FRANKLIN
Every high school football player dreams of ending his career with confetti falling around him, just as Isle of Wight quarterback Bryce Casey did with a 33-16 win over Roanoke Catholic in the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association State Championship Game. On Friday, the signal caller added one more plaque to his trophy case when he was named the Western Tidewater Player of the Year by The Tidewater News.

“It’s an honor,” Casey said. “I didn’t go into the year expecting to win any individual accolades. I just wanted to win a state championship.”

Casey finished his senior campaign by leading the Chargers to a 10-1 record, reeling off 10-consecutive wins after a season-opening loss to Division III finalist Atlantic Shores. He completed 65 of 104 pass attempts for 1174 yards and 18 touchdowns and only three interceptions — a welcomed change from 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions when the Chargers went 4-5 one season ago.

“In the offseason, we just came together and we gelled,” Casey explained. “Coach [Dale Chapman] hired a strength and conditioning coach, and we just worked hard all summer.”

The 6-foot-5-inch pocket passer captured Western Tidewater Player of the Week honors twice this season, throwing three touchdowns apiece in wins over Broadwater Academy and Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot. He was the only player in the region to be named player of the week more than once this season.

Casey, who upon graduation will likely head to Chowan University in Murfreeboro, North Carolina, to study business and walk on to the football team, thanked his teammates for putting him in the position to succeed.

“I couldn’t have done it without them,” Casey said, citing running backs Alec Edwards and Donald King, wide receiver Curtis Waters and his offensive line, among others. “They definitely helped make the offense go.”

With the football season in the rear-view mirror, Casey will now focus on basketball. One of the stars of the team — averaging nearly 14 points per game over his varsity career from the small forward position — Casey said he’s just going to enjoy these last few months at Isle of Wight.

“IWA is my family,” he said.