Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993 TAG: 9308310326
SECTION: NEW RIVER VALLEY PREP FOOTBALL PAGE: PF-24 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
\ WILLIAM FLEMING returns nine starters on offense from last year's 6-5 (3-1 in the district) squad and should be the biggest obstacle to Pulaski County's repeating as district champs.
Senior tailback Eddie Jones, who rushed for 758 yards in seven games last year, returns to lead what should be one of the top running games in Timesland. Jones will run behind an offensive line that will be very offensive to opponents. It averages about 250 pounds and includes tight end John St. Clair, a first-team Roanoke Valley District selection last year.
Senior Al Holland will be the starting quarterback for the third year in a row, and senior wide receiver Ernie Harrington, who caught 27 passes last year, will be his top returning target.
Harrington, a first-team Roanoke Valley pick last year at safety, heads up a strong secondary.
But can the Colonels unseat the Cougars?
"Pulaski's just Pulaski to us," William Fleming Head Coach Sherley Stuart said. "Winning the district, that's our No. 1 goal."
If it's not William Fleming, then maybe PATRICK HENRY - which returns 10 starters from last year's 5-5 (2-2) squad - will do the trick. First-team all- state quarterback Shannon Taylor will lead the Patriots' aerial attack. That's good news for PH. Taylor, a senior, threw for 1,500 yards and 16 TD's last year. He also ran for eight touchdowns.
The Patriots will keep the ball in the air as long as Taylor can throw it. Ben Johnson and Walter West, Taylor's top two targets from last year, graduated, but sophomore wide receiver Jamie Price had 19 catches for 400 yards last year. Senior running backs Adrian Moore and Ike Williams combined for 500 yards last year and will run behind an offensive line that averages 220 pounds.
The defense, though, is what concerns Head Coach Ed Scott the most.
The defensive line will be light, only averaging 180 pounds, so they'll use their quickness by using lots of slants. Seniors Rod Akers, Danny Graham, Andre Irving and Randy Burch make up a solid secondary for the Patriots.
\ CAVE SPRING will be Barber-less this year. Tiki Barber, an All-Timesland selection at running back last year, and his brother, Ronde, both graduated, and only four starters return on offense. Three of returnees are on the offensive line, so senior running back Matt Ireland may have holes to run through. Senior Lee Flora and sophomore Jeff Lang will battle for the starting quarterback spot. Only two starters return on defense.
"This is a very green bunch," Head Coach Steve Spangler said. "They're gonna take it upside the head some."
\ FRANKLIN COUNTY can't go anywhere but up after last year's 0-10 record. Senior quarterback Scott Lynch, who last year became the first player in the history of the school to throw for more than 1,000 yards in a season, is back. So are receivers Steve McGhee and Joey Campbell, who caught a combined 40 passes last year. Running back Stacy Helms ran for 700 yards in seven games last year, but only senior center Randon Webber returns on the offensive line.
The secondary, with McGhee, Campbell and junior John Sawyers returning as starters, should be the strongest part of the defense.
\ PROJECTED FINISHES: 1, Pulaski County; 2, William Fleming; 3, Patrick Henry; 4, Cave Spring; 5, Franklin County.
by CNB