THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9409040321
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: I06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Football Special '94
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
Sooner or later the years of frustration - talented teams, winning records but no playoff bids to show for it - will end.
The Western Branch Bruins want to make it sooner.
As usual, the talent is abundant.
Start with 6-foot-8, 325-pound Todd Hollowell at right tackle. Right beside him at guard is 6-5, 260-pound Steve Kelly. Then move to . . .
You get the picture.
The Bruins have no fewer than five seniors who are legitimate college prospects. And the player who has looked the most impressive in preseason is junior running back/ defensive end Malik Cook.
Cook, 6-2 and 205 pounds, is coming off a summer of touring the country competing in AAU track meets, as a 200-meter specialist and with a 400-meter relay team.
Western Branch coach Lew Johnston intends to give Cook the opportunity to run over and around the competition.
``We finally have an inside threat,'' Johnston said.
Cook and wingback Dre Bly are expected to carry the load for the Bruins. They will share the backfield with sophomore quarterback Daryl Walton and junior wingback Shyrone Stith as Western Branch once again operates out of the Delaware Wing-T.
Bly led the Bruins a year ago in scoring with 13 touchdowns and rushing with 680 yards. He also led the Bruins in receiving with 22 receptions for 420 yards. He should improve on all of those statistics this season.
``We want to find as many spots as possible to get Dre the ball,'' Johnston said.
Tight end Calvin Diggs and wide receiver Jeff Leiker will be the other optimum passing targets.
And although Walton is just a sophomore, he received a reasonable amount of playing time at quarterback last season when Leigh Phelps was injured.
Giving Walton the necessary time to operate will be a line consisting of Hollowell, Kelly, center Bryan Johnston, left guard Steve Zembrzuski and left tackle Brad Preas. It's a line that averages 260 pounds.
Of course, offensive output hasn't been a problem for the Bruins in recent years. Last year, Western Branch had one of the most productive offenses in the area, averaging almost 340 yards a game and almost 29 points an outing.
The defense didn't always make those points count.
``We've had a change in philosophy,'' Johnston said. ``It might be a cliche to say defense wins championships, but it's true. We're going to play our best athletes on defense and if that means they have to play two ways then that's what we'll do.''
After toying with having Cook at linebacker, Johnston seems more comfortable with him at defensive end and will set him loose in much the same manner that Norcom unleashed all-state defensive end David Turner last year.
Cook will be joined across the front by Zembrzuski, J.D. Smith, Kelly and Dominic Towe.
The linebacking corps includes Mark Edmonson and Russ Vrhovac. Darone Watson and Tony Smith anchor the cornerback positions.
Lorenzo Ferguson will play strong safety and Bly will cause his usual amount of havoc from his free safety position.
Johnston spent some of the offseason picking the brain of Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian. The two have been friends for more than 20 years dating back to when they were teammates at William and Mary.
``We're incorporating a lot of Tech's philosophy on defense and that should definitely allow Dre to do more,'' said Johnston.
As if Bly didn't do enough last year, intercepting eight passes, including three against Norcom in a 13-7 loss. It was the closest call Norcom had all year as the Greyhounds went 14-0 and won the Division 5 state title.
The Bruins should find out early if this is their breakthrough year.
``After a non-district game with Granby, we open our district schedule with Norcom and Churchland,'' Johnston said. ``By then, we will have established a pattern.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN
``The lieutenants,'' senior members of the Bruins, are led by, front
from left, Bryan Johnston, Calvin Diggs and Daniel Dussia.
Photos
Todd Hollowell
6-8, 325-pound tackle
Steve Kelly
Part of massive line
Malik Cook
Runs inside and outside
Head coach Lew Johnston
Chart
AT A GLANCE
Includes:
1994 Schedule
Team data
1993 Results
Year by year
For copy of chart, see microfilm
by CNB