What a difference a year makes. Last year at this point, the Cumberland High varsity football team was winless and struggling. It was a young squad, made up of high school freshmen and a couple eighth graders, with a few high school sophomores mixes in. With that in mind, it’s hard to ask a group that young and undersized to suit up against 6’4 ft. juniors and seniors. As last year’s 0-11 record shows, the results aren’t pretty. The coaching staff and school administration decided to scrap the program for a year, to press pause and return next season to see if anything had changed. It already has.

Instead of playing against varsity teams, Cumberland High’s only football squad this season competes on the junior varsity level. For the most part, it’s the same mix as a season ago, with eighth, ninth and 10th graders suiting up. But competing against other teams the same age and size seems to have sparked something in this group, which remains undefeated at 3-0, entering this week’s game at Surry County. One of the keys, Cumberland Head Coach Josh Fleenor says, is the fact they’re not starting from scratch this year.

“Not having to teach fundamental football to multiple athletes saves a tremendous amount of time and allows us to focus on the strategies of football,” Fleenor said. “We were able to install an offense and work with these guys at a much faster pace than we were the year before.”

That was part of the problem last year, as Fleenor found himself teaching the basics to a team that was supposed to be competing at a varsity level.

Cumberland JV football building a program

But it goes beyond just having players with some experience under their belt. Cumberland is building a program, one that starts with the recreation league, before they even get to high school. Some of those developmental questions, the fundamentals of the sport, get addressed on that level.

“That rec league makes a difference,” Fleenor said. “When you’re able to have that feed into your program and for your program, things get better. I’ve got to give credit to our rec leaders and those coaches and others involved in the recreation program in Cumberland. That includes Samantha Panky, Alfonso Bell and Tiffany Johnson, along with others I’m probably leaving out. But those people have been working hard to make sure that we at the high school level are getting kids this year who understand the game of football. What they’ve been doing down there at that level, I believe, is more than showing itself.”

The Cumberland junior varsity also has some coaches trying new positions this year, as it’s been a time of development all around. Coach Stu Hannah has been with the program for two years, working as conditioning and strength coach, as well as with middle linebackers and running backers. This year, he volunteered to take on the role of defensive coordinator as well.

“He has brought our defense alive in Cumberland,” Fleenor said, pointing to the 56-0 domination of Nottoway County back on Sept. 19 as an example.

“Not only did we hold Nelson to 0 points, but I do not believe Nelson had any positive total team yardage the whole game,” Fleenor said. “The defense also forced four fumbles, had an interception and just really shut Nelson down all the way around.”

In fact, the team has only given up 10 total points all year, with those 10 coming in the season’s first game, a 28- 10 win over Altavista. So far, Cumberland has scored a total of 108 points, nearly totaling the entire offensive output of last year’s varsity team in three games. The group is averaging 36 points a game

That offense was put on display last Thursday, Oct. 3, as the team beat Nottoway County 24-0. The Dukes put up 473 yards of offense, with 208 in the air and 265 on the ground.

What’s next?

Now the team welcomes Surry County to town on Wednesday, Oct. 9, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. Fleenor said he was proud of both the boys and coaching staff, for working hard and building something special. It’s not just a one-year wonder either. This is a program, Fleenor feels, that’s built to last.

“I think all in all our guys have shown that they’re not only committed to bettering themselves through football, but they are committed to bettering our school and community and bringing back that Duke pride, through their success on the field,” Fleenor said.