Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 16, 1995 TAG: 9511170004
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
He is delighted with the results that produced one of Salem's strongest teams and led to a 9-1 record going into the Group AA Division 4 playoffs Friday when the Spartans entertain Martinsville.
It also produced an oddity that White hasn't seen in his 30 years of coaching. ``Four of our [five] defensive linemen all play fullback. You usually don't have linemen in that position, but this is an unusual group.''
Rusty Howell and Chris Stuart play defensive tackle, Brandon Poff is at nose guard and Chris Huff is at defensive end. Only Jeff Akers, the other defensive end, doesn't run the ball in the backfield.
``These guys worked hard in the weight room,'' said White. ``Most were linebackers earlier in their career.''
The disadvantage is that Salem's defensive line isn't big in terms of pounds. ``Most times, strength and quickness get them by,'' said White.
On offense, Huff is Salem's second-leading ground gainer while Howell is a backup fullback. However, the Spartans have used Howell recently as a tailback with Huff, giving them a big and powerful set of runners to throw at other teams.
Poff and Stuart, the two underclassmen of the quartet, are backup fullbacks and figure to move into Huff's and Howell's roles on offense next year.
All this could have set up a battle between White, who heads the defense, and Billy Miles, his offensive coordinator. ``The way we rotate them on offense, it doesn't effect them. Besides, I like good defense,'' said Miles.
``I like good offense,'' White shot back. ``Besides, this makes our defense better.''
It suits the four players just fine.
Howell is the only one of the quaertet who prefers defense. ``I'd rather deliver a good hit. So I like defense better than offense. I like the emotion of a good hit,'' he said.
Huff and the others prefer offense.
``You can deliver a big hit on blocks when we run an isolation play,'' said Huff, who is responsible for much of the yardage leading rusher Gussie Vaughn has racked up for Salem and the passing of quarterback Seth Moore, one of Timesland's top throwers.
Poff is playing defensive line for the first time. ``At first, I was surprised, but now I like it. I'd still like to play more offense than defense,'' said the junior.
Stuart, a sophomore, never saw himself as a defensive lineman. ``I didn't think I'd get a lot of playing time because of my size [5-foot-8, 175 pounds]. I had been playing linebacker. But I like the switch. Anything to get playing time.''
White figured out this scenario last winter when he was putting together personnel for the 1995 season.
``I never dreamed this would happen. I was just trying to put people where they'd help the team,'' said White. ``I was going to give these four the first shots at defensive line. It was theirs to win or lose.''
Howell is the heaviest of the four at 215 pounds - five more than Huff. Poff weighs 195 pounds and, at 6-0, is the tallest.
``In my sophomore year, I put on a lot of weight,'' said Howell. ``About 50 pounds from the weight room.''
Injuries are always a concern, most especially for Huff and Howell who are logging the most minutes of playing both ways because of their roles on offense.
``I'm not concerned. They're [injuries] a part of the game,'' said Huff, who last year had problems with ailments. ``That's part of the game. Last year I missed four games, but so far it hasn't happened this year.''
Howell limped off the field last week with a cramp in his leg, but he returned later to run for 39 yards on 10 carries in a 21-7 victory over Northside that clinched the Blue Ridge District crown for the Spartans.
So far the offense and defense have shared in Salem's big year. ``Some games, the offense has their nights. Sometimes the defense has their nights,'' said Howell.
``I think we're very balanced,'' said Huff. ``We're not big, but we're strong and our quickness makes up for our lack of size.''
Huff says he never saw himself being as strong as he is. He could bench 250 pounds as a freshman. Now he's up to 335 pounds.
``The coaches stressed the weight room more this year. Besides my strength, I'm faster and quicker off the ball,'' said Poff.
``This is the first year I've lifted,'' said Stuart. ``I figured I could get a chance at the varsity if I lifted. i'm going to work just as hard or harder this off season, but right now I'm just happy to be starting.''
by CNB