board this season, and topping that list is starting quarterback Simon Pendleton.

The sophomore has looked like one of the Battlefield’s top dual-threat signal callers at times, but has also looked a little rattled against tough competition.

That seemed to be the case in the second half of Friday’s 35-6 loss to James Monroe. Pendleton only completed three passes and failed to lead his team to a third-down conversion over the final two quarters.

Just like Pendleton, the Cyclones’ top running back spent last season on the JV squad. Junior Alquan Newman has the size — 5-10, 225 pounds — and the moves to be a dynamic back, but he also disappeared during the second half of Friday’s loss.

After racking up 86 yards on seven carries and setting up the Cyclones’ lone touchdown by halftime, Newman only gained seven yards on five carries the rest of the way.

The Cyclones also only have one wide receiver with varsity experience in their pass-heavy spread offense, and three of Eastern View’s top pass-catchers were on the JV team a year ago.

Connor Settle is the Cyclones only receiver who got significant varsity playing time last year. The junior has played a large role in the passing game this season — 246 yards and three touchdowns on 24 catches — but sophomore V.J. Ivory is leading the air attack with 341 yards and three touchdowns on 22 receptions.

Juniors Drayton Shanks and Carl Lacy — who join Ivory as first-year starters — have also been two of Pendleton’s favorite targets. Shanks has 341 yards and two touchdowns on 21 catches, but has struggled with drops, while Lacy has 11 catches for 307 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cyclones didn’t lose to James Monroe because the Yellow Jackets simply had better athletes.

Don’t believe me? Just ask JM coach Rich Serbay.

“This is an awesome team and they are a step away,” he said after the game. “These kids are going to be a force in the future, I don’t care how you look at it. They’ve got a lot going for them.”

Eastern View came up on the short end Friday because of costly mistakes and not taking advantage of opportunities given — two of the major foibles of a young, inexperienced team.

Connor Settle broke away for a 45-yard touchdown during the first quarter, but the score was waived off because of a block in the back. Settle then set the Cyclones up with great field position after a long kick off return in the second quarter, but it was also negated because of a penalty.

It’s hard to say whether or not a more experienced team would have made those same mistakes, but the game is in the past and the Cyclones are focused on the future because they know just how bright it is.