THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408250149
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: S16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Football Special '94
SOURCE: BY JOHN GORDON, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
Miles Blount sat on a bench in Smithfield High's main hallway, relaxing a little between the two-a-day practices. A visitor asked the head football coach how many starters he had coming back on offense.
``Two,'' he said almost under his breath.
``Only two?'' the guest asked in disbelief.
About that time, a player walked by and Blount asked him.
``Two,'' the player confirmed.
Well, how many defensive starters are returning? Blount shook his head as he stared at the floor.
``Two,'' he repeated. ``We lost 18 seniors to graduation from last year's team.''
Two of them were running backs Tory Batten and Steve Bailey who gained more than 2,000 yards for the Packers last season.
Can you say rebuilding year?
Blount isn't moaning or crying the blues, though, for several reasons. First, this isn't the first time he has been in this situation.
``We lost 15 seniors one year and still made the playoffs,'' he said. ``We've been in the playoffs four of the last five years.''
Last year's club finished in a three-way tie with Tabb and Nansemond River for the Bay Rivers District crown. Smithfield beat The River, which beat Tabb, and Tabb defeated the Packers.
``We had a great opportunity to beat Tabb,'' Blount said. ``But they had a kicker who kicked a field goal more than 50 yards and I knew right then it was not our night.''
Second, the players he does have returning are prospective all-district performers. One happens to be his son, Cory.
Cory is a wingback, tailback and possible quarterback. He's talented, very fast and has a good arm. In fact, he plays centerfield and pitches for Smithfield's baseball team and is considered a professional prospect.
Is it tough coaching your son?
``Yes, it is,'' Blount said without hesitation. ``I can't show any favoritism and there might be more pressure on him.
``When the other players want something, they'll send Cory to ask for it.''
The coach tries to treat all of the Packers the same, and as far as his son is concerned, what happens on the field stays on the field. They don't take it home with them.
Besides young Blount, other candidates for the quarterback spot are junior Daryl Savage, who was a backup to Arthur Cornick during the '93 campaign, and Jason Probst, a 5-11, 180-pound sophomore.
With three prime prospects, coach Blount may return to more of a passing offense, similar to past Packer teams.
``We've been a passing team in the past, but we were mostly a running team last year because we had two super running backs in Batten and Bailey,'' he said.
With so few returning starters, Blount indicated there would be plenty of changes in personnel and positions. But he was reluctant to name any after only three days on the practice field.
Other key returnees are Derrick Carter, a 6-2, 225-pound junior linebacker who started for Smithfield as a ninth-grader, and Larry Claggett, a 5-9, 180-pound defensive tackle, who is starting for his third consecutive season.
Another reason that the coach is not sobbing is that he probably has the best kicker in the district. Joel Orlando converted 35 of 36 extra points and had a field goal for 38 kicking points - second in the district last season.
``He's very capable and I'm not afraid to send him out if we get within the 30 yard line,'' Blount said.
When it comes to size, there's good news and bad news.
The good news is that 82 candidates turned out, which is about par for the course. Blount will probably keep 38 on the varsity.
That's not bad when you consider that Smithfield has about 480 students in the top three grades and has to petition to play AA ball. And the coach won't even consider playing at a lower level.
``We're competing very well where we are,'' he said.
The bad news is that the Packers will be small in stature.
``We're not little, by any means, but this team is smaller than usual,'' said Blount.
Time will tell if smaller size, a great kicker, a revitalized passing game and only four returning starters can build another playoff season. ILLUSTRATION: MICHAEL KESTNER
Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER
Cory Blount is the multi-talented son of Smithfield head coach Miles
Blount. Cory is projected to start at running back for the Packers,
and he also is considered a professional baseball prospect.
Daryl Savage, a backup last season, is one of the leading candidates
to be the Packers' starting quarterback this year.
by CNB