THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 9, 1994 TAG: 9412090753
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
The football players at Patrick Henry-Ashland don't mind school. It's the history lessons they'd like to do without.
The Patriots are tired of hearing about how no Patrick Henry team has ever won a state title. Or about how no Central Region team has been crowned state champion since 1979.
Nor are they interested in hearing about how Eastern Region teams have dominated the state playoffs recently, winning four of the last five Group AAA, Division 5 state titles.
That's why the Patriots look upon Saturday, when the Colonial District champion Patriots (13-0) take on Deep Creek (13-0) at 1:30 p.m. at the University of Richmond Stadium, as their chance to quiet the naysayers.
``You like to take games one at a time, and for the most part, we've done that,'' Patrick Henry coach Ray Long said. ``But with the guys we had coming back, I think everybody had it in the back of their minds what kind of season we could have. A state championship was definitely one of our goals.''
The Patriots reached the state semifinals last season before losing to Langley.
But with nine starters returning on offense and eight on defense, it wasn't long before the disappointment over that defeat was replaced by optimism about the possibilities in 1994.
``We thought we were going to be good,'' Long said. ``The question was, how good?''
The Patriots have spent the season providing emphatic answers. They opened with a 42-0 victory over Caroline County, and added five other shutout victories during a regular season in which they outscored opponents, 376-36. Convincing playoff victories over Highland Springs, Lee-Davis and Fairfax in Saturday's state semifinals followed.
The Patriots have hammered opponents with Power-I formation football, and one look at their offensive line reveals why. The group averages 270 pounds per man. One opposing coach called it the biggest offensive line he's ever seen.
``We've got some horses up front,'' Long said.
But it's the team's smallest player who makes the offense go. Quarterback Dannielle Derricott (5-9, 140) has thrown for more than 1,200 yards and run for more than 1,200 yards. Tailback Ricky Wilkerson also has more than 1,000 yards on the ground.
Ironically, the ease with which the Patriots have won has caused Long some concern.
``Deep Creek has probably played a few better teams,'' Long said. ``They know what it's like to be in a fight.''
This will be the third meeting between Long and Deep Creek coach Jerry Carter. Their teams split meetings when Carter coached at Varina in 1986 and 1987.
``His teams were always well prepared,'' Long said. ``I don't expect anything different Saturday.'' by CNB