ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 14, 1996 TAG: 9611150087
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N16 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
In the past, Salem has been known for its strong running game, complemented by a good passing attack.
This year is just the opposite. While the Spartans have sophomore Matt Anderson leading the runners with a minuscule 61.8 yards rushing per game, they do have quarterback R.J. Beckwith dishing out passes to a top quartet of receivers: Ricky Eubanks, John Hancock, Jeff Akers and Bryant Parker.
``This is the best group at catching the ball that I've ever had,'' said Salem coach Willis White. ``I thought we could be pretty good. I didn't know we could catch the ball as well as we have.''
Beckwith has hit 72 of 131 passes for 1,213 yards to rank second in Timesland passing. His favorite target seems to be Eubanks, who has 27 catches for 414 yards. Hancock has come on strong lately with 19 receptions for 340 yards while the tight ends, Parker (12 catches for 238 yards) and Akers (seven for 122 yards), have made some key plays.
``We had one player who caught 88 passes one year,'' White said. ``I saw him [Charlie Freeman] recently. That was at Fort Chiswell in 1966. We threw the ball all the time. I'll never throw it that much again.''
So why wouldn't White go for another receiver with 88 catches? ``I like to win,'' he said, noting that the Fort Chiswell team didn't finish with a record above .500
``Passing is great,'' he said. ``The way Coach [offensive coordinator Bill] Miles does it keeps you off-balance. You score every now and then [with a pass].''
Despite the overwhelming statistical success of the passing game, Salem finished the regular season with 437 running plays and only 143 pass attempts. White says he likes to throw between 12 and 20 times a game. The average (14.3) was right on target.
``Even when we had Cam Young and the urge was to throw it 25-30 times a game, we didn't,'' said White.
Each receiver has special talents and abilities. At 6-foot-11/2, Hancock has gotten stronger, which explains why he's come to help Eubanks, who is one of Timesland's most spectacular offensive performers.
``Ricky's a heck of an athlete. He's not very fast or big, but he catches the ball,'' said White. ``He gets the most out of what he's got.''
While he's improved as a receiver, Akers is known as Salem's defensive leader for his stellar play at linebacker. Parker, the brother of former All-Group AA running back and current Virginia Tech standout Marcus Parker, was a defensive end who shares tight end duties to spell Akers.
``We all worked together in the summer passing league,'' Beckwith said in explaining the group's success. ``It's helped us know each other. The quarterback has to throw to receivers who have varied speed and quickness. The receivers have to know the velocity of [a quarterback's] passes.''
``As the season has progressed, we've become close as friends and athletes,'' said Eubanks. ``We started staying and working [on passing] after practice.''
Eubanks says the group has enough confidence to try again when certain pass plays fail. ``So we run the same play again [for the open receiver] and it works,'' he said.
Coming into the year with a new quarterback and new receivers, Eubanks said he was afraid the Spartans would throw less. ``That would have taken something from my game,'' said Eubanks, who also stars as a defensive back and return specialist.
As the Spartans' wide receiver, it is Eubanks who goes over the middle and must take some tough hits from opposing defensive players.
``I just try to catch the ball. It doesn't worry me,'' said Eubanks. ``I remember Camm Jackson hit me last year in the playoff game [with Amherst County], and I was shaking the cobwebs out the rest of the night.''
Akers has confidence in Beckwith, who, after a shaky start in Salem's season-opening loss to Brookville, has come on to be a star.
``He's an athlete and he knows how to throw the ball,'' said Akers. ``The first couple of games, he just needed some game situations, and now he's really turned it on.''
Akers might have had more receptions if not for the fact he has been handicapped with a badly bruised hand. ``He still does a great job catching the ball,'' said White. ``He's a lot like [former All-Group AA defensive end and current Virginia Tech player] Shaine Miles. He'll get a chance to play in college if he wants.''
Hancock's best reception during the regular season might have been against Northside. A long pass over the middle early in the game went for a touchdown, and started Salem on the way to a 41-18 romp.
``At first, I thought R.J. had thrown it too short. I slowed down. Once I caught it, I took off and ran,'' said Hancock.
The junior receiver moved to Salem in the seventh grade. Since then, when he and Beckwith threw in their back yards, Hancock has been working to become one of Timesland's best receivers.
Parker said his first year as a key offensive player hasn't been easy. ``I have to do a lot of blocking, so catching the ball is the easiest part. The seniors have helped a lot in getting things down.''
Now it's on to the playoffs, with Eubanks and company set on keeping the other teams honest, and hoping that's enough to keep the Spartans going toward a Group AA Division 4 state championship.
LENGTH: Long : 101 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: NHAT MEYER STAFF Salem quarterback R.J. Beckwithby CNB(center) surrounded by receivers (from left) Ricky Eubanks, Jeff
Akers, Bryant Parker and John Hancock. color KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL