THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 25, 1994 TAG: 9408240212
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: N3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: FOOTBALL SPECIAL '94
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX COMPASS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 109 lines
ONE YEAR AGO, if you had asked Mario Elliott and Richie Johnson where they would be today, most likely their answers would not have included being starters on Lake Taylor's football team.
Last August, one year after earning All Eastern District honors as a safety in his freshman year, Elliott wanted to quit football.
The source of his disenchantment was the need to learn the quarterback's role so he could back up senior Skip Wright.
``Mario just wasn't very confident,'' Titans head coach Bert Harrell said. ``It takes a while to get a handle on everything involved with running an offense and that's a lot to ask of a young kid.
``He was just a sophomore. At one point he felt like it was too much pressure and was ready to quit the team. We convinced him to hang with us and he caught on.''
Elliott acknowledged as much.
``I really had a hard time understanding all of the movements,'' he said. ``I was used to rec ball, where all you do is hand the ball off.''
Elliott never had much of chance to master those movements last season. He separated his shoulder in the fourth game of the season.
But now those days seem far, far away as the 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior gets set to guide Lake Taylor to the top of the Eastern District.
``It's a big responsibility,'' Elliott said. ``You've got to be smart. You've got to read defenses and stay in good shape. You also have to take some hits.
``I really enjoy it. I'm trying to work harder and harder to take this team to the top.''
And Elliott doesn't want to accomplish that feat for himself as much as he wants to do it for the seniors.
Johnson, a 6-0, 175-pound running back, is one of those seniors and one who really didn't expect to be trying to fill Dink Hodges' shoes.
Hodges rushed for more than 3,000 yards during his career at Lake Taylor. Johnson came in just under the 500-yard mark last season - his first at the varsity level.
``It's a shock to me to be here,'' Johnson said. ``I never expected to be a starter.''
Johnson joined the Titans late last season, and his eligibility was always tenuous, not because his grades were too low by school standards, but because they weren't meeting his mother's expectations.
So with his mother and his teammates on his back, Johnson got his grades up and kept them there.
Now Johnson battles with himself to be the best on the field.
``You've got to motivate yourself,'' Johnson said. ``(Coach Harrell) makes you want to work hard and push yourself.''
Johnson is being pushed on defense, too. He has moved from free safety to cornerback.
``You can't sit back and play centerfield and relax anymore,'' Johnson said. ``At free safety you could kind of hang back and wait for things to come to you and you go to the ball and help make a tackle or grab an interception, but at corner you are covering somebody from the start and you can't let them go.''
The opposing cornerbacks are going to need to stay alert as the powerful arm of Elliott has allowed the Titans to alter their game plan.
Primarily a running team in the past, Harrell hopes to open things up a little bit more.
``Mario's ability to throw the ball will allow us to do that,'' Harrell said. ``We'll still be doing a lot of the things we've done in the past, but we've got some kids who can catch the ball and Mario has a strong arm.''
Elliott's throwing abilities became apparent during the summer passing league, so he doesn't expect anybody out there to be surprised when he airs it out.
``Everyone knows I can throw,'' Elliott said. ``Last year our quarterback could throw, but he wasn't able to go deep. His arm wasn't quite as strong as mine. So we will be looking to pass a lot and spread things out. So I think everybody will be looking for us to pass.''
Which may in turn open things up for Johnson.
``I'll be out there doing my best,'' Johnson said. ``We have had a lot of great backs here. Dink for one and I'm certainly no Dink. But you never know what can happen.''
While much of the attention will be showered on the accomplishments of Elliott, Johnson and the other skill players, Elliott and Johnson were quick to acknowledge the ones who make them look good.
``I love my linemen,'' Elliott said. ``I tell them every time they make a good block and I thank them for it.''
``You better stay on good terms with your line,'' Johnson said with a laugh. ``They make sure you have a hole to run through and they can certainly get you back. . . . They can open up the gates on you.''
``Without them, there would be no scoring, and without that there is no game,'' Elliott said.
With a line that averages 280 pounds - and a renewed sense of confidence - Elliott and Johnson expect to spend a lot of time in the end zone. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
After rushing for 482 yards last year, Richie Johnson will try to
fill Dink Hodges' shoes, which carried Hodges more than 3,000 yards
over his career.
Mario Elliott
He's the Titans' big gun
Richie Johnson
He's a two-way starter
by CNB