THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411170590
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
One strike is all it takes for a snake to hurt you.
When Nansemond River quarterback Leon ``Snake'' Porter steps up to the line of scrimmage anything can happen, and anyone who has defended the 5-foot-9, 166-pound senior has been made painfully aware of that fact.
Greensville is the next target as the Warriors prepare to host the Eagles on Friday night in the first round of the Group AA, Region I, Division 4 playoffs.
Porter earned his nickname as a child for being shifty and quick, but he has built his career on the ability to strike when you least expect it.
``He can hurt you,'' said Southampton coach Littleton Parker, whose Indians were the only team to contain Porter in handing Nansemond River its only loss.
``I think he has got a reputation for not being able to throw the ball well, but he is a good passer.''
In fact Porter threw for more than 1,100 yards last season.
``Big plays can happen every time he touches the ball,'' Parker said.
Perhaps no one knows that better than Lakeland head coach Ed Smither.
The Cavaliers were victims of one of Porter's momentum-shifting big plays last week.
With Lakeland leading 6-0 and time running out in the first half, Nansemond River was hurting itself with penalties and the team didn't seem to be responding to Porter's pleas to pull together.
``We weren't keeping our composure,'' Porter said. ``I just kept telling them to keep their composure and let's get back to our game. When that didn't work I decided to give them a little highlight of my own, and we got it going.''
Porter took the snap, faked the handoff and started running right, where he found three Cavaliers waiting.
He cut back across the field and ran 54 yards into the end zone.
``I've coached against him for three years now,'' Smither said. ``He opens up a new situation for the defense whenever he is on the field. He's a competitor, he plays hurt when he has to, and he makes the big play when his team needs it, whether it is on offense or defense.''
Porter, who was named second team all-district quarterback, was a first team all-district selection at defensive back.
All Porter has to do is walk onto the field to take the Warriors to a higher level.
He didn't start in the Warriors' 32-0 rout of Bruton because he suffered a bruised kidney during gym class that week. But when head coach Jerry Varacallo saw his team struggling, he sent Porter to the line of scrimmage.
``You have to put the ball in the hands of the people who are going to make something happen,'' Varacallo said.
Not one to disappoint, Porter handed off to Donald Turner and then lifted his arm to pass. Before anybody realized Porter didn't have the ball, Turner was in the end zone and the Panthers had fallen for the ``Statue of Liberty'' play.
Porter's statistics are far from staggering.
He is 23 of 84 passing for 447 yards with nine interceptions and three TDs. He has rushed for 381 yards and four touchdowns in 43 carries.
But what doesn't show in the stats is his leadership.
It is hard to imagine that such a natural leader never planned to be a quarterback.
``I look forward to hitting people,'' Porter said. ``I really like the contact that comes on defense.
``I never thought I could be a quarterback at all.''
Porter didn't, but Nansemond River junior varsity coach and now athletic director Phil Braswell did.
Braswell spotted Porter and one of his buddies goofing off before practice and pretending to take snaps.
Braswell was desperate at the time and asked Porter if he would try quarterback.
``He was a take-charge kind of guy,'' Braswell said. ``That is what impressed me so much. When he was in the ninth grade he ran that huddle.
``He got the respect of the kids right away. The kids didn't mess with him either, and if they did he let them know it and they didn't do it twice.''
The JV team lost its first two games that year. But that is all it took for Porter to get his bearings and the Warriors went 6-0 the rest of the season.
Nansemond River is 15-5 since Porter took over for Franco Britt, who was injured midway through the 1992 season. That season it took Porter a couple games to get used to the system and his receivers, but since losing two games that year he has only lost three total during the past two seasons.
Varacallo is beyond being amazed at this tremendous athlete.
Early this week he just soaked it all in as Porter took over practice for a moment and started clapping and chanting to get his teammates fired up.
``I just do what I've got to do to get the job done,'' Porter said. ``I want to set a good example for the guys that are coming behind me to go out there and be a leader.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Nansemond River quarterback Leon ``Snake'' Porter has seized
leadership of the team with big plays at the right time.
by CNB