D2 Coach Of The Year

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Division 2 Coach of the Year:  Kevin Saunders.  Saunders guided Gretna to the D-2 state title. 

After losing to Gate City in the state finals a year ago, Kevin Saunders and the Gretna Hawks appeared to be on a mission all season long, to go one step further than a year ago.  That they did, capturing the 2011 D-2 state title, the program's fifth title in the last nine years!

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Kevin Saunders

Saunders told VirginiaPreps.com "Our team was very dedicated to the off season from last year to this year. They did a great job in the weight room and also in the classroom. Our team was just that. dedicated to one another and their commitment to our coaches and each other was what carried us through the season. They were dedicated to getting better each day and they worked very hard to get better. They never went away from any game plan and always believed they would get the job done.

"Our defense never gave up more than two touchdowns in any game this year. The most points given up were 17.... Even when we had blowouts our backups went in and carried the game plan out just like our starters.

"Our team was very football smart so our adjustments on offense defense and kicking game went smoothly. All our players knew their role on the team. Our coaches worked hard and are extremely knowledgeable and have the ability to get our scheme through to each and every player.  And last but not least our players played every play extremely hard and with great passion"

History repeats? An interesting note, this was Saunders' first state title as a coach. It comes in his third season at Gretna. The two coaches at Gretna before Saunders, Rob Senseney and Chris Thurman, also won their first state title in their third season at Gretna.