THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 2, 1994 TAG: 9408310152
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
THE OFFENSE WILSON'S football team will use this year is described as run and shoot.
Scratch that name.
It's really throw and go. Running ranks several giant steps behind the pass when the Presidents go on the attack this year.
Wilson gets the jump on the two other Portsmouth schools, opening its season against Granby on Friday afternoon at Chittum Field in Norview. The kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
Norcom and Churchland start next week.
Wilson coach Jenson Baker makes no secret that his team will be putting the football in the air. ``We'll pass 80 percent of the time,'' says Baker.
Sophomore Brandon Wiggins, who will be the starting quarterback for Air Baker, served up 60 passes last year. And that was in a back-up role. Starter Carlos Jones threw 161 times. Overall that was an average of 22 passes per game.
No Southeastern team passed more than Wilson. And only Indian River, the Division 6 Eastern Region champion, gained more yardage in the air than the Presidents. Wilson picked up 1,360 yards in passing.
On the ground, the Presidents managed only 688 yards. Compare that total with district champion Norcom. Terry Ricks alone rushed for 1,057 yards for the Greyhounds.
``We have the best receiver in the district,'' said Baker. ``And that's one very good reason to pass.''
He refers to Darrius Edwards, who caught 53 passes covering 651 yards last year.
Baker also feels he has two excellent passers in Wiggins and freshman Terence Winston. Winston has thrown well in pre-season scrimmages.
Dvorek Crocker might be another pass grabber for the Presidents, but he probably won't be at tight end as expected. The senior receiver has been moved to tailback and could blossom as one of the team's top runners. Holdover fullback Robert Hargraves is another who will be a prime ball carrier.
While Wilson won only two of 10 games last year, the Presidents have 12 starters back. Seven are offensive holdovers.
Baker is trying to keep two-way players down to a minimum despite his small squad.
``Hopefully, we will not have more than four players starting both ways,'' said Baker. ``Improving our defense has been a prime goal this year, and I'm also hopeful that we will not have any of the starters in our defensive line having to start on offense.''
Improvement already is apparent at Wilson.
In a preseason scrimmage, the Presidents beat a team that had beaten them last year.
In regular-season play, Granby thumped Wilson, 34-12, in last year's opener. But graduation claimed several of the Comets' mainstays, including quarterback J.J. Johnson and tackle Jeff Crane.
Ninth-year head coach Dave Hudak has five returning starters on offense, only three on defense.
``Attitude can take you a long way,'' says Hudak, whose team will be led by a receiver comparable with Edwards. He's Roosevelt Westbrook, an All-Eastern wide receiver.
Anthony King, a second-team All-Eastern defensive back last year, now is doing the quarterbacking.
Baker formerly coached at Cradock and Manor and views this team as ``the best I've had since I've been coaching in Portsmouth.''
``We had one team at Cradock that may have been a little tougher, but I believe this team is going on the field with an attitude that says `We can win this ball game.' And that really pleases me.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Wilson quarterback Brandon Wiggins stretches Sidney Watson during
practice.
by CNB