THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 30, 1995 TAG: 9508230131
SECTION: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: KICKOFF '95
BEACH DISTRICT
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
It took John Bowles three seasons to return Kempsville to its accustomed place among South Hampton Roads' elite programs.
Now the challenge is staying there.
The Chiefs graduated three All-Tidewater players from a team that went 10-2 and won its first Beach District championship since 1987.
Among the departed are All-Tidewater player of the year, Mike Pishioneri, and four offensive linemen who paved the way for the Chiefs to lead South Hampton Roads in rushing.
Pishioneri's replacement at tailback, Zeb Clark, started at free safety last season and has never carried the ball in a high school game.
So this is a rebuilding year, right?
``My philosophy is to try and win the (championship) every year,'' Bowles said. ``I don't want to win it once and then again five years later.
``I know there is a team or two in the league that is going to be pretty tough, but I don't worry about that. I figure they keep score, so we ought to try to win.''
The Chiefs will attempt to do that by passing more and playing the same bare-knuckles defense that held opponents to 149.4 yards per game last season, third best in the area.
Among the four returning starters on offense are quarterback Fred Sanders and wide receiver Trey Simkins.
Sanders enjoyed his best passing night, 146 yards and two TDs, in the Chiefs' 20-17 loss to Indian River for the Division 6 Eastern Region title, and Bowles hopes he can build off of that.
``I feel like we have to throw a little more with an experienced quarterback,'' Bowles said.
When Sanders does throw, expect Simkins to be the target. Simkins caught only three passes last season, but displayed his explosiveness by rushing 14 times for 156 yards.
``He's 6-foot-3, 210 pounds and has a 43-inch vertical leap,'' Bowles said of Simkins. ``Trey can be as good as anybody.''
Other receivers include wideouts Cam Wadly and Brett Stuhlman and tight end Chip Faulkner.
Kempsville still will rely on the running game, but it won't be a one-man show. Pishioneri accounted for 55.3 of the Chiefs' carries from scrimmage and 51.3 percent of their rushing yards last season.
Clark, a 6-1 1/2, 195-pound junior, is taller and faster than Pishioneri, but untested. Fullback Alex Lleces (6-0, 215) rushed for 255 yards in only 32 carries last season and figures to more than double that load. Another back who has been impressive in training camp is freshman Victor Vann, brother of former Tallwood star John Vann, who is now at Hampton University.
How well the line jells could determine the Chiefs' fate early. Guard Jonb Kazmierczak (6-1, 230) is the only holdover, but center Marcus Spence, guard Hans Beene and 255-pound tackle Kevin Rucker all started on defense.
Bowles also has high hopes at tackle for Gerald Johns, a 6-4, 290-pound junior.
Corey Niepraschk takes over for Nicole Frey as the placekicker.
Defensively, the Chiefs must replace All-Tidewater tackle Donald Scott and All-Tidewater linebacker Mike Hilliard from a unit that allowed only three points over a five-game stretch last season.
Faulkner returns at one linebacker with sophomores Eric Souza and Antron Sutton vying for the other spot.
Other returning starters are Beene and Rucker at guards, Clark and Stuhlman at safeties, Wadley at cornerback and Spence at end. MEMO: [Special Section includes football teams for all area high schools.]
ILLUSTRATION: Fred Sanders
He'll do more passing
Alex Lleces
255 yards in 32 carries
KEMPSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Coach: John Bowles (3rd season, 22-10)
Staff: Red Stickney, Curt Brown, Bo Ludwig, Scott Ramey
Last year: 10-2, 9-0; Beach District champion
Returning starters: Fred Sanders, QB, 5-11, 180, Sr., Alex
Lleces, RB, 6-0, 215, Jr.; Chip Faulkner, LB, Sr.; Zeb Clark, DB,
Jr.; Cam Wadley, DB, Sr.; Marcus Spence, DE, Sr.; Kevin Rucker, Sr.;
Hans Beene, DG, Sr.; Brett Stuhlman, DB, Jr.
Top newcomers: Roy Watson, TE-DE, 6-0, 235, So.; Eric Souza,
FB-LB, 6-0, 215, So.; Donald Stakes, C, 6-0, 255, Jr.; Antron
Sutton, LB, 5-11, 210, So.
94 results (10-2):
Great Bridge 33, Kempsville 18
Kempsville 21, F. Colonial 14 (OT)
Kempsville 34, Princess Anne 10
Kempsville 18, Salem 3
Kempsville 35, Cox 0
Kempsville 46, Kellam 0
Kempsville 17, Tallwood 0
Kempsville 56, Ocean Lakes 0
Kempsville 32, Bayside 27
Kempsville 21, Green Run 20
Kempsville 6, Tallwood 3
Indian River 20, Kempsville 17
KEYWORDS: SUPPLEMENT SPECIAL SECTION by CNB