THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 26, 1995 TAG: 9508260509
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
The biggest problem the Hampton Roads Sharks coaching staff faced during their week off was a battle with egos.
After demolishing their first two opponents by a combined 70-13, the coaches had to make sure their players kept things in perspective heading into tonight's Mason-Dixon League opener against Durham.
``We've been fighting off overconfidence,'' Sharks president and offensive coordinator T.J. Morgan said. ``We had to show them - especially on offense - they didn't play anything near a perfect game. Against Baltimore, you take away the special teams and it's a completely different game.''
Morgan added that his team is also going to take a more serious attitude towards connecting on every scoring opportunity.
``We're not going to hold back anymore,'' Morgan said. ``We're going to go ahead and just score. If we're good enough to score 60 points. . . . we're going to score 60 points.''
ON A GOOD FOOT: Entering the first game of the season three weeks ago, the Sharks coaching staff was nervous about the kicking game.
But former Kempsville High kicker Mike Morris stepped in and nailed all five of his extra point attempts - each with enough distance to have been good field goal attempts of at least 30 yards.
He followed up by again hitting all five extra points in the Sharks' second victory two weeks ago.
``He hadn't kicked in about 10 years,'' Morgan said. ``But he did a fine job, and he's only going to get better.''
LEADERS OF THE PACK: Former Princess Anne standout James Rogers is the Sharks leading rusher after two games - netting 76 yards on 21 attempts. Kevin Vines is second with 32 yards on 11 carries, and a pair of touchdowns.
Starting quarterback and former Lake Taylor player Kevin Johnson is being pushed hard by backup Mimitri Delgado. Johnson is 14 of 18 with one interception and one TD for a total of 151 yards. Delgado is 4 of 6 for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
Former Maury player Michael Harvey leads the receivers with three catches for 117 yards and a touchdown, while Charles Mott has six catches for 95 yards and a TD.
Linebacker Dwayne King was named the defensive player of the game for the Baltimore game two weeks ago, while Charles Mott got offensive honors and Jeff Dawson on special teams.
SHARK BITES: Harvey, offensive guard Steve Cobb and tackles Tyrone Hood and Richard Cobb were accidently left out of a roster published last week. Kicker Tom Bashara, who joined the team two days before the opener, wasn't on the team roster, nor was wide receiver/defensive back Sanford Dowell. ILLUSTRATION: GAMEWATCH
HAMPTON ROADS SHARKS vs. DURHAM CARDINALS
Where: CEL Field, Witchduck Road in Virginia Beach.
When: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $5 at the gate. Season tickets are $25 or $35 with
booster club membership.
About the Sharks: Hampton Roads (2-0 overall, 0-0 in league):
heads into its first league game healthy and have yet to be tested -
scoring a total of 70 points to their opponents' 13. Quarterback
Kevin Johnson will get the start and running backs James Rogers and
Demetrius Stitmon will join him in the backfield.
About the Cardinals: Durham (1-1, 1-0) defeated York, 19-9, last
week, powered by quarterback Michael Wynn, running back Walter Boyd
and wide receiver Chris Joy. Wynn was 7 of 11 for 157 yards and Boyd
had 78 yards rushing.
by CNB