THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 4, 1994 TAG: 9412020278
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines
WHEN YOU SCAN the All-Bay Rivers District and All-Region I football teams, one name keeps cropping up.
Nansemond River's Donald Turner was named the defensive player of the year for the district and the region and also earned first-team selections at wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner on both teams.
``He is a tremendous athlete,'' Warriors coach Jerry Varacallo has said over and over again.
The Warriors were well represented on all counts with six players filling nine positions on the all-district first team and three players filling five positions on the all-region team.
Defensive end Lashawn Pugh and nose guard Curtis Barnes, who leads the Warriors in tackles with 92, joined Turner on the all-region team as well as the all-district team. Both juniors are in their first year of varsity play - Pugh up from last year's JV team and Barnes is playing football for the first time ever.
Defensive end Wilvern Flythe, linebacker Marland Riddick and defensive back Leon Porter also earned first-team all-district selections.
Porter finished behind York's Brian Ginn, who was named offensive player of the year at the region and district level and earned the first-team spot at quarterback. Porter was second team and also second team all-region defensive back.
Center Jamar Goodman, running back Clarence Skinner, who was injured midway through the season, place kicker Drey Asbell, lineman Chris White and defensive back Gerard Hatten were all named to the second all-district team.
Turner, who took over at tailback for the injured Skinner, has racked up 730 yards rushing on 94 carries and scored six TDs from the tailback position. Skinner still leads the team in rushing with 823 yards on 122 carries before he broke his wrist in October.
Bruton's Kyle Neve was named coach of the year in the district for leading the Panthers to a 6-4 record and into the playoffs and Varacallo claimed the region honor for taking Nansemond River to its second straight region title.
Varacallo was quick to shrug the honor off and pass it on to his staff.
``My staff has done all of the work,'' Varacallo said. ``I'd rather see it as a reward for my coaches.''
Southampton, which shared the district title with the Nansemond River, had four players named to the all-district first team, with three of them earning offensive and defensive honors.
Armazlo Smith earned first-team honors at guard and linebacker at the region and district level. Tackle Raynard Holloway was a first-team all-region selection at tackle as well as first team all-district at guard and linebacker. Running back William Brown was named first team running back for the region and the district and first-team linebacker for the district, and Deshawn Hunt earned defensive back honors on both teams.
Lakeland running back Reginald Wiggins and tackle Darius Bryant represented the Cavaliers on the first all-district team. Both were named to the second all-region team.
Wiggins rushed for 1,398 yards, topping the 1,000-yard mark for the second year in a row.
Bryant finished the season with 43 tackles and 21 assists for the Cavaliers.
``I was very disappointed Wiggins wasn't first team all-region,'' said Lakeland head coach Ed Smither. ``Wiggins is the best runner in the region. He got a lot of help from Bryant.''
Bryant is just a sophomore and Smither expects him to become a top Division I college prospect.
``He will just get better and better,'' Smither said. ``The more he matures the more awesome he will become.''
Tight end Antoine Riddick, guard James Temple, lineman Kevin Bell, defensive end Monolito Johnson and defensive back Jonathan Thompson each earned second-team all-district honors. Riddick was named to the second team defense as well as offense.
Wide receiver Linwood Joyner was the only Franklin player named to the first all-district team. Defensive end Jacob Britt and linebacker Wade Williams earned second-team honors.
Ginn threw for more than 1,100 yards this season with a 55 percent completion rate.
Ginn also earned first team all-district honors as a punter. Center Derek Barlow and place kicker Andy Brooks were the other Falcons to earn first-team honors. All three were named to the first all-region team as well.
Wide receiver Je'cisken Ramsey, tackle Austin Moon, guard Mike Balthazrr, running back Joe Johnson, defensive end Antonio Gholson, lineman Robby Evans, linebacker Chris Seawell and defensive back Johnson were each named to the second all-district team. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER
Nansemond River's All-District football selections are: Leon Porter,
knelling from left, Ronald Turner and Churtis Barnes; Duane Smith,
standing from left, Marland Riddick, Wilvern Flythe and Lashawn
Pugh.
Southampton All-District players are Deshawn Hunt, left, Armazlo
Smith, William Brown and Raynard Holloway.
Selected from Lakeland for the All-District team are Darius Bryant,
left, and Reginald Wiggins.
by CNB