THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 31, 1995 TAG: 9508280111
SECTION: FOOTBALL '95 PAGE: Z22 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COLLEGE FORECAST
SOURCE: BY KEVIN DOEPP, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
It looks like there will be a four-team race in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
Last year's conference champion Emory and Henry, second-place finisher Guilford College, Hampden-Sydney and Randolph-Macon should vie for the title.
Here's a look at each conference team:
EMORY AND HENRY: Wasps coach Lou Wacker is seeking his seventh conference title after going 8-2 overall and 4-1 in the conference last season. Leading the way is quarterback Jason Strange, a senior who threw for 894 yards and nine touchdowns last season before being injured. Aaron Fuller is back after leading the league in scoring (six points per game) and receiving yards (842). Also returning is tailback J.D. Davis, who rushed for 905 yards and seven touchdowns. Defensive standouts are Shawn Duggan (45 tackles) and Janie Harless (44 tackles).
GUILFORD: The Quakers, who finished a surprising 8-2, return the 1994 ODAC Player of the Year - sophomore running back David Heggie, who rushed for 1,207 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Junior Santes Beatty, who threw for 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns, is back at quarterback. The Quakers' top receiver is Junior Lord, who had 49 receptions for 659 yards and six touchdowns. The defense is led by cornerback Sean Ross, a converted running back who intercepted six passes.
RANDOLPH-MACON: Defense will be the key for the Yellow Jackets (4-5 in '94). Last season, they led the ODAC in rushing defense and total defense. First-team all-conference defensive lineman Paul Lee and linebacker Tim Armoska are back. Quarterback Andy Bush, who produced over 3,600 yards of offense his junior and senior years, has graduated. George Bland and Sidney Chappell are competing for the quarterback job. Drew Scibilia and Bryan Lewis are the top two receivers and Neal Ferguson is the top returning running back.
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY: After its first losing season in 13 seasons (4-6, 3-2), the Tigers return 12 starters, including quarterback Kemp Smith, who threw for 1,112 yards last season. Smith is also the top returning rusher with 251 yards and three touchdowns last season. Preston Montague and Heath Spencer are the top receivers. Linebacker Mark Hazelwood, an All-ODAC performer in 1994, anchors the defense.
WASHINGTON AND LEE: The Generals came on strong late last season to finish 5-4 and are looking to build on that success. Junior quarterback Brooks Fischer threw for 1,051 yards and seven touchdowns last year. Seth McKinley leads the running attack after rushing for 667 yards and five touchdowns. Senior tri-captain James Urban is the top receiver. Senior All-American defensive end Robert Hull led the Generals in tackles with 106.
BRIDGEWATER: New coach Michael Clark inherits a team that went 0-10 in '94. Keith Fix will open as the Eagles' quarterback following a season in which he threw one touchdown pass and 12 interceptions. Chris Bryant rushed for 279 yards and is the team's main scoring threat. Linebacker Jeremy Guinn had 122 tackles last season.
OTHER STATE SCHOOLS:
Chowan College: The Braves' former defensive coordinator Dan Surface was named head coach after Jim Garrison retired with 189 career victories. Quarterback Kris Howell, a sophomore, completed 39 passes for 350 yards and one touchdown. Receiver Brian Tynes caught 22 passes last season. Johnny Nowell returns as the top rusher. Mark Ainsley of Atlantic Shores also returns in the backfield. On defense, the Braves return a strong line led by Tyrone Jones. Defensive back Myron Matthias had 70 tackles last year.
Ferrum College: After taking a young team to a 4-5 record in his first year last season, coach Dave Davis has four seniors returning this season. One is punter David Waddell from Deep Creek. Millard Vining returns at quarterback. Junior David Anthony rushed for 480 yards and three touchdowns. Kareem Woods is the top linebacker. The Panthers have nine players from South Hampton Roads: Brian Smith (Chesapeake), Colby Allen (Chesapeake), Jon Hannah (Chesapeake), Daryl Cheatham (Bayside), Gordon Harry (Nansemond-Suffolk), Mike Hilliard (Kempsville), Ben McCool (Green Run), Waddell (Deep Creek), Charlie Munden (Lake Taylor), Brian Ruzzi (First Colonial), Mike Kanary (Princess Anne), Rick Debolt (Salem), Andy Mitchell (First Colonial).
Newport News Apprentice: Running back Jermaine Bellamy was selected as a preseason Division III All-American. Last season, Bellamy rushed for 1,026 yards and scored six touchdowns. While the quarterback position is undetermined, Steve Butler and James Beckett are the top receivers. Linebacker David Barlow is the team's top defensive player.
Clinch Valley: Wide receiver Mike Owens returns as the Cavaliers top offensive weapon. He caught 28 passes for 670 yards last year. Anthony Richards is another top receiver. Running back Greg Thomas returns after rushing for 1,212 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, when the Cavaliers were 6-4. MEMO: Special Section
KEYWORDS: SUPPLEMENT SPECIAL SECTION VIRGINIA COLLEGE
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