Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993 TAG: 9309020688
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-40 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The two Bedford County schools won nine games between them last fall under first-year coaches John Caltigarone (Staunton River) and Mike Scharnus (Liberty). Both coaches are back, hoping their teams can battle the likes of Brookville, Rustburg and Jefferson Forest.
"It's building," says Caltigarone, whose team shocked Amherst County 15-13 in the second game of the regular season.
"Last year we made some positive starts and now we're trying to build on that," Caltigarone says. "We expect to do equal or better. We think our personnel, especially on the line, is as good as anyone's in the district."
Liberty (5-5 in 1992) also has a lot of linemen returning. While Staunton River (4-6) started with two victories, the Minutemen opened with three losses before finishing with three consecutive wins.
"Our kids were all juniors last year and for a lot of them it was the first snap," Scharnus says. "It's their second year and they've gotten a lot stronger. I think physically we can challenge the other teams. The goal we have is getting the kids to believe they can do it. The mental part is the big obstacle."
Staunton River's biggest obstacle is a lack of experience in the offensive backfield. However, the Eagles have plenty of size returning in 225-pound Darrell Thomas and 230-pound James Gates and John Miller. Caltigarone says 6-foot-4 Scott Collins could be a receiver much like Jefferson Forest's Bryan Jennings was last year. He didn't have many passes thrown his way, but the ones he caught produced big yardage.
Liberty at least has quarterback Terry Overstreet and fullback Greg Richie returning. The Minutemen don't have quite the experience and size that Staunton River does, though Brian Witt at 225 pounds and Richard Musa at 225 aren't likely to be pushed around.
\ LIBERTY
1992 record: 5-5 (Seminole District)
Coach: Mike Scharnus, second year
Returning starters: Richard Musa, Sr., C, 5-9, 225; Jody Mayhew, Sr., G-DE,\ 5-8, 189; Brian Witt, Sr., OT-DT, 5-10, 220; Tim Stanley, Jr., OT, 5-10, 212;\ Terry Overstreet, Sr., QB, 5-8, 160; Greg Richie, Sr., FB-LB, 5-10, 191; Eric\ Massie, Sr., NG, 5-10, 155; Rawlince Wright, Sr., DT, 5-10, 240; Greg Short,\ Sr., LB, 5-9, 200; Russell Smith, Jr., DB (will also play WR), 5-8, 154; Jack\ Padgett, Sr., CB (moved to DE), 6-1, 165; Len Snead, Sr., G (will also play\ DT), 6-0, 215; Darnell Sharpe, Sr., DB (will also play TE), 6-1, 170.
Other key players: Marvin Harris, Soph., TB, 5-6, 151; Mike Padgett, Jr.,\ QB, 6-0, 145; Greg Reynolds, Soph., WR-DB, 5-8, 153; Ryan Stevens, Soph.,\ WR-LB, 5-6, 140; Mike Leftwich, Sr., G, 5-6, 162; J.J. Coles, Soph., DB, 5-9,\ 152; Shawn Crist, Sr., DB, 5-11, 151; Cory Gilmore, Soph., DB, 5-5, 132; Johnny\ Cash, Jr., TE, 5-11, 194; Chris Gardner, Jr., TE, 6-0, 153.
Major losses: Jerry Padgett, TB, 5-8, 180; Justin Lupachino, WR, 6-0, 160;\ Steve Wood, TE, 5-10, 185; Sean McNaughton, DB-WR, 5-7, 150; Joel Allen, K,\ 6-1, 170.
Coach's comments: "I was content last year. We'd like to be better than 5-5,\ but I'm not going to he hung up on wins and losses. In this district, you can't\ look upon any team being easy. Our coaches did that last year, but it turned\ out to be the opposite of what they said."
\ 1993
SCHEDULE
Friday, at Rustburg, 7:30 p.m.; 10, Appomattox Co., 7:30 p.m.; 17, at Buckingham Co., 7:30 p.m.; 24, William Campbell, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 1, at Nelson Co., 7:30 p.m.; 8, Jefferson Forest, 7:30 p.m.; 15, at Brookville, 7:30 p.m.; 29, Staunton River, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 5, at Amherst County, 7:30 p.m.; 12, Altavista, 7:30 p.m. \ STAUNTON RIVER
1992 record: 4-6 (Seminole District)
Coach: John Caltigarone, second year
Returning starters: Darrell Thomas, Sr., G (will also play DT), 6-1, 225;\ James Gates, Jr., OT (will also play DE), 6-2, 230; Darryl Perry, Sr., C, 5-9,\ 165; John Miller, Sr., NG, 5-9, 230; Jason Ayers, Sr., DB (moved to LB), 5-11,\ 165; Carlos Hurt, Sr., DE, 6-0, 185; Jake Mills, Sr., CB (will also play WR),\ 5-10, 150; Scott Collins, Sr., S (moved to LB and will also play WR), 6-4,\ 200.
Other key players: Brian Stevens, Soph., QB, 5-9, 140; Derrick Barnes, Jr.,\ QB, 5-11, 155; Dwight Orange, Jr., FB, 5-8, 165; Jay Richards, Sr., RB, 6-0,\ 160; Jeff English, Soph., RB, 5-8, 175; Chris Witt, Sr., G, 5-10, 195; Tom\ Watkins, Sr., OT, 6-3, 250; Deshay Berger, Jr., LB, 5-6, 185; David Davis, Sr.,\ LB, 5-9, 170; Daniel Thompson, Sr., LB, 5-9, 160; Kevin Witcher, Jr., DB, 5-10,\ 158; Mike Kenny, Sr., CB, 5-11, 150.
Major losses: Roger Thomas, QB, 6-3, 150; Chris Martin, RB-LB, 5-11, 165;\ Jonathan Jackson, FB-DE, 6-2, 175; Brian Whorley, RB-LB, 6-2, 190; Gary\ Wheeler, G, 6-0, 240; Tim Kelly, OT, 6-1, 250; Brian Hawkins, TE, 6-2, 190;\ Nathan Foutz, SE, 5-11, 160; Scotty Smith, LB, 5-9, 160; Tim Webster, LB, 6-0,\ 180.
Coach's comments: "I've had a full season to work with the players, and\ they were very committed to the things we've asked them to do. We worked three\ days a week on building strength and what we call lateral speed or foot\ quickness."
1993 SCHEDULE
Friday, Altavista, 7:30 p.m.; 10, at Amherst County, 7:30 p.m; 24, Rustburg, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 1, Appomattox Co., 7:30 p.m.; 8, Buckingham Co., 7:30 p.m.; 15, at William Campbell, 7:30 p.m.; 22, Nelson Co., 7:30 p.m.; 29, at Liberty, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 5, Brookville, 7:30 p.m.; 12, at Jefferson Forest, 7:30 p.m.
by CNB