Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993 TAG: 9308310316
SECTION: NEW RIVER VALLEY PREP FOOTBALL PAGE: PF-20 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
Gone are a dozen starters from last year's 7-3 team that stayed in the hunt for a playoff spot until the final game of the season. And most of those graduation losses - seven - came from the Buffaloes' traditionally tenacious defense.
But don't count Floyd County out just yet. With its nucleus of returnees and players moving up from the junior varsity, the team should improve as the season unfolds. So Floyd County should find itself no worse than in the middle of the of the nine-team Mountain Empire District.
"We're hoping to be in the upper half, but there are a lot of good teams up there," said Coach Winfred Beale. "Hopefully, we'll challenge."
The reason for Beale's optimism is that Floyd County has most of its skilled people back on offense. That list begins with quarterback Monty Moran.
A versatile athlete, Moran added 15 pounds to his 6-foot frame over the summer. Now a 195-pound senior entering his fourth year on the varsity, Moran's strength and experience should help him lead the offense.
"We're going to be strong on offense," said Moran. "We have a lot of people back on offense. It has to help us that we have people like that."
Much of the running chores will be shared by a pair of returning seniors who played fullback last year - Winky Nichols (5-10, 180) and Mike Weeks (5-11, 210). So both can play at the same time, Nichols is moving to tailback. Among those spelling them in the Buffaloes' Power-I attack will be junior Jamie Warren (5-10, 175), a JV standout last season.
When the Buffaloes decide to throw, Moran will have one familiar target in senior tight end Jason Harmon (6-1, 170), who was a part-time starter last season. The split ends include senior Duane Nichols (6-1, 160) and junior Darrel Quesenberry (6-1, 160), reserves a year ago, and newcomer Jason Pratt (5-11, 160), a junior.
"We'll be fine if we can block and control the football and not make too many mistakes," said Beale. "We don't have a lot of superstars. We have a blue-collar team."
The line will be anchored by senior guards Josh Howery (5-11, 185) and Matt Tolbert (5-9, 210). Reserves and junior varsity players from last year will make up the rest of the line. The most promising of that group is junior Travis Wimmer (5-11, 200).
But how well Floyd County does this season will be determined by how well its defense develops. And that will depend on how quickly the few returnees can pass along their experience to the rest of the defensive unit.
"We've got people here who have been around for three years," said Nichols. "We know how it feels to lose, and we know how it feels to win. That's something we can pass on to the juniors and the players up from the JV [team]. We can teach them what it is like to play at this level."
The Buffaloes' lineman and linebackers will have to be fast learners for the team to succeed. Tackle Tolbert and linebacker Charles Blackwell (5-9, 185), a senior, are the only returning starters in the front seven.
The other positions around the ball will be filled from a variety of places. One source for prospective linemen and linebackers is the basketball team. Seniors Joe Kaiser (5-9, 170) and Phillip Marshall (5-11, 180) and junior Adrian Webb (5-11, 180) are playing this season after concentrating on basketball a year ago. Beale describes all three as defensive-end-types.
Another player returning from a year's layoff is Gary Chaffin (5-10, 200). The junior could open the season as the Buffaoles' middle linebacker.
And the JV team produced replacements for the graduates as well, such as junior linebacker Peter Buckland (5-8, 170).
The secondary should be stronger with cornerbacks Nichols and Harman returning, although Harman may be moved to strong safety or linebacker because of his size. Warren also will see action in the defensive backfield.
"We have some experience," Beale said of the defense. "We'll find out if we have hitters once we start playing. That'll be the test for us. We'll see if the players can make the transition from JV to varsity football."
by CNB