ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608290093
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: PREP FOOTBALL
SOURCE: KEITH POMPEY STAFF WRITER
It seems as if Duane Butler has waited his entire life for this football season.
The 6-foot, 162-pound senior finally is the starting quarterback at Liberty. He was the back-up to first-team All-Group AA selection J.J. Coles last year. And in 1994, he led the Minutemen's junior varsity.
``I'm ready to try to do the best that I can,'' Butler said.
Is Butler ready?
``We lost a good quarterback in J.J. Coles. We've got our work cut out for us in that regard,'' said Mike Scharnus, Liberty's coach. ``But I'm confident Duane will be able to do some good things.''
On paper, Butler has his work cut out for him, taking over an offense that has only tight end Robert Carson and tackle Billy Kennedy back from last season's 9-2 team.
And the defense isn't much more experienced, with four returning starters.
But
``Our team is still optimistic,'' Scharnus said. ``I think we are still trying to be positive. Hopefully, by midseason we will be a little more optimistic and stay that way by the end of the season.''
A key to that optimism is Carson. The 6-1, 202-pounder caught 17 passes for 325 yards last season. The junior, a standout on Liberty's Group AA championship basketball team, also starts at defensive end.
Scharnus said the other leaders for the Minutemen this year will be offensive tackles John Rupel and Andy Waff, fullback Tim Parker, center Chip Hill, defensive end Rick Wright and tailback Gerry Staples.
Unlike Liberty, Staunton River comes back with a veteran team for the second consecutive year. Of the 54 players on the Golden Eagles' roster, 12 are returning starters.
The major question is: Can coach Bob Gray's squad continue to improve? Staunton River had a 2-8 record in 1994. Last season, the Golden Eagles were 4-6.
``I don't know how we are going to do in wins and losses, but this is going to be a better team,'' said Gray, heading into his third year as head coach.
Unlike last fall, Staunton River has an experienced backfield, so experienced that there might not be enough footballs to go around. Quarterback Danny Thomas, fullback Jarrett Ferguson, wingback Willie Johnson and tailback Kevin Martin all return.
The Seminole District won't be as rugged as it has been in recent years. Amherst County, the Group AA Division 4 champion last fall, has moved up to the Group AAA Western District.
Nelson County and Buckingham County have dropped to Group A, and William Campbell, a playoff team last year, has gone to the Dogwood District along with perennial Seminole cellar-dweller Altavista.
Only Group AAA Heritage, which didn't have a tradition of strong football except for a few years when John Walker was the coach, has dropped to Group AA and joined the Seminole. So the competition for playoff spots and the district title won't be quite as stiff as in previous seasons.
LIBERTY
1995 record: 9-2 overall, 9-1 Seminole District.
Coach: Mike Scharnus, fifth year.
Returning starters: Billy Kennedy, Sr., OT (moves to G), 6-0, 260; Robert Carson, Jr., TE-DE, 6-0, 202; Tim Parker, Sr., NG (moves to LB), 5-10, 194; Travis Hunt, Jr., DT, 5-11, 220; Gerry Staples, Sr., LB, 5-10, 167.
Other key players: Duane Butler, Sr., QB-LB, 6-0, 162; John Rupel, Sr., G-DT, 5-11, 264; Andy Waff, Sr., OT-NG, 6-2, 204; Ricky Wright, Sr., DE, 6-2, 225; Chip Hill, Sr., C, 6-1, 267.
Major losses: J.J. Coles, QB; Doug Overstreet, G-DE; Gregg Reynolds, DB-WR; Ryan Stevens, FB-LB.
Outlook: Liberty will miss All-Group AA quarterback Coles, who is playing basketball at Hagerstown (Md.) Junior College. This forces Carson to be a more vocal leader this season. Still, the Minutemen have a shot at making the playoffs for a second consecutive year.
1996 SCHEDULE
Saturday, at Patrick County, 7 p.m.
Sept.6, at Martinsville, 7 p.m.; 13, Northside, 7:30 p.m.; 20, Magna Vista, 7:30 p.m.; 27, at Heritage, 7:30 p.m.
Oct.4, Rustburg, 7:30 p.m.; 11, at Staunton River, 7:30 p.m.; 18, Appomattox County, 7:30 p.m.; 25, at Brookville, 7:30 p.m.
Nov.1, Jefferson Forest, 7:30 p.m.
STAUNTON RIVER
1994 record: 4-6, 4-6.
Coach: Bob Gray, third year.
Returning starters: Danny Thomas, Sr., QB, 5-11, 155; Jarrett Ferguson, Sr., RB-KR, 5-9, 185; Willie Johnson, Jr., RB, 6-0, 180; Jamie Stanley, Sr., C, 5-9, 160; Brian Ferguson, Sr., OT, 5-10, 210; Jamie Radford, Jr., G, 5-10, 240; Kevin Jenkins, Sr., K, 6-0, 180; Adam Ayers, Sr., DE, 6-2, 170; Lonnie Johnson, Jr., NG, 5-9, 215; Jeremy Wright, Sr., LB, 6-1, 190.
Other key players: Jason Grisso, Sr., DT, 6-2, 230; Jermaine Thomas, Soph., DT, 5-10, 290.
Major losses: Jeff English, FB-LB, 5-11, 205; Kevin Forrest, LB, 6-1, 195.
Outlook: Staunton River seems ready to improve on last season's 4-6 record. Martin is back and this time he has help. The Golden Eagles could surprise people this year with a good nucleus and Gray, who built some other programs before taking over at Staunton River.
1996 SCHEDULE
Friday, Bassett, 7:30 p.m.
Sept.6, at William Byrd, 7:30 p.m.; 13, at Fieldale-Collinsville, 7 p.m.; 20, Alleghany, 7:30 p.m.; 27, Brookville, 7:30 p.m.
Oct.4, at Jefferson Forest, 7:30 p.m.; 11, Liberty, 7:30 p.m.; 18, at Heritage, 7:30 p.m.; 25, Rustburg, 7:30 p.m.
Nov.8, at Appomattox County, 7:30 p.m.
LENGTH: Long : 106 linesby CNB