THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 23, 1994 TAG: 9409230663
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Long : 109 lines
One's a year older, the other's 25 pounds heavier. One considers himself a hard worker, the other describes himself as laid back.
But if you really want to know the biggest difference between Norfolk Academy's Damien and D.A. Taylor, ask opposing linebackers. Those guys don't have any trouble determining which one's which.
The one who skips through a hole, Barry Sanders-style, cuts to the outside and hits fifth gear, leaving a defender with an angle wondering what happened to his angle?
That's Damien.
And the one who plows into the line and forces the mass of bodies four or five yards downfield before going down, then pops up wearing a ``let's do that again'' grin?
That's D.A.
Could it be that the most versatile backfield in South Hampton Roads resides under the same roof in Virginia Beach?
The statistics make a compelling case. Last season, D.A. rushed for more than 1,400 yards, and Damien was on a pace to post similar numbers until a broken collarbone forced him to miss half the season.
After two games this season, the duo has combined for more than 500 yards and 10 touchdowns, with each contributing in his own unique style - the power of D.A., the speed of Damien.
``My brother usually pounds out his four or five yards, and that sucks the defense in,'' Damien Taylor said. ``Then I can take it outside, where it's like a track meet.''
Considering his 4.4 speed in the 40, Damien Taylor doesn't lose many meets.
``He's got to be one of the fastest in the area,'' said Norfolk Academy coach Tom York. ``I know I haven't coached many kids with that kind of speed.''
Even D.A., a chiseled 5-10, 195-pound junior, marvels at how fast his 5-10, 170-pound senior brother covers turf.
``I'm not exactly slow,'' he said. ``But I'm not quite that fast, either.''
Meanwhile, Damien, who doubles as a defensive back, has a reputation as a pretty good hitter, York said.
``But I don't hit quite as hard as D.A.,'' Damien said of his brother, who also plays linebacker.
The two used to try to predict which one would get the most yards in a game, but soon realized that, given their styles, the likely result was too easy to figure.
``I know I'm probably going to get the most carries, and he's probably going to get the most yards,'' D.A. Taylor said.
Imagine how these two would fare if they added their talents to Green Run, which is 2-0 and ranked No. 2 in South Hampton Roads.
The Taylors have. The school is across the street from their home.
``I've thought about that from time to time,'' Damien Taylor said. ``I see where their line goes about 240 (pounds) across the board. I wonder what I could do behind those guys.''
Added D.A., ``I went to a Penn State camp with Green Run's linebackers and linemen. Sometimes I think about `what if. . . .' ''
But before long, the Taylors start talking about the academics of Norfolk Academy, and its well-rounded sports program (both Damien and D.A. are three-sport stars), and it becomes clear the thoughts of playing for the Stallions are just that.
``I've been going to Norfolk Academy since the third grade,'' D.A. Taylor said. ``The school has a little bit of everything.''
Besides, leaving Academy would mean D.A. Taylor would have to give up lacrosse, a sport in which he is just as attractive to colleges as in football.
``He anchored our defense on another state championship team last year,'' Bulldogs coach Tom Duquette said. ``He has good lacrosse skills, but he brings a physicalness to the game only a football player can.''
That's D.A., or DeShannon Artemis, the name his mother bestowed upon him because:
She was crazy about the old Jackie DeShannon tune ``Put A Little Love In Your Heart,''and;
She was also a big fan of Artemis Gordon from the ``Wild, Wild, West'' television series.
It also fulfilled her desire to give her children middle names starting with vowels. Damien's is Octavious.
Both Taylors are also doing well academically. Damien's grades are so strong he's got two Ivy League schools on his short list of prospective colleges, along with a couple of Division I-AA schools and a few big-time programs, including Virginia Tech. According to York, Damian Taylor's speed makes his playing for a major school a possibility, although he would likely need to shift to defensive back or wide receiver.
D.A. Taylor hasn't started narrowing his list of colleges, but considering his grades, football and lacrosse skills, ``he'll have some choices, that's for sure,'' Duquette said.
So while they're using different methods of traveling, it seems they're both heading in the same direction. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
JIMMY WALKER/Staff
Photo
FILE
D.A. Taylor finds room last week in a typical
2-brother act - 31 carries, 306 yards, four TDs.
Damien Taylor, who runs 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, is Norfolk
Academy's outside threat to brother D.A.'s inside power.
by CNB