Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 31, 1995 TAG: 9508310011
SECTION: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PAGE: 2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Long
Coaches in the Roanoke Valley District don't seem to be influenced at all by the Cougars' big graduation hit at the skill positions and behind the defensive line.
The district favorite?
``Pulaski County, no doubt about it,'' Franklin County coach Horace Green said.
``All Pulaski County does is cock the hammer and aim at you again,'' Cave Spring coach Steve Spangler said.
``It has to be Pulaski County,'' Patrick Henry's Ed Scott said.
And what's to like about the 1995 Cougars?
What's not to like about a team that is crammed to the bursting with big, strong, fast, experienced linemen? Or a team that has a flock of fleet-footed backs? Or a team that has the best kicking game in the commonwealth? Or a team that is marvelously coached? Or a team that will go out and hit somebody?
Hope your taste runs to burgundy and gold. If not, the next several months may be difficult for you.
Fond memories linger of the glory days, of quarterback Andre Eaves, and wingback Eric Webb, and linebacker Chris Lawson, and all the rest of the departed stars. But a new crop awaits the inspection of the county's vast ticket-buying public.
``I feel pretty good about them,'' Cougars boss Joel Hicks said of his players.
Pretty much the only seal of approval any of the faithful require, that.
Nothing gladdens the heart of a coach of a wing-T team more than a rocking contingent of linemen, and Hicks and his staff have one.
Tackle Jay James (6-foot-2, 227 pounds) and guard Kevin Phillips (5-11, 201) are the veteran blockers of the offensive line. James also joins a seasoned defensive front that includes fellow tackles Jonathan Gilbert (5-10, 250), Brody Lindamood (6-0, 278), and Mike Coleman (5-11, 255), and end Matt Hull (6-2, 221).
On both sides of the ball, Pulaski County is going to be able either to muscle people around or knock them clean off their feet.
``That'll be the strength of our team,'' Hicks said. ``Most of them won't have to go both ways, too, and that'll be a big help to us.''
Pulaski County will move the football crisply on most occasions. All the good blocking will spring loose speedsters such as tailback Derrick Hunter, fullback Jawan Clark and Z-back Billy Beverly.
Clark, an NCAA Division I signee with North Carolina State, steps in for another Division I athlete, Boston College-bound Tim Davis, at fullback. Clark will move to linebacker from cornerback, his projected college job. Beverly brings more finesse to his position than did the bruising Webb. Hunter spent the off season working the weight room.
``He has to be one of the most improved football players on the team,'' Hicks said of Hunter. ``He'll gain 1,000 yards rushing this year.''
That isn't much of a stretch, considering that he gained 750 last year.
Another one to keep an eye out for is the new quarterback, tall and lanky (6-3, 170) junior Ron Branch.
``He's going to give us a dimension that Andre Eaves did not,'' Hicks said. ``He's tall and he can see over the line, so he can throw.''
When Branch gets them anywhere close to the goal line, Graham and his D-I prospect instep will be summoned.
``We will not attempt a punt inside the 40,'' Hicks said. ``Graham's percentage may go down, but he may have some attempts from the 45 or 50. Why not?''
That's the sort of weapon not often found in high school football and the Cougars have had him for four years.
The focus on defense is to find some linebackers and defensive backs to go along with Clark and his fellow veteran Jamar McNair at safety.
The linebackers are probably going to be J.R. Osborne and Ryan Brockmeyer inside and Russell Shockley and Clark on the flanks. Shockley probably would have started last year if he hadn't been hurt. This season, he may be one of the team's two-way players if he draws an assignment as the tight end.
Bucky Seagle and J.R. Brown are cornerback candidates. Hunter will play the secondary, too.
The Cougars meander through a non-district schedule that includes toughies E.C. Glass, Salem and Science Hill, Tenn., before they take on William Fleming, Patrick Henry and Cave Spring in three of the last four games of the season.
The Cougars ought to be ready to play some serious football by then.
PULASKI COUNTY
1994 record: 10-2 overall (4-0 in the Roanoke Valley District)
Coach: Joel Hicks, 17th year
Returning starters: Jay James, 6-1, 227, sr., dt. ot; Kevin Phillips, 5-11, 201, sr., g; Jamar McNair, 5-10, 168, sr., s; Derrick Hunter, 5-10, 160, sr., tb, db.; Jonathan Gilbert, 5-10, 250, jr., dt; Mike Coleman, 5-11, 255, dt., jr.; Matt Hull, 6-2, 221, de, sr.; Brody Lindamood, 6-0, 278, dt., sr., Jawan Clark, 5-11, 175, lb, fb (converted from the secondary); Shayne Graham, 6-0, 170, pk, sr.
Other key players: Bryan Dalton, 6-3, 283, ot, sr.; c Brian Queen, 5-11, 210, sr.; Ron Branch, 6-2, 170, sr., qb; Billy Beverly, 5-11, 174, sr., Z-back; Bucky Seagle, 5-10, 165, jr., cb; J.R. Brown, 5-11, 158, jr., cb; Russell Shockley, 6-2, 200, sr., te, lb; J.R. Osborne, 5-10, 185, jr., lb
Outlook: The Cougars are loaded again, especially on the offensive and defensive lines. A strong offensive front will hasten the development of some of the less experienced backs such as Clark and Branch. Graham is a weapon that will be difficult for any team in the state to match and Hunter could be poised for a big year as the focus of the attack. The questions are at linebacker and in the secondary, but it shouldn't take long to answer them. Pulaski County never has a suspect defense.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 1: Anacostia, Washington, D.C.; 8: at E.C. Glass; 15: open; 22: at Science Hill, Tenn.; 29: Heritage
Oct. 6: Franklin County; 13: Salem; 20: at William Fleming; 27: at Petersburg
Nov. 3: Patrick Henry; 10: Cave Spring
by CNB