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A family homecoming
Three generations meet for America's passion
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo
Three generations attended La Plata's homecoming contest on Oct. 24: Billy Poole, left, Beth Poole-McCollum and Chris Boone, a sophomore running back and special teams player.
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There were three generations of the Poole family that came out to watch La Plata football team's homecoming game against Queen Anne's of Queen Anne's County on Oct. 24.
Billy Poole graduated from La Plata in 1958 and daughter Beth Poole-McCollum graduated in 1985, while sophomore running back and special teams player Chris Boone who wears the No. 34 jersey, will graduate in 2012.
Poole started for La Plata's varsity team during his sophomore season. He played one game for the Warriors, but an ankle injury kept him from finishing out that campaign and never returned to the team.
Today, as a retired sheriff with the Charles County Sheriff's Office, he now focuses his time and attention on his grandson's dreams of playing and is happy to see his Chris fulfilling his dream of playing football.
"It gives me a great thrill to watch him play," Poole said. "He really puts his heart into it and by his senior year, he'll be really good. We're hoping he gets a scholarship."
Poole celebrated his 50th class reunion last year.
Poole-McCollum, Chris' mother, enjoys watching her son play as well and knows that this has been a rebuilding year for the Warriors, but that doesn't stop her from supporting her alma mater.
"It's wonderful, I love it [watching him play]." McCollum said. "Next year is a new year, and we're all excited for him and the team."
Even though Boone decided to pick up football just before high school, he advanced quickly, going straight from the freshman team to the varsity squad and La Plata head football coach Andy Loucks is looking to see Boone improve upon his first season.
"Both sophomore players [Kurt Boyles included] have matured and progressed throughout the season," Loucks said. "They seem to be getting more comfortable and confident as the season comes to a close and I think guys have a bright future if they commit themselves to becoming bigger, faster and stronger this offseason. If they decide to make that commitment, they should be fighting for a starting position next year."
Boone played for the Blue Knights and his very first coach, Ron Heath, has rejoined his running back as Heath now is one of the assistants at La Plata.
"I coached him for one season on the Blue Knights and he fell in love with the sport," Heath said. "He's a good kid; he's eager to learn the game. He is what we want this program to be about –– guys like him that work hard to keep their grades up and continue to put the work in and work hard. I'm very proud of him."
Boone, at 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds, prefers the running back position. He knows that in order to prepare for next year that he'll need to stay in the gym.
"I'll be in the weight room in the offseason to stay in shape and work on my endurance," Boone said.
Boone stated that Huntingtown was the biggest competition for the Warriors this year with Westlake a close second.
"Huntingtown has size," Boone said, "and Westlake has speed.
Boone enjoyed playing Leonardtown this season where he saw more playing time. The Warriors defeated the Raiders, 31-3, on Oct. 9. It was the Raiders' homecoming night.
"I got some good tackles in that game," Boone said. "That was a good game."
La Plata (2-7, 2-5 SMAC) will finish out its season at 7 tonight by welcoming in McDonough (6-3, 4-3) for senior night.
"I think we were really coming together as a team, and next year I think the pieces will fall into place for us," Boone said.
