Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993 TAG: 9309020639
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-28 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
In five seasons, the Spartans have gone 22-1 in district games, including 19 consecutive victories. The average margin has been 30.1 points, and Salem has won four consecutive titles.
The only relatively close games were a 6-0 loss to Alleghany in 1988, the year Salem dropped down from the Roanoke Valley District and a 6-3 triple overtime victory over Northside in 1990.
The Spartans enter the 1993 season without a plethora of stars at the skill positions. Running back Marcus Parker, one of the state's top college prospects, is hobbled by a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and is a question mark for the year.
More distressing, Salem's numbers are down. The Spartans have been averaging about 63 players in the top three grades, but they only have 53 this year.
Considering those factors, this might be the year Salem finally is challenged in the Blue Ridge District.
"I don't know about getting Salem," says Alleghany coach Tom McIntyre. "Teams like Salem have a winning tradition and tend to find kids who can play.
"If they don't have Parker at tailback, they'll have [Jomo] Nelson and I'd like to have him. I told our kids that when we're better than they are, we'll beat them."
While Northside appears to have the best chance of ending the Spartans' reign, only one Blue Ridge District coach picks the Vikings to win the title.
"I think it's a possibility. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but my pick is Northside," says Andy Ward, Lord Botetourt's first-year head coach.
"Northside is big on the front line," Ward adds. "If they replace their quarterback [Kelly Dampeer], they have a chance. The key to Salem winning is the status of Marcus Parker.
"They have a good front line, but without Marcus and a returning quarterback, it gives them two questions [to one for Northside]."
Dampeer isn't the only player the Vikings must replace. They also lost their leading returning rusher, Steve Keaton, to an injury. Still, Northside has other running backs returning, and because of that, longtime coach Jim Hickam is going back to an old favorite of his, the wishbone offense he ditched last year.
"I think it goes without saying [Salem is vulnerable]," Hickam says. "If you lose someone like Marcus Parker, it not only hurts you physically but also psychologically as a team. Maybe this is the year that Salem starts the season with some of the same problems most of us always start with."
Hickam says his team is stronger at this point than last year's squad, which went 7-3 and made the Group AA Division 4 playoffs. Salem and Northside don't play until the final game of the regular season, and Hickam points out, "We all know many catastrophes befall you before you get to the final game."
William Byrd coach Jeff Highfill, who has one of his most experienced teams in the district, isn't ready to write off the Spartans yet.
"I think Salem will still roll along," Highfill says. "They have enough stars, and you never know when Marcus will pop back up in there. They've never been a one-man team and they have enough weapons."
Salem coach Willis White doesn't appear concerned. He actually seems to be enjoying the challenge of preparing a football team without a lot of stars. About the closest thing the Spartans have to a marquee player is 6-foot-5 1/2 Chad Custer, a 1992 All-Group AA defensive tackle.
"We had small junior and sophomore classes, so that's why our numbers are down," White says. "I'm not concerned because I think our quality is going to be pretty good.
"I think Northside will be the strongest it's been in years, but I think we can have a pretty fair club. Every once in a while a team comes along that you really like, and I like this one.
White knows his last few teams have been loaded with offensive talent.
"If you have a [quarterback] Tra Wilson, [wide receiver] Keith Moyer or Marcus Parker, you can score points and people tend to disregard your defense," he says. "We've worked really hard on defense, because any time you have a new quarterback and running back, you hope your defense will be solid and take the pressure off your offense."
\ Northside, Byrd and Alleghany all have solid, experienced players. The Vikings have size, topped by returning defensive tackle John Huffman at 288 pounds; Alleghany has tight end-defensive end Todd Wheatley, who joins Custer as one of the state's top college prospects; and Byrd has running backs Shannon Gray, Jason Criss and Michael Poindexter, who combined for more than 2,400 yards rushing in 1992.
Ward will be rebuilding at Lord Botetourt, but there are more players on the roster than in the past.
\ Rockbridge County, under Jamie Talbott, has the least experience of any Blue Ridge team. Talbott, though, has a way of working miracles, as he did when tiny Natural Bridge challenged for the Pioneer District titles for two years and last season when the Wildcats were stronger than expected in their first year of Group AA football.
ALLEGHANY\ 1992 record: 6-4 overall, 3-2 Blue Ridge District\ Coach: Tom McIntyre, fourth year\ Returning starters: Adam Surface, Sr., C, 5-10, 215; Shawn O'Conner, Jr., G, 6-2, 335; Brian O'Conner, Sr., RB-LB, 6-1, 190; Todd Cook, Sr., FB-LB, 5-10, 188; Chris Craft, Jr., G, 5-8, 240; Lawrence Newcomb, Jr., OT, 6-2, 225; David Cummings, Sr., RB-DB, 5-9, 180; Todd Wheatley, Sr., TE-DE, 6-5, 245; Christian Bunch, Jr., DT, 6-2, 260; David Dixon, Sr., LB (will also play QB), 6-3, 195; Chris Crutchfield, Sr., DT, 5-10, 205; Paul Woodward, Sr., DT, 5-10, 215.
Other key players: Scott Wright, Sr., DB-SE, 5-8, 155; Jason Nicely, Jr., DB-TE, 6-2, 185; Bobby Nicely, Jr., OT-DT, 6-2, 225; Bobby Joe Smith, Jr., DB, 5-6, 140; Jim Kern, Sr., RB-LB, 6-0, 185.
Major losses: Mike Hunter, QB-DB, 6-3, 175; Phillip Godfrey, RB-DB, 5-10, 165; Troy Shaffer, WR-DB, 5-7, 141; Chad Williams, OT-LB, 6-2, 185; Jason Linkswiler, DB, 5-8, 145.
Coach's comments: "We feel pretty good about our experience and senior leadership. It's something we haven't had in the past."\ \ 1993 SCHEDULE
Friday, at Christiansburg, 7:30 p.m.; 10, Parry McCluer, 7:30 p.m.; 17, Radford, 7:30 p.m.; 24, at Covington, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 1, Rockbridge Co., 7:30 p.m.; 8, Northside, 7:30 p.m.; 15, at Greenbrier East (W.Va.), 7:30 p.m.; 22, Salem, 7:30 p.m.; 29, at William Byrd, 7:30 p.m..
Nov. 12, at Lord Botetourt, 7:30 p.m.
LORD BOTETOURT
1992 record: 3-7, 0-5
Coach: Andy Ward, first year
Returning starters: Jeff Cronise, Sr., DE-TE, 6-6, 235; David Aldrich, Sr., C-DT (moved to DE on defense), 6-3, 220; Ricky Gluth, Sr., OT-DT, 6-3, 225; Darin Harris, Sr., G-DT (moved to FB on offense), 5-9, 230; Chris Jones, Sr., LB (will also play TB), 5-9, 160; Jesse Pero, Jr., OT, 5-11, 260; Chad Sayers, Sr., FB-LB, 5-10, 205; Tim O'Quinn, Sr., OLB (will also play SE), 5-11, 175; Bobby Stewart, Sr., OLB (also will play G), 5-9, 165.
Other key players: Chris DeWeese, Sr., QB, 6-1, 170; Cory Wolford, Sr., G, 6-1, 205; Erik Erikson, Soph., OT, 6-1, 190; Rocky Lark, Soph., TB-LB, 5-10, 190; Seth Myers, Fr., QB, 5-9, 165; Barry Williams, Jr., FL, 6-0, 170; Nathan Beasley, Soph., QB, 5-8, 155.
Major losses: Tommy Hayslett, QB, 6-3, 188; Adrian Michalski, FL-DB, 5-7, 149; Matt Janes, RB-DB, 5-11, 175; Donald Cook, LB, 5-8, 175; Joe Damiano, G, 6-4, 220; Mike Beckner, FL-DB, 5-11, 165.
Coach's comments: "We've changed our approach and we're going to more of an option-style game. We'll be trying to create double-team blocks, experiment on the corner and give the corner defenses of other teams a lot to think about. We'll run power at the defensive end and try to . . . make him make decisions. We have a lot of seniors and will rely on them to show the younger guys by their example."
\ 1993 SCHEDULE
Friday, Lynchburg Christian, 7:30 p.m.; 10, at Glenvar, 7:30 p.m.; 17, James River, 7:30 p.m.; 24, at Craig Co., 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 1, at Salem, 7:30 p.m.; 15, at Covington, 7:30 p.m.; 22, Northside, 7:30 p.m.; 29, at Rockbridge Co., 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 5, at William Byrd, 7:30 p.m.; 12, Alleghany, 7:30 p.m.
\ NORTHSIDE
1992 record: 7-4, 4-1
Coach: Jim Hickam, 19th year
Returning starters: Brian Powell, Sr., RB (will also play DB), 5-11, 171; Shane Whisnant, Sr., LB (moved to QB), 5-10, 170; Jeff Painter, Jr., G (will also play DT), 6-3, 272; Derrick Hollins, Sr., DB (will also play WR), 5-8, 155; John Huffman, Sr., DT (will also play OT), 6-3, 288; Randall Shields, Sr., LB-C, 6-1, 185; Jack Beason, Sr., G (will also play DT), 6-2, 220; Karim Thompson, Jr., CB (will also play RB), 5-11, 170; Dwight Steele, Sr., LB, 5-9, 161; Darrius Henderson, Jr., WR (will move to RB and also play S), 6-1, 160; Chris Askew, Jr., LB, 5-10, 190; Richie Oliver, Sr., OT (moved to DT), 5-11, 224; Jay Stafford, Jr., WR, 5-9, 142.
Other key players: Archie Roberts, Sr., FB (may also play LB), 5-9, 215 (transfer from Marietta, Ohio); Donnie Leininger, Soph., LB, 5-10, 175 (transfer from Parkersburg, W.Va.); Gary Thomas, Sr., G, 6-2, 220; Brian Sells, Jr., WR, 6-1, 160; Roth Townsend, Jr., OT-DT, 6-7, 301.
Major losses: Ted Wertz, G-DT, 5-10, 205; Jason Crouch, Sr., DE, 5-11, 161; Walt Derey, TE-DE, 6-5, 230; Robert "Juice" Brandon, RB-LB, 5-8, 163; Kelly Dampeer, DB-QB-K, 5-9, 170; Jim Porter, TE-LB, 6-1 1/2, 185; Steven Keaton, RB (out with injury), 6-0, 162; Allan Christian, RB-LB, 5-8, 163; Scott Booth, Soph., K, 5-10, 147.
Coach's comments: "At this time, the team looks stronger because we have more experience and we have depth we didn't have at this time last year. It was a pleasant surprise last year. We didn't know which way it would go, but the four or five years, at the start of the season, this is the best-looking team that Northside has had."
\ 1993 SCHEDULE
Friday, at Rockbridge Co., 7:30 p.m.; 10, Magna Vista, 7:30 p.m.; 24, at Blacksburg, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 1, Cave Spring, 7:30 p.m.; 8, at Alleghany, 7:30 p.m.; 15, William Byrd, 7:30 p.m.; 22, at Lord Botetourt, 7:30 p.m.; 29, Pulaski Co., 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 5, Christiansburg, 7:30 p.m.; 12, at Salem, 7:30 p.m.\ ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY
1992 record: 4-6, 2-3
Coach: Jamie Talbott, second year
Returning starters: Jamie Campbell, Jr., G-LB, 5-9, 175; Andy Cline, Sr., TE-LB, 6-1, Sr.; Donnie Higgins, Sr., G, 6-1, 210; Brandon Bissell, Sr., DB, 5-9, 165.
Key players: Marty Early, Sr., RB-DB, 5-10, 150; Scott Rogers, Sr., QB, 5-10, 160; Jason Terry, Jr., DT, 6-2, 220; Woody Newman, Sr., RB, 5-8, 150; Matt Kave, Soph., DE, 6-2, 195; Travis Tomlin, Soph., DT, 6-1, 205; Chris Crawford, Jr., DT, 6-3, 265.
Major losses: Joel Ides, DT-OT, 6-1, 200; Jason Whitaker, G-DT, 6-0, 225; Kevin Alestock, RB-LB, 6-0, 170; Stuart Brown, DB-WR, 5-10, 160.
Coach's comments: "After losing so many players, no one expects too much from us. I'm optimistic. I'm expecting a good season."
\ 1993 SCHEDULE
Friday, Northside, 7:30 p.m.; 10, at R.E. Lee-Staunton, 7:30 p.m.; 17, Salem, 7:30 p.m.; 24, at Parry McCluer, 7:30 p.m..
Oct. 1, at Alleghany, 7:30 p.m.; 8, Covington, 7:30 p.m.; 15, Spotswood, 7:30 p.m.; 22, at William Byrd, 7:30 p.m.; 29, Lord Botetourt, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 5, at Western Albemarle, 7:30 p.m.
\ SALEM
1992 record: 12-1, 5-0 (Region III Division 4 champion)
Coach: Willis White, 11th year
Returning starters: Chad Custer, Sr., DT (will also play TE), 6-5 1/2, 263; Jomo Nelson, Sr., DE (moved to TB), 5-9 1/2, 172; Marcus Parker, Sr., RB (will also play LB), 5-10, 211; Luke Pugh, Jr., LB (will also play FB), 6-1, 219; Todd Sutphin, Sr., G (also will play DL), 5-11 1/2, 259; Michael Murphy, Jr., DB (will also play RB), 5-6, 145; Collin Hudson, Sr., DB (will also play WR), 5-10, 174; Nathan Routt, Sr., WR (will also play DE), 6-3 1/2, 200; Jerome Griffin, Sr., OL, 5-11 1/2, 261.
Other key players: Michael Prater, Sr., WR-DB, 5-9, 156; Wes Huffman, Sr., G, 5-9 1/2, 208; James Burks, Sr., OL, 5-10 1/2, 211; Scott Ashcraft, Jr., OL-DL, 5-10, 237; Charlie Hammersley Jr., RB-LB, 5-11, 161; Josh Rhodes, Sr., OL, 5-11 1/2, 206; Dan Giarla, Sr., DL, 6-1, 216; Kevin Lucas, Sr., DL, 5-8 1/2, 261; Trevis Towe, Sr., OL, 5-9 1/2, 242; Josh Patrick, Sr., OL, 5-10, 212; Kevin Feazell, Jr., QB, 5-11, 177; Seth Moore, Soph., QB-DB, 6-0, 147; Billy Bowes, Sr., WR-DB, 5-4, 130; Byron Elliott, Sr., DL, 5-6, 191; Doug Perdue, Jr., TE-DL, 6-0, 204; Aaron Coffey, Jr., WR-DB, 5-9, 147; Lee Updike, Jr., K, 5-9, 133; Chris Huff, Soph., RB-LB, 5-9, 204.
Major losses: Josh Pugh, T, 6-3, 242; Buck Whitlow, C, 5-11, 193; Stephen Crouch, DT, 6-0, 205; Andy Myers, Sr., LB-TE, 6-1, 193; Tra Wilson, QB, 5-9 1/2, 166; Hunter Cunningham, DB-RB, 5-8, 150; Keith Moyer, WR-DB, 5-10, 167; Jason Hilger, K, 5-9, 169; Kenny Newton, NG, 5-8, 208.
Coach's comments: "We're not very tall, but we have some wide bodies, so it could be our biggest team physically. This team isn't feisty, but it's determined. I think Feazell will be a good quarterback. He never played quarterback until junior varsity. After we lost [Mark] Byington and [Kevin] Garst to basketball, we had to find a JV quarterback and he did a fine job."\ 1993 SCHEDULE
Sept. 10, at Blacksburg, 7:30 p.m.; 17, at Rockbridge Co., 7:30 p.m.; 24, Graham, 8 p.m.
Oct. 1, Lord Botetourt, 7:30 p.m.; 8, William Byrd, 7:30 p.m.; 15, at Pulaski Co., 8 p.m.; 22, at Alleghany, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 29, at Christiansburg, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 5, Cave Spring, 7:30 p.m.; 12, Northside, 7:30 p.m.\ WILLIAM BYRD
1992 record: 4-6, 1-4
Coach: Jeff Highfill, 13th year
Returning starters: Michael Poindexter, Sr., FB-LB, 5-11, 215; Jeff Childress, Sr., G-NG, 6-0, 250; Shannon Gray, Sr., RB-DB, 5-10, 155; Eric Phillips, Sr., OT-DT, 6-2, 225; Mike Hutton, Sr., G (moved to C and also will play DT), 6-2, 195; Matt Bryant, Jr., QB (also will play DB), 5-9, 150; Chris Almond, Sr., FL-DB, 5-7, 140; Will Spradlin, Sr., FL-DB, 5-11, 170; Jason Criss, Sr., RB-LB, 5-8, 165; Chris Eddy, Sr., G (also will play DE), 5-8, 210.
Other key players: Heath Grogan, Sr., G-LB, 5-7, 150; Jason Stuckey, Sr., OT-DT, 6-2, 240; Barry Myvett, Jr., RB-DB, 5-7, 150; Gavin Hard, Sr., WR, 5-8, 150; Chris Carr, Sr., TE-DE, 6-2, 210. Major losses: Billy Morrison, TE-DB, 6-2, 192 (injury); David Robertson, TE-DE, 6-3, 215; Allan Wood, C, 5-11, 190; Kyle Hamman, OT-DT, 6-2, 236; Greg Cundiff, G-LB, 6-0, 192.
Coach's comments: "We've got nine starters back on offense and seven on defense, so we're further along than we've been before at this stage. Speed is always a weakness here, but we're a little bigger than we've been. We're not as quick on the line. With a senior-dominated team, we hope to get off to a faster start."
\ 1993 SCHEDULE
Sept. 10, at Bassett 7:30 p.m.; 17, Glenvar, 7:30 p.m.; 24, James River, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 1, Carroll Co., 7:30 p.m.; 8, at Salem, 7:30 p.m.; 15, at Northside, 7:30 p.m.; 22, Rockbridge Co., 7:30 p.m.; 29, Alleghany, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 5, at Lord Botetourt, 7:30 p.m.; 12, at Christiansburg, 7:30 p.m. \ PROJECTED FINISH: 1, Salem; 2, Northside; 3, William Byrd; 4, Alleghany; 5, Lord Botetourt; 6, Rockbridge County.
by CNB