THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 30, 1995 TAG: 9508230226
SECTION: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: KICKOFF '95
BEACH DISTRICT
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
When high school football fans think of Kellam, they think of losing games - 25 in a row to be exact.
But this year's Knights squad plans on changing all that.
``Yes, we will win a game this year,'' coach Chris Worst said. ``But we don't talk about that. Those things were a different football team. This team hasn't lost a game.''
Worst has more reason to be optimistic than ever. Weight-lifting programs started when he took over the job three years ago are starting to show results, and there is more speed throughout the lineup than there has been in the past two years.
``I'm more excited than I ever have been and that's hard considering the last two years,'' Worst said. ``We have more depth than before and there is some experience.
``It's hard to put a finger on why things should be different this year, but the one thing I've noticed is attitude. It's a whole different attitude.''
There is optimism within the student body also, as 93 hopefuls turned out for the first day of practice. Worst said the team has been averaging 75 since.
``I was expecting about 50 at the most,'' he said. ``But when we had almost 100 come out for the first day, that's a good feeling.''
Kellam has 12 starters returning - led by senior quarterback Tim Walston. Walston might see some action at tight end if junior Kendrick Jacobs develops as a quarterback.
``He can play quarterback, running back, wide receiver and defensive back,'' Worst said of Jacobs. ``He is flat out the fastest kid we've had here in a long, long time.''
At quarterback, Walston was an effective runner, finishing as the team's leading ball carrier with 392 yards. Chris Pace is a junior running back and defensive back who was second with 388 yards. The arrival of Jacobs and the addition of sophomore runner Mike Lamar could give the Knights a more potent attack.
And the offensive and defensive lines have three returners back in seniors Mark Collins, John Mott and Brad Guidry. They'll be joined by promising freshman Kelly Grimstead.
But while there is more speed and strength, the Knights still lack size.
``Size?'' laughed Worst. ``No, not really any of that. But we've got other things we haven't had.''
Assistant coach Kevin Michaels has been moved from offense to defense, a more natural position for him according to Worst.
``That'll be a plus for us,'' Worst said. ``He's always been a defensive man. I'll be taking over the offense, so they can blame it on me if we don't do better.''
Something else in Kellam's favor this year is the fact that the coaches and players aren't feeling the expected pressures of dealing with the area's longest losing streak.
``Pressure? There's no pressure here,'' Worst said. ``Everyone expects us to lose - everyone except these kids.
``No, the pressure's not on us. It's on the teams we play every week.'' MEMO: [Special Section includes football teams for all area high schools.]
ILLUSTRATION: Tim Walston
Fastest Knight in years
Mark Collins
Returns in trenches
KELLAM HIGH SCHOOL
Head coach: Chris Worst (3rd year, 0-20)
Staff: Kevin Michaels, Rick Hailey, Mike O'Hara, Scott Hill.
Last year: 0-10 overall, 0-9 league.
Returning starters: Mark Collins, OL/DL, 5-11, 235, Sr.; John
Mott, OL/DL, 6-0, 210, Sr.; Brad Guidry OL/DL, 6-0, 215, Sr.; Allan
Johnson OL/DL, 5-11, 180, Jr.; Tim Walston, QB/DE, 6-3, 210, Sr.;
Dee Punter, RB/DB, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Uland Tims, RB/S, 6-2, 180, Sr.;
Chad Merritt, RB/LB, 5-10, 175, So.; Jason McCartney, QB/DB, 5-10,
170, Jr.; Chuck Van Houwelin, TE/DE, 6-0, 180, Jr.; Chris Pace,
RB/DB, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Jamal Brickhouse, DB/RB, 5-10, 190, Sr.
Top newcomers: Kendrick Jacobs, QB/WR/RB/DB, 5-9, 160, Jr.; Mike
Lamar, RB/DB, 5-9, 165, So.; Donald Pryor, OG/LB, 5-11, 185, So.;
Luis Lugo, WR/LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Kelly Grimstead, OL/DL, 5-11, 225,
Fr.
94 results (0-10):
Norview 63, Kellam 7
Salem 39, Kellam 0
Cox 34, Kellam 13
Ocean Lake 14, Kellam 13
Tallwood 35, Kellam 0
Kempsville 46, Kellam 0
Bayside 36, Kellam 16
Green Run 49, Kellam 3
First Colonial 42, Kellam 7
Princess Anne 45, Kellam 25
KEYWORDS: SUPPLEMENT SPECIAL SECTION by CNB