THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 20, 1995 TAG: 9508170210
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: [High School Football section:] Kickoff '95
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
If Gates County is to succeed this year, it will be through the air.
Gates won just one game last year under first-year head coach Clark Harrell, but Albemarle Conference opponents should see improvement from the once-proud Barons.
Albemarle Conference coaches have picked Gates to finish last, but some have said the team may surprise.
The Barons showed promise at the end of the 1994 season and have many starters returning.
Last year's squad started eight sophomores and two freshmen.
All-conference quarterback Brian Riddick is back, as are wide receivers Brian Bennett (all-conference), Lamont Boone and tight end Evan Powell to anchor the Barons' passing attack.
Every starter except one is back on offense, including tackles Zack Johnston and Keith Ballard, guards Earl Bond and Shawn Rountree, center Timmy Hedgepeth and running back Anton Harrison.
Harrell said he will continue with the passing offense.
``We had an all-conference quarterback and wide receiver last year,'' Harrell noted. ``We've spent a lot of time studying the passing game and have added some things to it, and we'll have a wide-open offense. What we've got on the field has predicated what we're doing.''
Many starters are also back on defense.
Ballard, Johnston, Rountree and Tyrone Williams will be on the line. Javon Cross, a senior who has never played before, will probably start on both the offensive and defensive line.
Anton Harrison, Earl Bond, Jason Parker and Jerry Nowells will all play linebacker. Mark Boone, who moved to Georgia and now has moved back, will play strong safety. John Watford and Lamont Boone will start at cornerback. Brian Bennett will be the starting free safety, and Jay Creecy is expected to start in the secondary.
Gates has a tough non-conference schedule, with three 2A schools to open the season - Edenton, Manteo and Southeast Halifax. The Barons also play two of the toughest conference teams - Williamston and Northampton East - on the road.
``When I was with Wilson Beddingfield, which was a 3A school, we had four non-conference games against 4A schools. We went 2-2 and nobody got hurt,'' Harrell said. ``We'll find out pretty quick what we have and what we can do.''
Harrell is also not worried about predictions his team will finish last.
``The last time I was picked last was when I was with Beddingfield, and we ended up winning the conference and went three rounds into the playoffs,'' he said. ``I've had teams where injuries are not a problem and teams that had injuries destroy them. You've just got to let them play.''
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