Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 1, 1994 TAG: 9409030013
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It was Scott's fourth year as the Patriots' coach, after he had made Park View-Sterling a Group AA power. He also had All-State quarterback Shannon Taylor back for his senior year.
PH did make the Group AAA Division 5 playoffs, but the Patriots were dominated by Stonewall Jackson-Manassas 39-12 in a first-round playoff game at Victory Stadium.
As it turns out, this might be PH's year. Pulaski County still must be considered the favorite in the Roanoke Valley District, but on paper, the Patriots appear to be the Cougars' strongest challengers.
Scott is optimistic, and one reason is the arrival of Montrice Smith, a transfer from North Cross.
``He makes a big difference on defense, and I'm hoping we can utilize his talents on offense, where we need him at slot back for a receiving position,'' Scott says of Smith, a senior who was a key member of the Raiders' state private school Division I championship team last year. ``We've run him at fullback, but we don't need him there.''
The Patriots will move Jamie Price from wide receiver to running back. Price finished second in the Group AAA track meet in the 100- and 200-meter dashes in the spring, so he is among the state's fastest football players. Price also caught 21 passes for 506 yards last fall.
``We were quick before, and now we'll be quicker,'' Scott says of Price's move to running back. ``Hopefully, we'll get the ball to him 15 times [a game] in different places. He's very strong because of his weightlifting. We'll be a different type of team offensively, for we won't be able to run the traditional I formation like we did last year [with Taylor].''
The third all-star player for PH is defensive end Chris Combs, who also will play tight end. Combs is one of the top collegiate football prospects in the state, though his father, Glen, once played in the old American Basketball Association. Combs already has broken the heart of Air Force Academy basketball coach Reggie Minton, who thought he had an inside tip on a good player until he learned the senior plans to focus on football in college.
To win the district, the Patriots must overcome a talented but somewhat inexperienced Pulaski County team. The Cougars, who won the 1992 Group AAA Division 6 state title and reached the championship game a year ago, lost the nucleus of those two squads. Still, quarterback Andre Eaves and running back Eric Webb, who is headed to the University of Florida, return for the Cougars.
William Fleming may have the best line in the state. It's led by huge John St.Clair and Russell Mills, who at 310 is 40 pounds heavier than he was last season. Both are considered excellent college prospects and among the best athletes Sherley Stuart has coached.
Fleming, though, must replace its skill people, including Timesland's offensive player of the year, Eddie Jones, and quarterback Al Holland Jr.
``I guess this is my least-experienced team,'' Stuart says. ``The starters at the skill positions weren't even second-stringers. Hey, I still think it's going to be a good year. You can't see it any other way.''
Cave Spring has quarterback Jeff Lang, wide receiver/defensive back Billy Frantz, lineman Jimmy Fusco and most of the rest of last year's team. Lang, Frantz and Fusco were Timesland Sizzlin' Sophomore picks, so the Knights will have the most experienced team in the district.
``I look at the total year, but these kids at the end of last season identified their problems and worked very hard in the off-season to make corrections,'' says Steve Spangler, Cave Spring's coach. ``They're doing what they need to do now to have some success.''
Franklin County will be faster and stronger.
``The biggest thing is that we have to change the attitude around here that we can't beat people,'' says Horace Green, the Eagles' third-year coach. ``We feel like we're turning the corner. We feel we can beat anyone. How that translates into games [won] depends on how tired we are in the fourth quarter and whether we can suck it up.''
The Eagles will be led by senior Steve McGhee, a two-time all district selection at wide receiver.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB