Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 1, 1994 TAG: 9410140001
SECTION: NEW RIVER VALLEY PREP FOOTBALL PAGE: 9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Coaches, players, and fans can ponder the graduation of Michael "Whitey" Blankenship, he of the 2 zillion rushing yards and whole box scores of touchdowns, and sit down in the middle of the road and cry.
Or, they can behave in a little more mature fashion.
The good people at Narrows apparently have opted for maturity.
In the spirit of optimists everywhere, they're looking at Blankenship's departure as an opportunity rather than a catastrophe. Or so Green Wave coach Don Lowe was indicating during preseason workouts.
"If you pretty much stick to one thing offensively, then you're easier to defend," he said. "This year, we'd like to make them defend the whole field more."
When he speaks of sticking to one thing offensively, he's talking about the 1993 strategy: Whitey right, Whitey left, Whitey up the middle. For variety, they'd do something exotic like throwing Whitey a pass out in the flat.
Not that any of that was a bad idea. The Green Wave went 9-3 and made it to the Group A Division 1 Region C final before being beaten by Rural Retreat. The best view a lot of guys had of Whitey was a diminishing one as he made his way downfield.
Those days are history, but the image of a green and gold jersey making hasty progress downfield is still an appealing one for Lowe. Realism intrudes at this point, however.
"We're not going to have the breakaway threat that we have had," he said. "We're going to have to control the football and go on more long drives. Eventually, I believe we will have more big play potential."
Until that time, auditions will be exhaustive and ongoing. Narrows needs tailbacks, fullbacks, and quarterbacks for it's Wing-T offense.
Lowe does have a veteran at wingback in senior Scott Stafford, a 5-foot-9, 160 pounder who has never had any problem learning plays. Along with teammates and fellow returning starters Jason Buckland and Brian Ballard, Stafford is a top student who attends Southwest Virginia Governor's School.
Stafford may have to learn some new plays if he's called on to move to fullback. He'll be a candidate there along with 6-1, 190-pound Norman Perkins and 5-7 176-pound sophomore Corey Owens. Should Stafford end up at fullback, look for seniors Brian Snidow, Brandon Hollie, or junior Justin Rhodes to play wingback.
Another wide-open tryout will be at quarterback, where Hollie was Jeff White's backup a year ago. In theory, that would make him the frontrunner for the position this year. Rhodes and junior Bryan Pruett may have something to say about that.
That leaves tailback, Whitey's position. Gary Lowery, a senior, was the reserve there last year. If he doesn't win the position this year, it'll be because of junior Keith Morris. No matter who ends up there, he won't have been in on many live snaps going into the season.
The offensive line will build around Buckland at tackle and Ballard at guard. Others who could play include the coach's son, Adam Lowe, who will line up at center after losing 35 pounds during the offseason. Hard-working Mike Burton could play either center or guard. Candidates at tackle include sophomore Heath Fleeman and junior Jesse Pollard, a 6-2, 254-pounder.
"That's it," Lowe said of Pollard. "That's our only size."
The field of possibilities at split end is extensive. Individually, the players are small in stature.
"We have no big jerseys out there," Lowe said.
Those wearing the jerseys include, in no particular order, Keith Morris (5-9, 145), David Turner (5-8, 130), Ashley Bragg (5-10, 145), Dalton Smith (5-9, 130), Stephen Wood (5-9, 145), and Jason Spangler (5-7, 135).
The situation is less complicated at tight end, where Mark Harrison and Scott Vaught are the contenders.
Defense is a Narrows specialty and there are five starters back.
"I think we'll have the opportunity to continue the defensive tradition that we've established here," Lowe said.
Among the veterans are Vaught, the team's leading tackler, at middle linebacker; Buckland at defensive end; Ballard at nose guard; Hollie, who will be moving from cornerback to linebacker; and Stafford at safety.
Lowery will handle the punting and Lowe the place kicking. Both handled those jobs last year.
Defense will be a plus for Narrows in one other respect. They'll never have to figure out life after Whitey on that side of the football.
He rarely played there.
by CNB