THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 14, 1994 TAG: 9410120175
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
TWO HAVE SCORED five touchdowns in a single game. One is excelling in his first season without injury, and the other recently surpassed 2,000 yards in career rushing.
Whether they were expected to shoulder the load or seemed to come out of nowhere, running backs Deon Dyer, Corey Holley, Shawndell Joyner and Shyrone Stith are the go-to guys for their teams. No matter how you look at it, the numbers are impressive. But each player is unique in the assets he brings to his team.
Deon Dyer, Deep Creek
For the first time in his three years at Deep Creek, Dyer is not slowed by an ankle injury. The junior is eighth in rushing and tied for fourth in scoring in South Hampton Roads. With Dyer, what you see is what you'll get - a big (240 pounds) back who would rather go over a defender than around one.
``A lot of the kids compare him to Ironhead Heyward,'' said coach Jerry Carter. ``He's the stereotypical fullback type - runs with more power than fancy moves.''
Dyer leads the team in carries, but the Hornets spread the ball around. Even so, when it comes to getting into the end zone Dyer is in a class by himself, scoring all but two of Deep Creek's rushing touchdowns.
Corey Holley, Great Bridge
Holley was known only to faithful Wildcats fans when the season opened. But a five touchdown, 237-yard performance against Kempsville thrust the junior into the spotlight.
``He's got the potential to have great nights all the time with his speed, agility, and field awareness,'' said Great Bridge running backs coach Doug Picott.
For the time being, Holley is the first choice when the Wildcats go to the ground game. His numbers make it seem like he's the only choice, with nearly 66 percent of Great Bridge's rushing yards.
Holley gets the ball on over 56 percent of his team's rushing plays. His offensive numbers rank him fourth in rushing and sixth in total offense. Holley's 10 touchdowns makes him tied for third in scoring.
Shawndell Joyner, Indian River
The only senior in the group, Joyner recently hit the 2,000-yard mark in career rushing. Overall, he's third in rushing and fifth in total offense in the area.
``Shawndell can run inside or outside . . . the more carries he gets the better he gets,'' said Indian River coach Bob Parker.
Joyner gets the ball more often in a game than Dyer, but he scores fewer touchdowns because the Braves often go to the quarterback in short-yardage situations.
Parker took over as coach of the Braves in Joyner's junior year. But Joyner had a dislocated shoulder during the preseason and was an unknown factor as far as Parker was concerned.
``He didn't start in the opener against First Colonial, but we put him in early in the game. I was surprised when I saw this kid bolting down the field,'' said Parker. ``I knew then that he was a special player.''
Shyrone Stith, Western Branch
Stith, a junior, scored five touchdowns in the Bruins' opener against Granby, and has tallied 11 TDs on the season to lead the area in scoring. Pretty good for a guy who was supposed to be cut from the junior varsity roster his freshman year.
``He's like Barry Sanders - a lot of power in a little package,'' said Western Branch coach Lew Johnston of the 5-foot-7, 175-pound Stith. ``He's very difficult to bring down because he has tremendous balance. He doesn't get knocked off his feet.''
With Dre Bly and Malik Cook also in the backfield, Stith doesn't rack up the carries or the yardage. But whenever Johnston needs a touchdown, he calls Stith's number.
``We want him to have the ball in scoring positions,'' said Johnston. ``He can go straight ahead or make the cuts . . . he has superior vision.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Deep Creek's Deon Dyer
Great Bridge's Corey Holley
Western Branch's Shyrone Stith
Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Shawndell Joyner, a senior at Indian River High School, recently hit
the 2,000-yard mark in career rushing. ``I was surprised when I saw
this kid bolting down the field,'' says Indian River coach Bob
Parker. ``I knew then that he was a special player.''
by CNB