THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 8, 1995 TAG: 9509060223
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Editor's note: Because of a production error, parts of the following story did not appear in The Clipper's football guide. All of the story is reprinted here.
When Bill Lyons took over as head football coach of Oscar Smith High School, he was well aware of the hurdles that lay in front of him.
Although the school has the best athletic facilities money can buy, the football program was suffering from a lack of enthusiasm. Winning just one game in two seasons can do that to a team.
Lyons knew the challenges he faced, and he welcomed them. He had seen them before when he took over the football program at Warwick High School, turning the Peninsula District also-ran Raiders into state finalists.
``We don't focus on last year,'' Lyons said. The Tigers went 1-9 in 1994. ``We focus on today forward - that's all we can control.''
Instead of wiping the slate clean and starting all over again, Lyons has adopted a different method to try and reverse Oscar Smith's fortunes. Although the Tigers already have a solid nucleus of experienced, versatile players, Lyons will involve as many people as possible in the offense.
``They love to play if they know they're going to touch the ball,'' said Lyons, who had a 69-77-3 record in 14 years at Warwick.
There are no set starters on either side of the ball, and several players are competing for each position. One of the hottest duels is at quarterback, where Jamar Lewis and Brian Lewis, who averaged over 13 yards per completion, are battling for the nod along with multipurpose player Kelvin Bethea.
``Jamar is a bit better of a drop-back passer, whereas Brian is play-action,'' Lyons said.
As for Bethea, who has never played the position, Lyons said that ``we're trying to train him as an option quarterback because of his athletic ability.''
Bethea also will get some snaps at running back, a position where Lyons is looking at five different players - open field speedsters Bethea, the top returner with a 4.6 yard average per carry, Shaun Sanderson, Terionta Harris and Lavon Rice, and power inside runners William Fuller and Fred Person.
When the Tigers go to the air, the trio of Moses Johnson, Kendall Rumble and Antonio Wilson will be counted on.
``We'll try to throw the ball more than last year,'' Lyons said.
Last season the Tigers only netted 100 yards passing once, in the season finale against Indian River. Until that contest, the team was averaging just 36 yards per game.
The early weakness on offense seems to be the line, which is ``in a state of flux'' according to Lyons. Returning starter Kenneth McCants, who can line up at center, guard, tackle or tight end, is a workhorse leader who will be counted on to provide a steadying influence. Seniors William Brown and Raphael Butts return to start, along with newcomers Steve McKinney and Harold Grant, one of two 300-pounders on the line along with Donta Jenkins.
Grant and Jenkins will anchor the defensive line as well, along with McKinney, David Singleton, and newcomer Thywinston Swain. Butts, Brown, Fuller, Bethea and McCants will see time at linebacker.
Lyons also plans to use a lot of bodies in the secondary. Brian Lewis, Jamar Lewis and Antonio Cox are the mainstays, but Johnson, Rumble, Latron Cox, Byron Harvin and Dallas Wood are all in the mix.
The kicking game is a great big question mark for the Tigers. by CNB