THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 30, 1995 TAG: 9508310614
SECTION: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Kickoff '95
Eastern District
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Long : 106 lines
Out of nowhere, Michael Beverly and Michael Basnight strutted into town and helped Booker T. Washington to its first league title in 10 years.
The dynamic duo - Basnight, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound running back, transferred in from Columbia (N.C.) High School and Beverly, a 6-0, 175-pound All-Prep League quarterback from Norfolk Academy - combined for 2,088 yards and 33 touchdowns as the Bookers swept through Eastern District competition.
But as quickly as they appeared, they were gone, seemingly leaving Booker T. a helpless victim of graduation.
Basnight headed off to North Carolina A&T and Beverly, who also earned all-state honors at defensive back, signed with William and Mary.
As bleak as the offensive picture might seem, all was not lost. And that's just what Bookers' coach Larry Stepney is counting on.
With 14 returning starters and a ferocious offensive line that averages 230 pounds, including 6-foot-1, 250-pound Jeynard Tilman and Reshawn Ashley, a 6-0, 270-pound junior, Stepney is confident that his Bookers will keep their crown.
``Anytime you get a quarterback who throws for 1,000 yards and a running back who runs for 1,000 yards, that's a plus,'' Stepney said.
``If it wasn't for those guys blocking, they (Beverly and Basnight) would have never achieved that.''
The Bookers had the ninth best defense around, allowing 216.8 total offensive yards and 16.5 points per game last season. But Stepney hopes to improve that with time in the weight room and a year to mature.
``They're lifting and we're going to have some beef up front,'' Stepney said. ``We're going to feature our defense and rely heavily on it. It makes it exciting when you have kids coming back who started all 10 games last year. The kids have grown from juniors to seniors, and that makes you a man.''
Headlining the defense are senior linebackers Demitrious Whitehurst and Chester Jones, who both surpass the 6-0, 200-pound mark. Jones also rushed for 203 yards last season and scored five touchdowns.
The offense, which ranked fourth out of 23 teams in South Hampton Roads last season averaging 268.1 yards of total offense, will see a dramatic change unlike last year's two-man show. Instead, Stepney plans to spread the wealth, utilizing several wide receivers including newcomers Cheron Fowler and Mike Wilson, and senior Shawn Minter and newcomer Detrell Woods at running back.
So far, the Bookers are on the right track with a 16-0 victory over Menchville in an Aug. 18 scrimmage. Minter impressed Stepney most, as he raced for 150 yards.
``He's a good little scatterback,'' Stepney said. ``He's got quick feet.''
But still, Stepney admits, the Bookers ``have a lot of work to do.''
And in the midst of working out the offense, Booker T. has its own little quarterback controversy brewing. Three players are battling for the starting slot.
``Right now,'' Stepney said, ``that's our biggest question.''
Up for the job are Kelvin Fuller, a 6-0, 190-pound safety who lost his spot to Beverly last season; Gary Chew, who will also see time at linebacker; and newcomer Dominic Perry, a 5-10, 165-pound sophomore.
``Everything is right on key,'' Stepney said. ``This is the first year we actually have depth. Not only depth in numbers, but players with experience.
``The kids sort of think that with the experience and depth, they should repeat as the district champs,'' Stepney said. ``They feel it.'' MEMO: Special section includes football teams for all area high schools.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
Head coach: Larry Stepney (4th year, 14-16)
Staff: Robert Toran, Romeo Lambert, Ron Hill, Curtis Barrett, Daryl
Hardison
Last year: 6-5 overall, 4-0 district (Eastern district champion)
Returning starters: Jeynard Tillman, C/T, 6-1, 250, Sr.; Alvin Butts,
G, 5-7, 165, Sr.; Reshawn Ashley, T, 6-0, 270, Jr.; Levelle Reid, T,
6-2, 215, So.; James Staten, TE, 5-11, 260, Sr.; Marlos Thomas, TE/T,
6-3, 220, Sr.; Shawn Minter, RB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Chester Jones, FB/LB,
6-0 1/2, 205, Sr.; Levar Revils, N, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Gary Chew, LB, 5-10,
185, Sr.; Delvin Young, LB, 6-3, 185, Sr.; Demetrious Whitehurst, LB,
6-2,220, Sr.; Tommy Cutler, S, 5-10, 170, So.; Kelvin Fuller, S, 6-0,
190, So.
Top newcomers: Dennis Anderson, F/DB, 6-0, 180, Jr.; William De
Loatch, T, 6-0, 260, Jr.; Mike Wilson, WR/DB, 5-10, 171, Sr.; Duwyne
Williams, FB/LB, 5-9 1/2, 180, So.; Cheron Fowler, WR, 5-11, 170, Sr.;
Dominic Perry, QB, 5-10, 165, So.
94 results (6-5):
Deep Creek 13, BTW 12
BTW 35, Oscar Smith 6
BTW 8, Lake Taylor 6
BTW 40, Bayside 0
BTW 36, Granby 26
Norcom 15, BTW 0
Churchland 49, BTW 29
BTW 46, Maury 7
Wilson 23, BTW 21
BTW 60, Norview 20
Hampton 34, BTW 26
ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Shawn Minter
Jeynard Tillman
KEYWORDS: SUPPLEMENT SPECIAL SECTION by CNB