WDBJ 7 Friday Football Extra for 12/05/97

23:35-01

Sendoff

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=ffe
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#FFE-13
GRAPHIC=FFE BIG
SUPER=59-Mike Stevens

Welcome one and all to another edition of Friday Football Extra as we get ready to turn up the volume for tomorrow's state championship Saturday.
SS=VHSL PLAYOFFS

Two teams from the Friday Football Extra coverage area are all that remain as we approach the final weekend of the season.
In the next half hour we'll preview both the Fleming-Hampton and Heritage-Spotsylvania mathcups.
We'll also meet Hampton phenom Ronald Curry, and flashback to 1986 in the Friday Football Extra archives when Salem faced Hampton for the Division 6 championship. Plus, we will meet out final player of the week for 1997.
SS=FLEMING/HAMPTON

And we begin over on Ferncliff Avenue in Northwest Roanoke City, where the Fleming faithful turned out in big numbers to give the Colonels a hero's sendoff as they boarded the big bus and headed to Norfolk.
Photographer Greg Moore was along for the ride this morning to capture the sights and sounds of one of the proudest moments in school history.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=FIRST AUDIO
SUPER=51-Roanoke/8:30 This Morning; :00
SUPER=50-David Bowers/Mayor Of Roanoke;
SUPER=60-Alyce Szathmary/Fleming Principal/Voice of:; :57
RUNS=1:41
OUT Q=....SWEET, EVERYTHING!
(-------------)
fade out

Fleming

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=FFE
WRITER=Roy
TAPE#FFE-15
GRAPHIC=Fleming/Hampton

Well, those sweet guys will try to buck tradition tomorrow as they go to war with the nationally ranked and heavily favored Crabbers of Hampton.
Roy Stanley says while the rankings make the game interesting this battle is really about two teams with some very special players.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=First audio
SUPER=51-Norfolk/Thursday Afternoon; :
SUPER=50-Charlie Hartig/Norfolk City Media Relations; :16
SUPER=51-Arlington/Last Saturday; :24
SUPER=50-George "Kila" Miller/Fleming Head Coach; :46
SUPER=50-Mike Smith/Hampton Head Coach; :58
SUPER=51-Hampton/This Season; 1:18
SUPER=50-Sherman Lea/Fleming Quarterback; 2:07
SUPER=59-Roy Stanley; 2:27
RUNS=2:46
OUT Q=.....football Extra."
(-------------)
((The championship game will be played at the New Dick Price Stadium on the Campus of Norfolk State.
The University's ground crew spent most of the day Thursday removing plastic and draining the field to get ready for Saturday's game.)) ((CHARLIE HARTIG/DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS: )) ((Now that field conditions will not be a problem, The two teams can concentrate on the game at hand.
The Colonels are hot off a 47 to 7 win over West Potomac in the Semi-Finals last week.
Fleming has advanced through the playoffs taking it one game at a time.)) ((GEORGE "KILA" MILLER/FLEMING HEAD COACH: )) ((MIKE SMITH/HAMPTON HEAD COACH: )) ((While Suggs and Word are the main Cogs in the Colonel Offense, Fleming is well aware of Hampton's national ranking and the Crabbers star quarterback Ronald Curry.
The Colonel defense has dominated teams throughout the playoffs and the plan is to contain Curry and prevent the Crabbers from winning their third straight state title.)) ((MILLER: )) ((SMITH: )) ((ROY STANDUP: )) ((SHERMAN: )) ((Kick off tomorrow at Dick Price Stadium on the Norfolk State campus is 1 O'clock.
Roy Stanley news 7 sports.))
(-------------)

Curry

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=FFE
WRITER=Roy
TAPE#FFE-10
GRAPHIC=Ronald Curry

While Lea will enter the game as a virtual unknown, Curry is a household name from one end of the state to the other.
Roy Stanley talked with the Hampton senior this week about growing up under a microscope.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=first audio
SUPER=51-Hampton/This Season; :00
SUPER=50-Mike Smith/Hampton Head Coach; :23
SUPER=50-Ronald Curry/Hampton Quarterback; :51
SUPER=59-Roy Stanley; 1:26
SUPER=51-Lynchburg/1992 Div. 5 Championship; 1:50
RUNS=2:10
OUT Q=.......football extra.
(-------------)
((Curry's statistics through the regular season are down right amazing. He passed for over 17 hundred yards and 17 touchdowns.
Then add his 8 yard rushing average and 19 rushing touchdowns and its easy to see why he's the top high school football player in the state.)) ((MIKE SMITH/HAMPTON HEAD COACH: )) ((Curry has been in the spotlight through his career at Hampton and he's handled it all very well.
ESPN, CNN and even N-F-L films has featured Curry at one time this season. And the two sport star has handled the hype like a pro.)) ((RONALD CURRY/HAMPTON QUARTERBACK: )) ((Curry will play his last game for the Crabbers tomorrow afternoon in the Division five state championship against William Fleming.
If Hampton wins, It will be the Crabbers third straight state championship.)) ((CURRY: )) ((ROY STANDUP: )) ((CURRY: )) ((While Curry's accomplishments are truly amazing they are not unprecedented for an athlete from the Hampton area in this decade. In 1983, Bethel's Allen Iverson, who's now a star for the 76-ers, led the Bears to a state title in football and was named the state's top football and basketball player.))
(-------------)

Board-Bump

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=ffe
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=FFE LITTLE

When we come back we'll will turn back the pages in the Friday Football Extra history books and visit with professor Willis White, who himself took an underdog team from the Roanoke Valley district into battle against Hampton in 1986.
That Flashback is coming up right after we check out the pertinent information concerning all six of tomorrow's state wide title games. go to boards

Salem

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=FFE
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#ffe-12
GRAPHIC=FFE LITTLE

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen as we continue to get you ready for tomorrow's state championship weekend.
Before we move on to the Heritage-Spotsylvania matchup
SS=SALEM/HAMPTON

we need to step back in time to December 6th, 1986 the first year the Virginia High School League expanded the playoffs to crown six state champions.
It was also that year that the then Triple-A Salem Spartans faced none other than the Hampton Crabbers in the Division Six state championship game.
SS=WILLIS WHITE

Earlier this week we talked to coach Willis White about that day 11 years ago, and picked his brain about tomorrow's game.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=NAT SOUND
SUPER=51-Newport News/December 6, 1986; :00
SUPER=50-Willis White/Salem Head Coach; :34
RUNS=1:55
OUT Q=...THEY'LL PLAY HARD."
(-------------)
(( Nearly 4000 Salem fans make the trek down to Todd Stadium in Newport News 11 years ago to watch the Spartans give the defending state champion Crabbers all they wanted.
David Sweeney, who would later play at UVa, led a fired up Salem defense on that sunny afternoon.
Sophomore quarterback Tim Smith led the Salem Offense. And he got some great play out of receiver Frank Fitzgerald - and also fullback Johnny Meadows. ((WILLIS WHITE/SALEM HEAD COACH:))
Two short Hampton TD runs including this one from quarterback Derrick Croom sealed the Crabbers 14-to-nothing win that day. Salem wasn't supposed to make it that close - White says he sees a lot of the qualities that 86 team possessed in the one Fleming is taking into battle tomorrow.)) ((WILLIS WHITE:))

Stadium

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=FFE
WRITER=Roy
TAPE#FFE-11
GRAPHIC=FFe Logo

Well, unlike the team White took to Richlands in 1992, Fleming should enjoy a dry, fast track on which to play the Crabbers.
Roy Stanley has a look at the stadium hosting the game and a city that is excited about its athletic Future.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=First audio
SUPER=51-Norfolk; :04
SUPER=50-Charlie Hartig/Norfolk City Media Relations; :31
SUPER=50-Gerald Tyler/Norfolk St. Campus Relations Director; 1:02
RUNS=1:32
OUT Q=........football extra."
(-------------)
((It's only a year old But Dick Price Stadium has already been the host to a football game between Norfolk State and Virginia state that attracted more than 30-thousand people.
Earlier this week the University's ground crew began preparing the field for the Division Five state football championship.
The field was a little bear in spots but it was dry and city officials guarantee it will be in tip top shape for a one oclock kickoff.)) ((CHARLIE HARTIG/DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS: )) ((The city and and the University are proud of the year old stadium that seats 30-thousand.
And its the center piece for future growth at Norfolk State.)) ((GERALD TYLER/DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS: )) ((ROY STANDUP: ))
(-------------)

Tease#1

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=ffe
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#bump-a
GRAPHIC=FFE LITTLE

Time now to shift out focus to the Division Four title game between Heritage and Spotsylvania, and we will do just right after a quick break.
Steve Mason will join us with a look at the Pioneers' sendoff
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#

and tell us how the Pioneers' quarterback change will affect tomorrow's battle with the Knights.
(-------------)

Pioneers

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=ffe
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#FFE-14
GRAPHIC=FFE LITTLE

Welcome back ladies and gentleman as we noe turn our attention to the Division Four title game.
SS=HERITAGE/SPOTSYLVANIA

The Heritage Pioneers are bracing themselves for the school's first ever shot a football championship.
Tomorrow they play one of the state's perennial powers, Spotsylvania High School just outside of Fredericksburg.
This morning photographer Cory Anderson caught up the Pioneers and their fans as they headed north.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=FIRST AUDIO
SUPER=51-Lynchburg/This Morning; :00
RUNS=:58
OUT Q=....number one!
(-------------)
fade out

Heritage

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=FFE
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=FFE-16
GRAPHIC=Heritage/Spotsylvania

The Pioneers are certainly number one in the Hill City and in the Region, but Steve Mason says this team chances being number one in the state will hinge on how well the players handle some last minute adjustments.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=first audio
SUPER=59-Steve Mason; :00
SUPER=50-Micah James/Heritage Senior Quarterback; :22
SUPER=50-Alex Lucy/Heritage Linebacker; :36
SUPER=50-Pem Apperson/Heritage Head Coach; :49
SUPER=51-Lynchburg; :55
SUPER=51-Salem/1991 Division 4 State Championship; 1:03
SUPER=51-Spotsylvania/1994 Division 4 State Championship; 1:09
SUPER=51-Salem/1997 Region III Championship; 1:14
SUPER=50-Antron Smith/Heritage Defensive Lineman; 1:45
SUPER=51-Lynchburg/Division 4 State Semi-Finals; 2:13
RUNS=3:03
OUT Q=...News 7 sports"
(-------------)
((STEVE:)) ((MICAH:)) ((LUCY:)) ((PEM:)) ((James has more speed than Lucy, and even though the starters aerial weapon is out of commission; the Pioneers remain confident in their passing attack.
Spotsylvania won state championships in 1991 against Salem on the Spartans field and then again in 1994 against a tough Amherst team. But; the Pioneers don 't seem intimidated as evident in a winning performance two weeks ago against the most recent champion. ((PEM:)) Tomorrow; Heritage's biggest challenge will be stopping Spotsylvania 5'11", 225 tailback Sharrun Byrd. On the job training against another Byrd in the playoffs should help. ((ANTRON:)) The heritage line, on both sides, averages about 205 pounds. The Spotsylvania trenchmen go about 255 according to Heritage's 4th year coach.
But the Pioneers stopped a Lee County team that also packed more beef up front. ((LUCY:))
While The Knights might have the edge on the scales; The Pioneers motivation to win the schools first state title seems to out weigh size, tradition, and homefield advantage.))

Tease#2

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=ffe
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#BUMP-B
GRAPHIC=FFE LITTLE

Still to come tonight
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#

we'll check in with a Colonel who has been traveling in the right direction all season long - big daddy J.R. Word.
(-------------)
take a break

Player

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=ffe
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#FFE-8
GRAPHIC=FFE LITTLE

Friday Football Extra rolls on now with our final player of the week segment of the season.
SS=PLAYER OF WEEK

If you are a cook and you come from the old school you know that the only way to make a truly good pot of beans is to season them with a big piece of fat back.
SS=J.R. WORD

Lately, adding "Phat Backs" - that's PHAT - to football teams has also proved to be a winning recipe.
Nowhere is that more evident than at William Fleming where 235 pound J.R. Word has been "The Word" most of this season for the Colonels.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=first audio
SUPER=51-Arlington/Fleming vs. W. Potomac; :00
SUPER=50-J.R. Word/FFE Player of the Week; :28
SUPER=50-George "Kila" Miller/Fleming Head Coach; :52
RUNS=1:42
OUT Q=....TRYING MY BEST."(2)
(-------------)
(( Most of this season J.R. has been in charge of clearing a path for 2000 plus yard rusher Lee Suggs. As the fullback in the Fleming offense Word's job is not to run but rumble with his blocks.
But in the State Semi-finals against West Potomac, Word went from a blocker to a game breaker by rushing for 161 yards and two scores in the Colonels resounding win over West Potomac. ((J.R. WORD/FFE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:))
Word has been making waves in a number of ways since he arrived at Fleming. The four year starter at both linebacker and fullback is the Colonels elder statesman and unofficial coach. ((KILLER MILLER:))
Word is a favorite with his teammates and the Fleming fans, who often marvel and the manner in which their "Phat-Back" can motor.)) ((J.R. WORD:))

2-Board-Bump

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=ffe
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=FFE LITTLE

Stay with us up next we'll have some direction for those of you making last minute plans to attend one of these games. go to chyron

Directions

ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=ffe
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=ffe little

We thought some of you heading to tomorrow's games in either Norfolk or Spotsylvania could use a helping hand so, we have prepared some directions for you.
(-------------)
PINNACLE BOARD - HERITAGE
Those of you leaving the Hill CIty tomorrow morning and heading to Spotsylvania will want to follow this path.
Take 29 north to Charlottesville, where you will then take interstate 64 east to the Fercliff Exit, which is Route 208.
At the bottom of the exit ramp go left on 208 and follow the road through the towns of Louisa and Mineral all the way to Spotsylvania high school.
The entire trip should take between 2 and a half and three hours.
And as an extra guide - remember once you get off of 64 you're about 40 miles away from the school.
(-------------)
pinnacle board - fleming
And for you Colonel fans, you need to set your alarms for the early morning hours. Your trip to Norfolk State tomorrow will take a good four and a half to 5 hours.
Take 81 north to Staunton where you will hit 64 east.
Stay on that until you reach I-264 in the Norfolk area.
Off of 264, you will exit onto Brambleton Avenue. That is Exit 11-B.
Then finally take a right onto Park Avenue which will put you at Norfolk State.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Mike
SS=FFE LITTLE

Hope you have a great weekend everybody, and remember we'll be back next Friday night for our season finale with a look at the Friday Football Extra awards' banquet and a preview of the Stagg Bowl. go to close and credits. Take Care everybody.