THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 31, 1995 TAG: 9508300328
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: High School Football: Kickoff '95
SOURCE: Jami Frankenberry
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
This year figures to be an exciting one for area high school football fans.
Of the Bay Rivers District race one coach said, ``You could probably put all the teams in a hat and just draw a winner because everybody's got a chance.''
Nansemond River coach Jerry Varacallo says the Warriors are counting on younger players filling the shoes of 15 departed seniors. The Warriors, who lost in the Group AA State semifinals last season, will look to running back Clarence Skinner to prove that his 892 yards rushing in seven games last year was no fluke.
Lakeland, which graduated only five players, is hoping to ride new quarterback Lindell Hunter and a returning offensive line to the state playoffs. Coach Ed Smither said, ``Without injury, this is one of our better teams and we have a chance to win this thing.''
Southampton plans on having something to say before the district race is over, with fullback William Brown and quarterback Brad Davis returning. Franklin is counting on a young, but determined squad, while Smithfield returns 12 starters after not making the playoffs last season for only the second time in coach Miles Blount's seven years.
In Group A, Windsor, under second-year coach Tommy Austin, is hoping an experienced team will take them back to the playoffs, where they lost in the first round last season.
In the area's private schools, Nansemond-Suffolk is set to rebuild under second-year coach Terry Crigger. Expectations are high at Isle of Wight, where quarterback Richard Spady returns after passing for 1,689 yards last season. by CNB