High School Notebook: Burton stays with Syracuse

BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Syracuse University’s promotion of Scott Shafer to head coach alleviated any concerns former Courtland football standout Jonathan Burton may have had about committing to the Orange.

Burton, a 6-foot-7, 305-pound offensive tackle, recently gave a pledge to Syracuse after a semester at Fork Union Military Academy. That was before former head coach Doug Marrone left this week to become the head coach of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.

Such a change can leave a recruit in flux as he wonders if the new coach will honor his scholarship.

Fork Union coach John Shuman said Shafer’s promotion from defensive coordinator to head coach—as well as the retention of offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Greg Adkins—means Burton is still set for the Orange.

“He’s still on board and we feel comfortable that’s a good fit for him,” Shuman said. “I think we’re good there.”

Former Louisa quarterback Kire Worley also used a solid season at Fork Union to propel himself to a Division I scholarship. Worley has signed with St. Francis (Pa.) University and is already enrolled in school there, his father, Tony Worley said.

Worley was Louisa’s starting quarterback as a sophomore and junior before he transferred to Hermitage in Richmond and played defensive back as a senior.

He orally committed to the University of Richmond, but went on to prep school. Shuman said St. Francis envisions Worley as a defensive back or wide receiver.

“He played receiver, quarterback and defensive back for us, and held up at every spot,” Shuman said. “We liked him a lot.”

HORNETS NARROW LIST

Orange received 17 applications for its vacant head football coach position, athletic director Marc Cole said.

The Hornets will interview eight of those candidates beginning next week. They hope to submit a name to the School Board at its meeting later this month, but that timetable could be pushed back, Cole said.

The Hornets are seeking to replace John Kayajanian, who won 101 games and three district titles in 18 years. Orange went 2–18 the past two seasons.

Assistant coach Neal Ferguson is conducting offseason workouts until a new coach is hired.

PULLING DOUBLE DUTY

Orange has made one coaching decision. Boys basketball coach Keyode Rogers will be the girls soccer head coach this spring, Cole said.

Rogers was previously a boys soccer assistant coach. He replaces Lindsey Jones, who resigned after one season. Cole said Jones coached last season “basically as a favor” and Rogers “might just be another temporary fix.”

“He’s willing to help me out is what it amounts to,” Cole said. “He does like soccer, but basketball is his main deal and it’s hard being a head coach in two sports.”

AREA STANDOUTS HONORED

James Monroe football senior standouts Tony Scott and Darryl Dyson were named to the virginiapreps.com Group AA all-state team. Scott is a linebacker; Dyson was recognized as a return man.

James Monroe coach Rich Serbay was named Division 3 coach of the year after guiding the Yellow Jackets to a second straight state title game appearance.

Liberty’s Virginia Tech-bound defensive end Wyatt Teller was named defensive player of the year.

Ray Buckner (Chancellor), Chris Carpenter (Courtland), David Dit (JM), She’Mar Ellis (JM), Sammie Harper (Chancellor), Dominic Kaopua (Chancellor), Steven Moss (Chancellor) and Ethan Upperco (Chancellor) all received second-team recognition.

Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526

tcoghill@freelancestar.com

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