Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 31, 1995 TAG: 9508310006
SECTION: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PAGE: 29 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Patriots boss Ed Scott is taking a cool-headed and detached approach, though.
``This team is a hard one to read,'' he said.
Fresh from a berth in the Group AAA Division 5 playoffs, the Patriots appear to have enough talent to get back to the postseason if Scott finds a way to address some worries about linebacking and the offensive line.
The Patriots could battle perennial Roanoke Valley District power Pulaski County and up-and-coming Cave Spring for the league championship.
William Fleming and Franklin County may not be quite ready to contend yet.
Right now, that means that veteran PH linebacker Kevin Washington will have to mentor newcomers Mike Stevens in the middle and Mike Boyd on the outside until the unit can jell.
That same veteran responsibility will fall on senior T.J. Tate, the most experienced offensive lineman the Patriots have.
``Last year at the end of the year, he was playing as well as anybody we had,'' Scott said.
Even with the graduation loss of speedster and all-purpose threat Jamie Price, PH has enviable experience at the skill positions.
Quarterback Donnie Smith, who missed the playoffs because of injury, is back. He threw for 980 yards and 12 touchdowns and ran for 275 more with two TD's. Also back are fullbacks Dan Ankoma and Washington, who combined for 1,000 yards and 21 TD's while alternating. Tailbacks Shaun Akers and James Hickenbotham, a sophomore, run with above-average speed.
Defensively, the Patriots are solid in the secondary. Big hitters Nick Saunders and Mark Johnson patrol the corners and Roschaun Martin, the fastest player on the team, are a menacing trio.
Ankoma and Tiran Stewart, the tackles, anchor the defensive line.
Sophomores Devon Battle at defensive end and Jonathan Helms on the offensive line along with the two new linebackers are newcomers who bear watching.
Cave Spring will have as much size as anybody around. The beefiest of the bunch include guard and defensive end Jimmy Fusco (6-2, 240) and tackle and defensive end Mike Mitchener (6-4, 265).
``We're going to saddle those two up,'' Knights coach Steve Spangler said.
Fusco and Mitchener won't have to bear the entire load. Guys such as center Brad Custer (6-0, 230), sophomore tackle Matt Berger (6-3, 255), defensive tackle Jud Poulter (6-0, 210), and tight end Aaron Williams (6-3, 235) are others who will not easily be moved to where they don't want to go.
Senior quarterback Jeff Lang is a veteran who will have new backfield mates in tailback Jason Fox and fullback Robert Hale. Flanker Nathan Manning (6-1, 210) is big enough to also play linebacker. Josh Dowdy (6-0, 210) could join him at linebacker to give the Knights an imposing pair.
Cave Spring's out-of-district schedule is heavily weighted to AA teams. That could help the new Knights gain some confidence before the team plunges into the district schedule.
Most of Franklin County's experience comes on the defensive side of the ball.
The most seasoned players the Eagles have are senior Gray Hodges at safety, linebacker Brian Gilreath, and defensive end Haywood Dunlap.
Casey Hancock is going to assume much of the running load shouldered by the departed John Muse last year. Eric Walker could figure prominently as a wide receiver.
Franklin County, which was 3-7 last year, won't have much time to get on its feet with defending state Division 6 runner-up George Washington of Danville and E.C. Glass being two of its first three opponents.
``Our strength is going to be team speed,'' Eagles coach Horace Green said. ``Our weakness is depth.''
William Fleming is starting over under new coach George Miller, an assistant under the retired Sherley Stuart.
The Colonels won only one game last year and the memories of that discouraging campaign may be difficult to overcome in the early going. But Fleming has athletes who have size and speed.
The most important project during the preseason was to install Charles Burnette at quarterback. Burnette was a wide receiver last year, but he is considered one of the best athletes in the school and has started since he was a freshman.
``He has all the tools to be a quarterback, but he just doesn't have the experience yet,'' Miller said.
Fleming will stick with the I-formation, its offense under Stuart. Defensively, the Colonels are solid at linebacker with returning starters Matt Grogan in the middle and sophomore Tito Stone. Tackles Ricardo Gill and Reginald Thompson will be among those called on to anchor the defensive front.
Miller won't have the luxury of allowing Burnette to specialize. Burnette will be playing safety again this year.
``I expect some big things out of these young players,'' Miller said.
WILLIAM FLEMING
1994 record: 1-9 overall, 0-4 in the Roanoke Valley District
Coach: George Miller, 1st year
Returning starters:Charles Burnette, 6-2, 180, moving from wr to qb, s, jr.; Richard Wilson, 5-7, 150, wr, jr.; Garrett Lancaster, 5-8, 165, p, sr.; Matt Grogan, 6-2, 235, mlb, sr.; Corey Poindexter, 6-1, 185, de, te sr.; Tito Stone, 6-2, 190, lb, soph.
Other key players:Ricardo Gill, 6-1, 245, ot, dt, sr.; Reginald Thompson, 5-10, 200, g, dt, jr.; Derrick Rubin, 6-0, 215, g, ng, soph.; Patrick McGeorge, 5-10, 185, c, lb, jr.; Everett Watson, 5-11, 245, ot, dt, soph.; Eugene Smith, 6-1, 255, c, dt, jr.; Maurice Wade, 6-2, 180, wr, db, sr.; Josh Taylor, 6-1, 195, tb, lb, jr.; Joseph Brown, 5-10, 180, tb, db, jr.; Brian Adams, 5-10, 175, qb, jr.; Lee Suggs, 6-0, 180, tb, de, soph.; J.R. Word, 5-9, 215, fb, mlb, soph.; Dequon Mayo, 6-1, 215, og, de, jr.; Matthias Zapatka, 6-3, 240, ot, dt, jr.; Rodney Morris, 6-4, 195, wr, de, soph.; Jaron Walker, 6-3, 180, wr, lb, jr.
Outlook:The Colonels are short on experience but long on enthusiasm under first-year coach George Miller. The schedule is difficult with nothing but AAA teams represented, but optimism reigns. Burnette will be learning to play quarterback for a while, but he's a good enough athlete that he figures to be up to the task.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 1, Heritage; 8, Petersburg; 15, at Halifax County; 22, at E.C. Glass; 29, George Washington (Danville)
Oct. 6, at Albemarle; 13, open; 20, Pulaski County; 27, at Cave Spring
Nov. 3, at Franklin County; 10, Patrick Henry
CAVE SPRING
1994 record:6-4, 2-2 in the Roanoke Valley District
Coach: Steve Spangler, fourth year
Returning starters:Jeff Lang, 5-10, 165, qb, sr.; Jimmy Fusco, 6-2, 240, g, de, sr.; Mike Mitchem, 6-4, 265, ot, de, sr.; John Poff, 5-10, 195, g (moving from tight end), sr; Nathan Manning, 6-1, 210, olb, sr.
Other key players:Jason Fox, 5-9, 165, olb, fl, 6-1, 210; Robert Hale, 5-10, 165, fb, sr.; Aaron Williams, 6-3, 235, te, lb, soph,; Brad Custer, 6-0, 235, c, sr.; Matt Berger, 6-3, 255, ot, dt., soph.; Jud Poulter, 6-0, 210, dt, jr; Josh Dowdy, 6-0, 210, lb, jr.; Joe Mullins, 6-0, 165, p, soph.
Outlook:Cave Spring is eager to capitalize on the positive strides made last year. The program seems to be going in the right direction. The Knights could build up a head of steam during the early part of the schedule when four of the first five teams it plays are in the Group AA classification. If Cave Spring develops some confidence during that stretch, it could be a formidable factor in the Roanoke Valley District race.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 1, at Northside; 8, at Martinsville; 15, Blacksburg; 22, at Heritage; 29, open
Oct. 6, at Rockbridge County; 13, at Franklin County; 20, Patrick Henry; 27, William Fleming
Nov. 3, at Salem; 10, at Pulaski County
PATRICK HENRY
1994 record:8-4 , 3-1 in the Roanoke Valley District
Coach: Ed Scott, sixth year
Returning starters:T.J. Tate, 5-9, 225, ot, dt, sr.; Donnie Smith, 6-0, 210, qb, sr.; Dan Ankoma, 5-10, 215, fb, dt, sr.; Kevin Washington, 6-0, 225, fb, lb, sr.; Tiran Stewart, 6-1, 255, dt, jr.; Nick Saunders, 5-7, 160, cb, sr.; Mark Johnson, 5-9, 180, cb, sr.; Roschaun Martin, 6-1, 180, s, sr.
Other key players:Chad French, 5-9, 240, ot, dt, sr.; Dennis Dunnaville, 5-10, 170, jr.; Devon Battle, 6-4, 215, de, soph.; Mike Boyd, 5-6, 150, lb, sr.; Jonathan Helms, 6-3, 230, ot, dt, soph.; Shaun Akers, 5-10, 165, tb, jr.; James Hickenbotham, 5-9, 145, soph.; Jerome Cook, 5-11, 205, te, p, soph.;
Outlook:If the Patriots can find some linebackers and some depth on the offensive line, they'll be contenders in the district. Smith is back at quarterback after missing the Group AAA Division 5 playoffs last year. Smith is big and strong and runs well enough for the option to be used a little more than last year.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 1 - open; 8 - at Magna Vista; 15 - Salem; 22 - George Washington (Danville); 29 - at Halifax County
Oct. 6 - E.C. Glass; 13 - at Heritage; 20 - at Cave Spring; 27 - Franklin County
Nov. 3 - Pulaski County; 10 - at William Fleming
FRANKLIN COUNTY
1994 record:3-7, 1-3 in the Roanoke Valley District
Coach: Horace Green, third
Returning starters:Gray Hodges, 6-0, 160, s, sr.; Brian Gilreath, 5-9, 190, lb, sr.; Haywood Dunlap, 5-11, 200, de, sr.
Other key players:Casey Hancock, 5-11, 170, rb, sr.; Eric Walker, 5-11, 150, sr.
Outlook:The good news for Franklin County is that overall team speed is better than it has been. The bad news is many inexperienced players who must develop in a hurry. Once that's done, the Eagles coaches hope they stay healthy. There isn't much depth if key players fall.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 1, George Washington (Danville); 8, at Laurel Park; 15, at Heritage; 22, Rockbridge County; 29, at E.C. Glass
Oct. 6, at Pulaski County; 13, Cave Spring; 20, Halifax County; 27, at Patrick Henry
Nov. 4, William Fleming; 10, open
by CNB