Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 5, 1995 TAG: 9510060024
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RINER LENGTH: Medium
If Conrad Hughes hadn't transferred to Auburn High School from archrival Shawsville, somebody may have been hurt.
To one way of thinking, it was just a healthy little rivalry when Hughes was playing against his cousins David Hughes and Mike McNeill.
``When we were in JV, I swear they tried to kill me,'' said Conrad Hughes. ``They had a bet going as to who was going to be the first one to put me out.''
McNeill cast a bemused glance at his cousin.
``All in good fun,'' he said.
Then McNeill described Conrad's revenge, which had to wait until they both reported for duty on the varsity squad.
``I'm playing center and he's playing safety and he comes all the way from back there and hits me,'' McNeill said. ``Then he looks at me and laughs.''
Another run-in, this one between Conrad and David on junior varsity, was no laughing matter for those who believe in a strict interpretation of the letter of football law.
Conrad Hughes was playing quarterback and David was prowling the other side of the ball on Auburn's defense.
``So I'm going back to pass and I throw it,'' Conrad Hughes said. ``The ball has been in the air forever and David comes in way late and just drills me. The official does nothing - he hasn't even seen it.
``I'm laying there saying, `Ah, a little late there Dave?'''
Dave's been banged around a little himself, even if he did save some wear and tear by skipping his junior season in order to take a job milking cattle.
When Auburn played Giles a couple of weeks ago, David had his nose broken while running the football from his tailback position. It was nasty - he was losing enough blood to make Dracula queasy - but the 5-foot-7 player, declined to retire.
``I said, `Dave, man, we aren't going to be winning this one [Giles would go on to roll 51-24],`'' Conrad said, ``why don't you go on to the hospital?'
``He says, `Can't do it, man.'''
Typical Dave.
``He only goes one speed,'' said Steve Wright, the Auburn coach. ``Ask him what he sees when he makes a tackle or throws a block. I think all he sees is red.''
Auburn's enemies have seen some red, too - that of Dave's jersey as he ran by. In four games, he has carried 56 times for 376 yards and eight touchdowns. He can shut down a run as well as he can produce one, too. He's started every game at noseguard.
``Quick as a cat,'' Wright said. ``Hard to block.''
Conrad Hughes divides his time between wingback and safety. Hughes, who has 308 yards rushing and five touchdowns, started the season at fullback when the projected occupant of that position, William Shelton, did not immediately report to the team. When Shelton did appear, Hughes moved outside to the wing.
McNeill, a not-to-be-trifled -with 5-10, 270-pound senior who starts on both offensive and defensive lines, is perhaps the team's steadiest player.
``When I came here two years ago, Mike was the first one to start making regular appearances in the weight room during the summer,'' Wright said. ``He is very solid.''
Conrad Hughes joined McNeill and the rest of the serious iron pushers this past offseason in the weight room.
``We lifted a lot,'' McNeill said.
David Hughes took his exercise another way.
``I lifted a lot of hay and milked a lot of cows,'' he said.
All three of them are first cousins. They are the children of brothers Mike and David Hughes and sister Toxie Hughes McNeill.
``I wanted to be with my cousins for my senior year,'' Conrad Hughes said. ``We must have 17 cousins out here in this school.''
The precise number was debated among the three for a while before the discussion ended inconclusively.
``I like the atmosphere up here,'' Conrad Hughes said.
Not to convey that Shawsville is such a bad place ...
``The teachers probably threw a party behind my back now that I'm gone, but the people in school told me to have a good time and they'd see me in football,'' he said.
Now there's a date certain to be engraved in deep, black letters on the Hughes calendar.
``It's their Homecoming,'' he said. ``I've been thinking about it. I would love to get the ball on the last play of the game and score.
``And have it ruin their Homecoming.''
by CNB