THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411150123
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
ONE MIGHT THINK that Booker T. Washington's football players, also-rans in the Eastern District since 1984, would carry on like Deion Sanders upon clinching the league title.
But after putting the finishing touches on their Eastern District title-clinching, 60-20 victory over Norview at Chittum Field last Friday, the Bookers acted more like Barry Sanders does when he reaches the end zone - like they do this all the time.
``It was our time,'' Booker T. Washington wideout Paul Patterson said. ``We knew what we had to do, and we did it.''
The victory moved the Bookers into the Eastern Region Division 5 playoffs, where they will meet Peninsula District champion Hampton on Friday at 8 p.m. at Darling Stadium.
No one seemed happier about the Bookers' championship victory than Patterson, and that says a lot about the team concept coach Larry Stepney has instilled in this year's group. For had Patterson been a selfish player concerned mainly with his own numbers, he could have easily become a cancer on a team just getting used to winning.
When Stepney and his staff were looking over the players for this season, they identified Patterson as the team's best athlete and had him pegged as the quarterback.
``Paul is one of the most electrifying athletes in the city,'' Stepney said. ``Just the type of guy you want to make a quarterback out of.''
Then Michael Beverly, a senior, transferred in from Norfolk Academy, and the Bookers opted to go with the more experienced passer.
The coaches then flirted with the idea of installing Patterson as a tailback. But Michael Basnight, another senior who had run for more than 3,500 yards in his previous two seasons in North Carolina, joined the Bookers and moved Patterson out again.
Beverly went on to throw for 1,083 yards, while Basnight ran for 1,005. And as the guys successfully manning the glamour positions, Beverly and Basnight naturally dominated the headlines.
Overlooked, however, has been the efforts of players like linebacker/fullback Chester Jones, a team captain whom Stepney calls the hardest-working player in the bunch and Marlos Thomas, a lineman who was moved to tight end and responded by catching six touchdown passes.
Also overlooked has been Patterson, who turned in some spectacular catches as a split end, including a leaping, one-handed grab for one of his two touchdowns Friday. Patterson also ran back two punts for scores.
According to Patterson, however, the lack of acclaim accorded most of the players never caused a problem within the team.
``We know it's not just one or two guys that make this team,'' Patterson said. ``Everybody's got to work together. That's why we won.''
This doesn't mean it was an easy road to the title, though. After racing out to a 4-1 record, it seems the Bookers thought they had arrived before they actually got anywhere. Players missing practice was a frequent occurrence, Stepney said.
Back-to-back losses to Norcom and Churchland snapped them back to reality, however.
``Some guys had a few problems, but we all just needed to come together again,'' Thomas said.
But the Bookers still looked like a hit-and-miss team after their ninth game, when they fell to Wilson, a team that hadn't won since the second week of the season.
Friday, however, it all came together for the Bookers, as they raced out to a 32-0 lead against Norview before the second quarter was six minutes old.
``This team has been on a mission to gain respect in the city,'' Stepney said. ``Now, we can see it happening. A lot of people have started talking about us.''
Success Friday against Hampton will make 'em keep talking. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK
The Norview defense pounds Booker T.'s Michael Beverly and forces a
fumble, but it was the Bookers who delivered the true pounding,
60-20.
by CNB