The Giants’ new look

By Robert Sisk The News Virginian
Published: July 30, 2008

Three days into preseason football practice and Waynesboro has already pushed all its chips into the pot.
With a strong group of returning players and an eager group of rookies, the Little Giants are filled with confidence about the season ahead. Familiar names will fill out the backfield, but one face that received little attention last season, is becoming the Little Giants’ new foundation.
Chet Berry was new to the purple and gold’s ranks last season, an untested quarterback on a roster full of skill and four-year starters. Then first-year coach Steve Isaacs pointed Berry out of the crowd, citing him as one of the cogs in the future of Waynesboro offense.
“To show you how much confidence we have in him, we are retooling some of the stuff that we do just to take advantage of his skills,” Isaacs said. “He went to camps this summer and worked twice a day in the weight room, you can’t ask for more. He’s done everything he can to make himself a better football player.”
Berry said that he focused on his mobility and pocket presence during the camps.
“I just need to be more mobile, that’s my goal,” he said.
His arm was promising, but his experience was lacking. As the Little Giants wrapped up the 2007 season, Isaacs began putting Berry in the game. His results were what were expected of a young quarterback, but now entering his junior year Berry is ready to take over the Little Giants’ leadership role.
“The new offense looks good and I think it will work well with the teams we are going to see,” Berry said.
He attended camps over the summer and arrived daily in the Waynesboro weight room at 6:30 a.m., riding his bike so that he’d be on time. Over the course of the off-season he gained the respect of not only the coaching staff but also the players who would be protecting him on Friday nights.
“He earned my respect because he was in that weight room every day giving it 150 percent,” said lineman Jacob Lipscomb. “He didn’t complain. When [former assistant] coach [Blake] Markaway was here, before school started we’d have open weight room. He rode his bike here every morning at 6:30 [a.m.] on the dot to do it. He earned my respect.”
The offensive line is excited to have a true passer to protect, and are bettering themselves to make sure he has all the time to throw.
“Last year we met him and we seen his arm and we knew he could do something if we gave him time,” said lineman Kendall Sweet.
“I think he’s got what it takes that, if he wanted to, he could play later on.” Lipscomb added. “He’s got what it takes. He can take a hit, but I’ve seen him give them too.”
He’s a quiet person, reserving most of his emotion for the field. Isaacs said that his silence shows more leadership qualities that the Little Giants will need if they expect to better their trend of losing seasons.
“Chet has an air about him, he’s quiet but he has the confidence,” Isaacs said. “I think that is comforting if you are a lineman or a back or receiver, to have a guy like that in the huddle makes everyone think they can get it done.”
Berry’s talent doesn’t just show on the practice room, but rears itself in the film room. Isaacs said that Berry spends his time away from the field studying the game.
“He’s like a sponge,” Isaacs said. “You throw it out there and its going in.”
But it’s still the first week of practice and every team is a perfect 0-0.
“I’m excited,” Berry said. “It’s going a lot better than last year.”
The Little Giants will have until Aug. 22 to work the new tweaks into their old-style single wing offense. On that first Friday night Waynesboro will be in Bridgewater, taking on Turner Ashby. Last season the Giants nearly beat the Knights, but fell a field goal short.