ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 13, 1996 TAG: 9612130069
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND STAFF REPORTS
It could be a long time before Virginia sees a team as dominant as Hampton was this season. Then again, it could be just a year away.
Led by junior phenom Ronald Curry, the Crabbers outscored 14 opponents 819-83 this fall. They capped the season with a 51-0 victory in a driving rain over previously unbeaten Patrick Henry-Ashland in the Division 5 championship.
It was the second consecutive state title for the Crabbers, and Curry used that game - and the conditions - to show why he is special. He ran for one touchdown, threw for three and intercepted his 11th pass of the season.
That sort of play is why Curry has been chosen the 1996 Group AAA player of the year by The Associated Press. Curry also was a first-team selection at three different positions on the All-Group AAA team. (Complete team in Scoreboard. B12)
Pulaski County's Bryan Myers was the only first-team selection from Timesland. The senior was selected as a punter and as a kicker.
Mike Smith, also of Hampton, is the Group AAA coach of the year after winning his ninth state title in 26 years. Smith, 271-42-2 for his career, eclipsed Ralph Cummins' state record of 267 coaching victories, set in 35 seasons at Clintwood.
Curry led the Crabbers to a No.3 ranking in several national high school polls. He passed for or scored 76 times, a Virginia record for single-season touchdown responsibility. For his career, Curry has been responsible for 131 touchdowns, 62 through the air.
Thomas Jones of Powell Valley, last year's Group A player of the year, finished his career with 104 touchdowns, then the state record.
In all, Curry completed 99 of 168 passes for 2,293 yards, 36 touchdowns and eight interceptions this year. He also ran for 905 yards and 29 touchdowns on 116 carries, scored once on a blocked field-goal return, once on a kickoff return, five times on punt returns and four times on interception returns.
A statewide panel of sportswriters made Curry a first-team All-Group AAA selection at quarterback, defensive back and kick returner.
The only other first-team player at more than one position was Myers. After All-Group AAA kicker Shayne Graham left Pulaski County for Virginia Tech, where he was a first-team All-Big East Conference selection as a freshman, Myers stepped in and made eight of 10 field-goal attempts, including a 47-yarder. The 5-6 senior also converted 39 of 41 extra-point kicks and averaged 40.2 yards on 33 punts for the Cougars.
Three of Myers' Pulaski County teammates were second-team selections: senior offensive tackle Bryan Dalton, senior linebacker Ryan Brockmeyer and senior defensive back Ronald Branch. Other Timesland players on the second team were Richard Wilson, a senior defensive back from William Fleming; and Matt Maxey, a junior kicker from Franklin County.
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Myersby CNB