THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 7, 1995 TAG: 9512050137
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, COMPASS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 111 lines
THE DARK CLOUD that fell upon one of Booker T. Washington's best football teams in 10 years was lifted with the postseason awards.
The Bookers, who fell to a lowly 1-3 in the Eastern District due to the use of an ineligble player, captured 10 spots on the all-district team, as voted upon by league coaches. Granby was second with seven. Norview followed with four; Lake Taylor took three positions and Maury had two.
``That goes to show you that the best team in our district didn't represent us in the playoffs,'' Booker T. coach Larry Stepney said. ``And looking at the playoffs, I think we would have fared well. But we're not bitter about it. We have a fine team.''
Granby quarterback and Penn State-bound Anthony King was named the offensive player of the year, while Booker T. Washington senior linebacker Chester Jones earned defensive honors.
King, who led the Comets to a 3-1 finish, topped the district in passing with 965 yards. He completed 62 of 162 passes and threw only six interceptions and scored 11 touchdowns. King, just as efficient on the ground as he was in the air, also led the Bookers' in rushing with 755 yards on 142 carries.
Jones, also named the region defensive player of the year, was more than a just a dominating player on the field, coach Stepney said.
``He was our sergeant of arms. He kept peace amongst the guys especially during the time when the five games were taken away from us.''
Stepney added that Jones was ``by far the best defensive player'' the Bookers' had and was tied first team defensive back Kelvin Fuller - only a sophomore - with 11 1/2 tackles per game.
In addition to sharing the lead of tackles per game, Fuller also led Booker T. with seven interceptions.
``He's just learning that position,'' Stepney said. ``He's a very hard hitter in the secondary and posed a lot of problems for wide receivers.''
Joining King, Jones and Fuller on the first team were Maury's William Black, who earned honors at running back and lineman Reggie Wyatt.
Black topped Maury rushers with 563 yards on 117 carries and scored seven touchdowns, and also making 10 catches for 96 yards. Wyatt, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound senior, bolstered the Commodore line that allowed district opponents 266 yards of total offense per game.
Also named to the first team were Lake Taylor's Carlos Harper at guard and sophomore Ronyell Whitaker, who earned honors as running back and kick return specialist.
Harper, a three-year starter, was a mainstay in the Titans' lineup, coach Bert Harrell said.
``He played well for us moving him around so much,'' Harrell added. ``He was just as steady on both sides of the ball.''
Whitaker was the Titans biggest threat to score, whether rushing, receiving or running back a punt.
``He's loaded with talent,'' Harrell said of Whitaker, who scored 11 TDs and rushed for 1,010 yards on 167 carries. ``He keeps everything together and could be one of the next superstars in the long line of running backs.''
Earning first-team honors from Norview were wide receiver David Martin, punter James Whitley and defensive back and defensive end Hannibal McFarland.
Martin, a 6-5, 205-pound junior, led the Pilots in pass receptions with 413 yards on 23 catches. He also scored six touchdowns.
``Nobody in the district could catch him,'' Norview coach Will Robinson said. ``He runs great routes.''
Whitley was everything to Norview and will be again next year. The junior quarterbacked the Pilots, took care of the punting and, on defense, finished second on the team in tackles.
``He might be the best all-around football player I've ever coached,'' Robinson said. ``He's a strong kid and could do anything he wanted.''
McFarland, in his first season of football, was a quarterback's nightmare and led the team with 13 sacks.
Also named from Granby were William Thornton at center and linebacker/tackle Ray Martin, wide receiver Joe Bryant and linebacker Mike Urbaniak.
Rounding out the first team were Booker T.'s Delvin Young at defensive end, lineman and tight end Marlos Thomas, running back Shawn Minter, kicker Jeynard Tilman, linebacker Demetrious Whitehurst, tackle Rahaun Ashley and guard Alvin Butts.
Named to the second-team offense were Norview center Jeynard Tilman; Maury's Harry Levin and Norview's Mike Hicks at guard; tackles Reggie Wyatt of Maury and Norview's Melwood Waters; Granby's Mack Hall and Norview's Joe Jordan at wide receiver; Chester Jones of Booker T., Granby's Alex Sunkins and Norview's Dwayne Potts at running back; Booker T.'s Dominic Perry at quarterback. On defense, Maury's Mike Glover at kicker; kick return specialist Shawn Minter of Booker T.; at lineman, Booker T.'s Lavar Revils, Granby's Ray Martin and Lake Taylor's Carlos Harper; defensive ends Mike Ebong of Maury and Booker T.'s Gary Chew; linebackers William Black of Maury, Lake Taylor's LaPorte Jasper and Norview's Dietrick Knatt; and at defensive back, Maury's Jeremiah Bell, Lake Taylor's Ronyell Whitaker and Brian Kelly.
Earning honorable mention were Norview's Robert Braye at center; Lake Taylor's Brian Locklear and Granby's Urbaniak at guard; Lake Taylor's Ben Cuffee and Booker T.'s Richard Staten at tackle; Lake Taylor's Darnell Whitaker at tight end; Booker T.'s Fuller and Lake Taylor's Brian Kelly at wide receiver; Norview's Lamonte Hurst and Larry Austin and Maury's Greg Trotter at running back; Booker T.'s Dominic Perry at quarterback; Norview's Joe Jordan at kick return specialist; linemen LeRoy Barbour of Maury, Booker T.'s Tillman and Norview's Jason Jenkins; defensive ends Chris Stahl of Maury and Granby's Antwaine Dowe; linebackers Charlie Brown of Maury, Granby's DeShawn Griffin and Lake Taylor's Locklear; and at defensive back, Booker T.'s Demetrious Scott, Granby's D.J. Alexander and Norview's Larry Austin. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Granby's Anthony King
Offensive Player of the Year
Booker T.'s Chester Jones
Defensive Player of the Year
by CNB