Thomas, Scott form volatile WR-QB tandem for Raiders

APPOMATTOX — Neal Thomas has always had Kenny Scott’s back on Appomattox’s football team, as his backup at quarterback the past four seasons.

Scott, who starts at cornerback in the Raiders’ secondary, is Thomas’ backup at safety, and the two seniors share kickoff and punt return duties.

This season, much like Brandon “BeBe” Adams and his top target Terrence Younger at William Campbell — where Appomattox travels to play tonight at 7 — the close friends have established an even stronger connection as a quarterback-receiver tandem.

“There’s a chemistry between Neal and Kenny now,” said Appomattox second-year coach Ben Martin.

“I always look at him first to see where he’s at,” Scott added. “I put the ball up for him and he goes up and catches it.”

Like right before halftime of the Raiders’ 27-14 win over Park View on Sept. 25, when Thomas ran a fade route and made an acrobatic leaping catch of Scott’s 37-yard heave in the end zone.

“I try to go up as high as I can and catch it at its highest point,” Thomas said.

Through five games, Thomas has hauled in 11 passes from Scott for 321 yards (29.2 average) and three touchdowns, including a 61-yarder off a 15-yard slant pattern for his only catch in last week’s 41-7 Dogwood District-opening victory over Chatham.

“I’m hitting him and he’s making plays with the ball,” Scott said of Thomas, who also returned a punt 43 yards for the second touchdown in Appomattox’s 25-point first quarter.

“I’m probably a better punt returner (than receiver),” Thomas added.

Thomas has overtaken middle linebacker M.J. Pennix, who missed last week’s game with an ankle injury, as the Raiders’ leader in tackles with 36. But he’s even more valuable on offense.

“He’s had two 100-yard receiving games,” said Martin, who implemented the run-based triple-option threat he learned at Amherst, but has gone to the aerial attack more often this fall. “When teams start keying on the run, we’ve been able to get the ball out to (Thomas) in one-on-one situations.”

Last year, Scott attempted approximately five passes per game, but as he has become more familiar with the system and better at reading opposing defenses, Martin and his staff have gained confidence in his ability to throw the ball out of the option.

“Throwing it eight to 15 times per game has allowed us to open up our offense,” Martin said. “The running game’s our main thing. If we can pass, too, that makes us even more dangerous).”

William Campbell first-year head coach Dwayne Hamlette has stayed with the run-and-gun spread formation introduced by Brad Bradley in 2000, when the Generals dethroned the Raiders as Dogwood District champions. (They haven’t lost to them since.)

Like Appomattox (4-1, 1-0 Dogwood), which is led by Scott (50 rushes, 515 yards, eight TDs), Campbell runs more than it throws the ball, setting up the deep pass or screen with plenty of quarterback keepers. Adams has run 73 times for 392 yards, the exact same yardage Younger has gained on his 21 receptions.

“It’s two different formations, but we’re similar in styles,” Hamlette said. “They can throw it deep or throw it short and make you miss and take it to the house. They have a bunch of dangerous athletes on that side of the ball. Neal Thomas, he’s a deep threat any time.”

With the Dogwood as deep as it is this season, the Generals (2-3, 0-1) can’t afford to fall to 0-2 in district play if they entertain any hope of defending their title.

“Everybody’s cutthroat right now in the Dogwood,” Hamlette said, noting Gretna, Dan River, Appomattox and Altavista are all strong contenders. “I like to think of it as the SEC of high school football. It’s as tough a district from top to bottom as there is in the state, especially in single A.”

Adams could start tonight after suffering an Achilles’ tendon strain in a 14-8 win over Magna Vista two weeks ago. He was replaced by second-leading receiver Devante Easley, who started in last week’s 25-18 loss to Dan River.

“Devante did a terrific job of leading our offense,” Hamlette said. “He’s stepping in there and doing everything that we’re asking him. If Brandon’s a go (tonight), we’re fine. If he’s not a go, we’re still going to be fine.”

Scott believes the Raiders are primed to stage an upset on the road, after being blown out 58-7 in Naruna last fall.

“It’s been 10 years since we’ve beaten William Campbell,” he said. “Everybody’s got to be ready for this game. We’ve got to be ready the rest of this season.”