THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408310637
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: R4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Football Special '94
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
The quarterback is about to become the Beach District's all-time leading passer. The tailback is the district's fastest runner. The wide receiver caught 32 passes for 676 yards and seven touchdowns, as a sophomore.
Everyone's pointing to Green Run as the team to beat in the Beach District.
Head coach Elisha ``Cadillac'' Harris expected as much.
``We lack experience at a couple of positions, mainly along the offensive line,'' Harris said as a wide grin overcame him. ``But the potential is great.''
The quarterback, as has been the case for the last three years, is Glenwood Ferebee, who needs only 182 yards to catch former First Colonial quarterback Denny Hedspeth (1988-90) as the Beach's all-time leading passer.
Ferebee has 2,813 career passing yards. If he repeats his passing performance of a year ago (1,304 yards, 13 TDs), he not only will be the first Beach District passer to surpass the 3,000-yard mark, but also will surpass the 4,000-yard mark.
Harris just hopes Ferebee has psyched himself mentally for the season.
``As a man thinketh, so is he,'' Harris said.
From Ferebee, the ball will most likely end up in the hands of five people.
Junior Cedric Warren, a speedball tailback who ran for 595 yards last season as Green Run's second option.
Junior Larry Jordan, a powering fullback who ran for 156 yards in the last four games last year, all of which Green Run won.
Junior Plaxico Burress, a 6-foot-5 wide receiver who averaged 21 yards per reception a year ago.
Senior David Abbott, who had 22 receptions for 300 yards.
Untested sophomore tight end Clyde Bryant, who goes 6-3 and 280 pounds.
``We only have one lineman with proven game experience, though,'' Harris said.
That would be Ben McCool, a perfect anchor for this so-called inexperienced line. McCool was a first-team All-Tidewater selection last year at center, and at 230 pounds, he is on the smallish side in comparison with his linemates.
Brian Hall and David Tate get the early nod at the guard positions, while Ray Shupe and Troy Smith are expected to begin the season as the starting tackles. Green Run's front line averages 243 pounds.
``The line collectively got better in the offseason,'' Harris said. ``I haven't had a line work so hard in the offseason since 1989.''
In 1989, Green Run finished 9-1 on the field, but 5-5 in the record books after forfeiting its first four games for using an ineligible player. Harris considers that his best team in his years as head coach.
The only loss that year was to First Colonial. As a matter of fact, Harris has yet to beat First Colonial in six tries.
``But I've got three former FC players (Quincy Bethea, Andre Vickers and Johnnie White) on my staff now, so hopefully they'll help us change that,'' Harris said.
What Green Run must change is its habit of letting down in the second half, which was most noticeable when FC scored 41 second-half points in a 54-25 Green Run loss.
``There were times in second halves last year where we were just a calamity of errors and self-destructed,'' Harris said. ``Our defense seemed to get a huge case of the blahs.''
Harris will look to a linebacking corps that includes Jordan, Jonathan Palbusa, Cory Cason and Billy Higgins to maintain the Stallions' energy level. And up front, the Stallions will be tough to push around with Darryl Cherry, Elisee Charles and Elroy Hines, all of whom weigh 250 or more, clogging the middle.
Warren, Burress, Kenyan Mullen and Roger Lee are the likely starters in the secondary.
The Stallions will be tested early when Maury visits for the opener Sept. 9. Green Run displayed its self-destructive second-half powers against the Commodores a year ago in a 35-7 loss.
``If we get out of the gates well, we should just pick up momentum from there,'' Harris said. ``Our goal this year is to score as often as possible and to stop every opponent's opportunity until we get good at it. Maybe I was a little lax at times last year. Not this year.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by Charlie Meads
Assistant coach Johnny White, right, demonstrates proper blocking
technique on Green Run's Thomas Todd.
The Stallions' high-powered starting offensive backfield (front row,
from left) consists of senior quarterback Glenwood Ferebee, junior
fullback Larry Jordan and junior tailback Cedric Warren. Ferebee's
main targets at wide receiver (back row, from left) should be
6-foot-5 junior Plaxico Burress and senior David Abbott.
by CNB