THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 24, 1994 TAG: 9411230257
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 41 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
LIKE THE OPPONENT he expects to battle head-to-head Friday night, Kempsville's Eastern Region Division 6 showdown with Indian River is the biggest thing that has ever happened to Luke Walker.
With every week the Kempsville football team lengthens its season, the games get bigger and Walker's opponents get tougher.
First there was the Beach District championship against Green Run two weeks ago in which the Chiefs survived a two-point conversion attempt that would have won the game for the Stallions.
Walker battled Dave Tate, a 270-pounder, all night.
Saturday, in the first round of the playoffs, the Chiefs faced Tallwood for the second time in the season and were again tested to the limits.
Walker went helmet-to-helmet with 6-foot, 240-pound Mike Mooney.
Now Kempsville finds itself against a powerhouse Braves team that crushed Green Run in the semifinals.
Walker will face his biggest test - literally - of the season in Braves nose guard Kirk Jackson - a 6-0, 320-pound monster defensive lineman.
``We're going to have to play a lot better than we have in the last couple of weeks. This is the biggest game we've had so far,'' Walker said of the 8 p.m. showdown at Kellam High.
``I know my assignment's going to be a lot bigger.''
So far, Walker has been up to the task - often taking one-on-one assignments with the added pressure of knowing he has to get the ball safely to the quarterback before he can worry about blocking.
He has performed well as Kempsville boasts one of the top running backs in the area in Mike Pishioneri.
``All of those guys up there on the line are important to Pish's success,'' coach John Bowles said. ``But on all the misdirections and traps, (Luke's) block is one of the more important ones. We often ask him to block without help and that's tough for a center.''
Walker finds considerable satisfaction when a dive play up the middle is called.
``I go right for that nose guard and try to get under him; push him back or takes his legs out,'' said Walker, who at 6-0 and 230 pounds is going to be giving up 90 pounds Friday. ``As soon as I see one of our guys break through past me, I get all excited.
``When I go up to the ball, I picture myself blocking and how the play is going to go. I go over it in my mind as much as I can. I think about the fact that my block could determine the success of the play.
``So far, I think I've done a pretty good job this season. And I'm going to have to do even better Friday.''
Walker expects his teammates to get a little added incentive from the comments made Saturday by Braves quarterback James Boyd - who showed little surprise in how his team dominated Green Run.
``They hadn't played anybody,'' Boyd said. ``Everybody knows there are five built-in wins in the Beach District.''
Bowles - who likes to point out such comments to help motivate his players - will probably take note of Boyd's Beach bashing.
``It doesn't sound like he's giving (the Beach) much respect,'' Walker said. ``I think that kind of talk will give us a little something more to play for.
``I'm sure they're going to try to come out and intimidate us as much as they can, but I don't think we're easily intimidated. I think the first few plays will be critical. If we can establish ourselves, I think we'll be all right.''
Walker thinks he, too, will be able to handle the Braves verbal and physical attack.
``I'm just going to be thinking about that big boy I'm going to be blocking,'' Walker said. ``If I can get off the ball quicker than he does - and I think I will because he's so big - we can do the things we want to. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Valiant effort falls short
In the clash between Indian River and Green Run high schools, Indian
River prevailed by 30-9. For Green Run, Plaxico, No. 5, played
defense and joined Cedric Warren, above, in running down Jeremy
Bridges, No. 91, of Indian River. Burress, on offense at left,
caught an 89-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter.
Photo
Luke Walker
Kempsville center
by CNB