Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 22, 1994 TAG: 9410050064
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
``The main thing is that we played so many sophomores and it gave them a lot of experience,'' said defensive end-offensive guard Jimmy Fusco. ``Last year, we'd start games semi-strong, but after halftime we weren't in good enough physical shape. We died in the fourth quarter.''
So far the Knights have done everything but die in the second half. A lot of the success comes from the three Sizzlin' Sophomores - Fusco, quarterback Jeff Lang and defensive back-receiver Billy Frantz.
Cave Spring has won all three games in the second half and two of them in the final period. The most thrilling victory was the season opener, a 15-14 win over Roanoke County rival Northside that was decided in the final 38 seconds.
In all three games, Lang has had the hot hand and has shown more maturity than last year. Frantz caught a point-after-touchdown pass to beat Northside and then had a pair of interceptions and a 58-yard reception in the victory over Martinsville.
Fusco was a defensive maniac against the Vikings, making all kinds of tackles as he disrupted their wishbone offense.
Of the three, Fusco has the best shot at playing college football. Frantz is on the smallish side for anything over Division III and Lang says his first love is basketball.
``Jimmy's a hard worker,'' said Cave Spring coach Steve Spangler of the 6-foot-1, 215 pounder. ``If he grows, he could play Division I. He's going to have to put on more weight because 215 won't get it as a defensive end.
``He'll have to improve his foot speed if they move him. But he has a great work ethic. He's very good about being in the weight room. You don't have to look over your shoulder to see if he's getting the job done.''
Other teams are looking over their shoulder, wondering where Fusco is. He almost single-handedly put a crimp in the Northside wishbone attack.
Fusco finds motivation in the Knights being picked to finish last in the Roanoke Valley District race. ``It's more incentive to work harder. People think of last year's team, but on the field practicing with us, we're totally different. We know what we need to do,'' he says.
Fusco is so dedicated to football that he gave up wrestling. ``He decided he needed to hit it hard in the weight room,'' said Spangler, who is also Cave Spring's wrestling coach. ``I'd love to have him out there as a wrestler, but I understand what he wants to do in getting stronger. He's put on 20 pounds and has size 15 feet, so he may shoot up a couple of more inches. If he does, he'll be a monster.''
Lang is the point guard on the basketball team that nearly won the Roanoke Valley District title last year. With four starters returning, the Knights' basketball team doesn't have to fight for respect.
``I like basketball better and I see myself as a college basketball player,'' said Lang.
He also struggled in football last year, throwing 17 interceptions and taking a lot of blame as a quarterback must for the 0-10 season. It was a learning year and people might wonder how he made Sizzlin' Sophomore. It was simple - he was the only 10th-grader playing quarterback in Timesland who threw for 660 yards, despite the interceptions.
``Jeff was playing quarterback for the first time last year,'' said Spangler. ``His interceptions were a matter of poor judgement, feeling the pressure and unloading. This year he's getting better time [because] the offensive line is doing better.''
Lang almost skipped this football season.
``Last year almost shattered my confidence,'' Lang admits. ``I was iffy about coming back this year. I wanted to concentrate on basketball.''
In true school spirit, Lang says he came back because the team ``would have no [experienced] quarterback.
``Coach Spangler told me he needed me and I'm glad I came back,'' he added.
Lang might also have come back to pass to Frantz. ``Billy's a lot better,'' said Spangler. ``He scored those big points [against Northside]. He'll catch the ball if Jeff throws it to him.''
Against the Vikings, Frantz came in with the play as the Knights went for the two-point conversion and the victory after scoring a touchdown with 38 seconds left. Excited by the late rally, Frantz gave Lang the wrong play. Then he ran the play that Spangler called while the rest of the team ran the one he gave Lang .
Frantz wound up completely open in the end zone. Somehow Lang saw him and threw the ball to him for the win.
``But I'd rather play defense. That's where the action is,'' says the quiet Frantz, whose interceptions a week later doomed Martinsville as he set up a pair of scores.
``He's better as far as the pass goes [on defense],'' said Spangler. ``He's in the right place. Jimmy still makes some minor mistakes at safety but now he's starting to read what goes on.''
Of course Frantz had some sizeable shoes to fill when he became a safety following All-Timesland's Ronde Barber, now a safety at UVa.
``Kids are very uncomfortable there at first. Even Ronde went through that the first year as a sophomore,'' said Spangler.
Like this trio, Barber was also a Sizzlin' Sophomore. In three years, though, Barber never experienced a .500 season at Cave Spring. Fusco, Lang and Frantz also have a good chance at avoiding that statistic.
by CNB