THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508250230
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
WITH AN INEXPERIENCED squad, the Wilson football team certainly has no aspirations of matching the success of a couple of former state championship teams at the school.
But one thing is going to be the same.
The operation.
``We are going back to doing the stuff those teams did,'' said new head coach Joe Ladisic, who was an assistant on the Wilson state winners of 1989 and 1991.
``We will be running a lot of the same plays. The offense and the defense definitely will have that same look. And we just might surprise some of the teams we play.''
The Presidents get the jump on the other Portsmouth schools, opening Friday night at Churchland against Granby.
Norcom and Wilson open next week, facing each other.
This is the third game in the recently resumed series between Granby and Wilson. The Comets won the past two years.
Next year, Wilson moves into the Eastern District, which already includes Granby, and the game will be a conference clash.
Once the Wilson-Granby game was the biggest attraction in the state. The 1944 game at Foreman Field set a state attendance record when an overflow crowd of 27,000 watched the Comets post a 46-13 victory en route to the state championship.
In 1947, Frank D. Lawrence Stadium was filled to capacity when the Presidents posted a 13-0 victory. This time, Wilson went on to win the state crown. Through the years, Wilson holds an 18-14-2 edge in the series.
Sophomore Terrance Winston, who passed for 1,043 yards a year ago, again is at quarterback. But only fullback Steven White has any experience among the running backs.
Newcomer Stephen Ridley, a 5-10, 175-pound junior, appears to be the No. 1 ball carrier for the Presidents after two early scrimmages. Another player to watch is sophomore Kavonzo Beamon, a wide receiver and defensive back.
Ladisic has three words to sum up how his club can spring an opening upset: ``Stop Anthony King.''
A 5-9, 160-pound senior quarterback, King had touchdown runs of 73 and 58 yards to lead Granby to a 22-19 victory in last year's opener. King rushed for 137 yards in 13 carries. He had another 79-yard touchdown run nullified by a clipping penalty.
``He's one of the best players I've seen around here,'' Ladisic said. ``We have our work cut out for us.''
King already has given a verbal commitment to play at Penn State.
In other games involving Southeastern District teams, Deep Creek plays Booker T. Washington, Great Bridge meets Tallwood, Indian River opposes Norview and Oscar Smith tangles with Maury.
HEY! YOU! The one who likes football! Look for the Virginian-Pilot's annual football preview issue on Wednesday in the daily paper. This special insert has full previews and info capsules for every team in South Hampton Roads, a pull-out master schedule, and end-of-year stats for 1994. by CNB