BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

Malcolm Lewis isn't big on milestones.

But the Washington & Lee High School football coach does get nostalgic when thinking about former players.

Lewis can earn the 100th win of his career tomorrow when the Eagles (2-0) visit Mathews in a nondistrict contest at 7:30 p.m.

"I thought I won it last year," Lewis said of the mark. "That's how aware I am of it."

Lewis said he's never tracked his career win total but has been reminded by others lately that he's approaching the mark.

"I don't care about these hundred," Lewis said. "I care about the next one. But this is a celebration of [past and present players]. Those are the kids who should feel good about all this."

With a win tomorrow, Lewis will become the fourth current Fredericksburg-area coach to reach the milestone. Rich Serbay (James Monroe), Tim Coleman (Fredericksburg Christian School) and Bill Brown (Colonial Forge) are the others.

"I would be honored to be in such a group," said Lewis, who is in his 13th year with the Eagles. "I was playing football when they were coaching."

Lewis already has something in common with Serbay, Coleman and Brown: They've all won state titles.

The Eagles won the Group A, Division 2 championship in 2001. And while Lewis certainly basked in that moment, he said it isn't the proudest time of his career. He said he "tears up" during every graduation and he's more proud of the program's success after the title run.

"We don't want to think it's been all downhill from there," Lewis said. "We've won regional championships with new people. That stands as a testament that we weren't just a flash in the pan. We have a good program."

DISTRICT DOMINANT

The Commonwealth District is off to its best start in years. The teams in the district, excluding Albemarle, finished nondistrict play with a 16-5 record. The Commonwealth was 5-0 against the Battlefield District after going 2-4 in 2008 with both wins coming against a struggling Spotsylvania team.

Commonwealth teams have also picked up impressive victories over Cardinal and Cedar Run district opponents this season.

District play gets under way tomorrow, highlighted by Massaponax (3-0) at Colonial Forge (2-1) and Brooke Point (2-1) at Mountain View (2-1).

"I think the district is really good," said North Stafford head coach Joe Mangano. "I used to coach at Gar-Field in the Cardinal, and from top to bottom, if you look at our district, we're just as good as the Cardinal."

QBs ON THE MEND

There have been several key ailments to quarterbacks in the area this season.

Stafford junior Nick Oltman and North Stafford junior Marcus Morrast both missed last week's games with the flu. Stafford head coach Chad Lewis said Oltman will face Riverbend tomorrow. Mangano said Morrast is questionable to go against Albemarle. Wolverines' backup Austin Grebe was 8 of 14 for 125 yards last week.

Chancellor's Micah Cunningham (bruised ribs) is off this week and should be ready for a trip to Eastern View next Friday.

Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526
Email: tcoghill@freelancestar.com