Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 28, 1995 TAG: 9509280005
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES C. BLACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BUCHANAN LENGTH: Medium
Situated in the back of Botetourt County, the high school is surrounded by spacious fields and trees with the field sunken in a little pit.
And in the background, behind the visitor's side of the field, sits Purgatory Mountain. Given the performance of the Knights the past two seasons, the mountain is appropriately named.
"Those two seasons definitely qualify as Purgatory," head coach Doug Ross said, laughing. "I think it's fitting that we played in the shadow of Purgatory."
For the past two years, James River has been plagued with seasons every coach and player tries to avoid. The Knights are coming off back-to-back 2-8 seasons with fifth and last place finishes in the Pioneer District for its efforts.
Caught in the middle of the mess were senior captains Mark Whiting, Freddie Johnson and cousins Johnny and Shahan Burrell.
The players were part of an undermanned team which often was bitten by the injury bug.
"During their first year, we only had 18 players and one [Tony Sparks] went out with a knee injury," Ross said.
In 1994, the injuries and the losses continued.
"We averaged 19 points and 290 yards a game," Ross said of a season in which Whiting, Johnny and Shahan Burrell all missed action because of injuries. "But the problem was we were surrendering more points than we were scoring."
And then came the quartet's senior season.
"They really impressed me with how much value they put into their senior season," Ross said.
At the end of the summer during two-a-day practices, Ross said his four captains provided the leadership he was looking for.
Despite the August heat wave which had people searching for shade and comfort, his seniors started the scheduled practices a few minutes early.
The players felt that they really didn't have any other option.
"I just wanted to go all out since this is probably going to be my last year of football," fullback Whiting said.
What the players have done is put the team in the playoff hunt - something James River has not done since going 7-4 in 1991.
With its 21-0 victory over Galax, the Knights improved to 3-1. James River, which has had two shutouts this season, hadn't blanked an opponent since recording back-to-back shutouts in 1990.
In between the shutouts was an 18-15 victory over Lord Botetourt, which serves as the highlight of the season so far for cornerback Johnson.
"That has been the biggest game of the season because that's our rival," Johnson said.
While the Knights hadn't beat the Cavaliers in three years, there was more to the rivalry than the score. Lord Botetourt's featured back is junior Wesley Cox, who attended James River his freshman year.
"Before the game, we were all worried about Wesley," Johnson said.
The Knights, however, were able to contain Cox. The tailback managed a respectable 79 yards and two touchdowns.
In team sports, it's customary for players and coaches to want to adopt the idea of "this is a family." And for Shahan Burrell, practicing that belief doesn't take much effort.
Not only has he played with his cousin, two-way tackle Johnny Burrell, who was nominated for Homecoming King, for three years but his freshman brother Anthony also is on the squad.
"I have been playing with Johnny since my sophomore year, but I was really looking forward to playing with my brother," said Shahan, who serves as vice president of the Student Council Association.
With the four captains all graduating, maybe Anthony Burrell could step up and become one of the leaders next year. And he probably would be wise to refer to the mountain as Angel Hill to quench the misfortune his brother experienced during his sophomore season.
by CNB