ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, November 8, 1996               TAG: 9611080026
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                PAGE: N-14 EDITION: METRO 
                                             TYPE: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS 
SOURCE: KEITH POMPEY STAFF WRITER 

COLONELS' WILSON FOLLOWS DAD'S FOOTSTEPSLIKE HIS LATE FATHER, RICHARD WILSON TAKES WEARING THE BLUE AND GOLD SERIOUSLY - HE'S LEADING TIMESLAND WITH EIGHT INTERCEPTIONS AND HAS HELPED CARRY THE TEAM THROUGH AN INJURY-HEAVY SEASON

Richard Davis is somewhere smiling down at his son's accomplishments.

Before he was killed by his girlfriend several years ago, Davis taught Richard Wilson how to play sports. He told his son that despite his lack of size, he could become one of the best.

It looks like father knew best.

Heading into Friday's regular-season finale with Patrick Henry, the William Fleming football player is turning heads. The 5-foot-6 senior, who is listed at 5-9, leads Timesland with eight interceptions, is second with 42 receptions, and averages 21 yards per return, good enough for eighth place.

``Pound-for-pound, Richard is one of the best players that has ever worn the blue and gold,'' said George Miller, the Colonels' coach. ``We have had some awesome players in the past. But he ranks up there with some of the best.

``Richard buries people. He runs around them. He runs through them. He runs over them. He'll jump to the moon if he has to pull the ball out of the air.''

Miller didn't envision that in 1993.

That's when Wilson tried out for the team as a 5-3 freshman. Although undersized, he wanted to follow in his father's football footsteps. Davis played for E.C. Glass.

Richard ``worried you to death,'' said Miller, who was an assistant coach in 1993. ``You feared putting him on the field because he might get hurt.''

But Wilson didn't get hurt and became a dependable freshman on the varsity squad.

This season, Wilson has taken his play to a higher level. When several key players were injured, he carried the Colonels (4-5) on his back.

Wilson played at least 90 percent of the games. He was on the field during every offensive play. Wilson returned the kickoffs and the punts. And he came in during crucial situations on defense.

That didn't bother him.

``I just said, `Give me the ball,''' recalls Wilson. ``I was one of the only original starters left, so I just thought that I would try to carry the team.''

And he has done it all season. Two weeks ago, in the 37-14 homecoming win over Cave Spring, Wilson was unstoppable. He caught six passes for 87 yards, had 70 yards in returns, made two pass deflections and scored two touchdowns - one a 45-yard fumble recovery.

``I think that was my best overall performance,'' said Wilson.

There was one play that stood out.

Late in the fourth quarter, Wilson caught a short pass from quarterback Charles Burnette. He streaked down the sideline, and Knights defensive back Zack Wright was the last man to beat. Instead of running out of bounds, Wilson ran through Wright and scored a 38-yard touchdown. The defensive back lay on the field for at least five minutes. Later, Wright learned he had dislocated his shoulder.

``Steve Spangler, who is Cave Spring's coach, told me, `That was one of the best high school runs that he had seen. And that he hasn't seen anything better since [former Knight running back] Tiki Barber,''' said Miller. ``That's a heck of a compliment since Tiki is a Heisman Trophy candidate at Virginia.''

Maybe Spangler should have warned Franklin County.

Last week, Wilson outleaped two Eagles defensive backs for a 22-yard touchdown reception. Afterward, the defenders lay injured in the end zone.

So which schools are recruiting this man of steel?

``There have been some schools that have inquired about him,'' said Miller. ``But nobody has seriously been talking about a scholarship. I would feel terrible if somebody overlooked him because of his physical size. But I know what he can do. He can play at any division if he gets a chance.''

Wilson comes to play every football game. Off the field, he is somewhat of a comedian, with a heart of gold. He is also a pretty good student, carrying a 2.75 grade point average.

You won't find an adult, teammate or child that will say anything negative about him.

His father wouldn't have had it any other way.

LENGTH: Medium:   85 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  CINDY PINKSTON/Staff. William Fleming's Richard Wilson 
          was unstoppable in a recent game against Cave Spring. He caught six 
          passes for 87 yards, had 70 yards in returns and scored two 
          touchdowns.