THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 25, 1994 TAG: 9408240116
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: N7 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: FOOTBALL SPECIAL '94
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, COMPASS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
``Yes.''
Lorenzo Thompson is practicing.
That is all Granby football coach Dave Hudak will say about Thompson's suit against the Virginia High School League.
Thompson, who repeated two grades in elementary school and, at 19, is over the age limit to play high school football according to VHSL rules, is battling in court for the right to play out his senior year.
Thompson, an all-district and second-team All-Tidewater selection at linebacker last season, has been allowed to practice with the team, but a ruling on his eligibility is still pending more hearings.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Comets are trying to stay focused on the season ahead of them.
Aside from the void Thompson's absence would leave, Granby is scrambling to fill the holes left by graduation.
The Comets lost quarterback J.J. Johnson and tackle Jeff Crane, and all three of their powerful tight ends - Jeff Stahl, Larry Franks and Shelton Givens - are gone.
``That was a real luxury last year having those three,'' Hudak said. ``We could really do a lot with them.
``We lost a lot of players. In a sense, we are rebuilding. I think we had enough guys who got playing time last year that they should be able to step in.''
What Hudak does have is all-district wide receiver Roosevelt Westbrook and second-team all-district defensive back Anthony King at quarterback.
King was a two-way starter last year at flanker and defensive back but has yet to take any snaps in a game.
Every season, Hudak is faced with the same task - changing the offense to suit his players.
``It's not really as hard as it sounds to do that each season,'' Hudak said. ``If you try to make a player fit into a certain system, I think you run into more problems than gearing the system to them.
``You learn how to make the changes simple and work on executing. It just takes a couple of weeks of a lot of repetition.''
This season's lack of power has forced Hudak to revert back to more of a finesse game. He sees King playing a similar game to that of 1991 offensive player of year Pete Allen.
``King fits that mold,'' Hudak said. ``He is very quick and can throw the ball well. You will probably see a lot more option plays and more passing.''
At the other end of those passes will be Westbrook and third-year starter Desmond Thornton.
``They all went to Penn State's football camp together and really worked on their timing,'' Hudak said. ``At this point, I think everyone is progressing really well.''
With the offense looking fairly sound, Hudak's concern has shifted to the defense. Graduation hit the defense the hardest.
``I shouldn't really say I'm concerned,'' Hudak said. ``(Defensive coach Hank Sawyer) usually finds a way to form it into a top-10 defense. I've seen it look bleak before, and he manages to get it worked into a unit. So I guess I'm not really concerned.''
Speedy sophomore Joe Bryant returns at defensive back and tailback, while junior linemen William Thornton and Raymond Martin will be expected to help shore up the defensive line with Mike Urbaniak and Antwaine Dowe.
The Comets turned in a .500 district performance last season, something Hudak would love to improve upon, but he was hard-pressed to come up with the teams to beat in the district.
``I think there is going to be a lot of parity in the district,'' Hudak said. ``Someone is going to have to just jump out there first, but I'm not sure there is a clear front-runner.''
Hudak said the Comets are doing a good job of avoiding the distraction of the Thompson hearings.
``The overall attitude of the team is really good right now; we have good leadership.'' Hudak said. ``Attitude can take you a long way.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Anthony King, a two-way starter last year at flanker and defensive
back, has moved to quarterback for his senior season. ``He is very
quick and can throw the ball well,'' Granby coach Dave Hudak said.
Photo
Roosevelt Westbrook
He's an all-district wide receiver
by CNB