THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 16, 1995 TAG: 9511160737
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
REGINALD WIGGINS looks more like a timid freshman than an integral part of Lakeland High School's football team.
Maybe it's the way the 5-foot-7, 160-pound senior is swallowed by his black Portland Trail Blazers jacket and baggy pants. Or it could be how he squirms uncomfortably in his seat when asked a question.
``He's not a talker or a real emotional-type player,'' Lakeland coach Edward Smither said. ``He works hard, runs hard and doesn't say a whole lot.''
In three years of varsity football, Wiggins has let his actions on the field speak volumes.
In each of his first two seasons, Wiggins rushed for more than 1,000 yards and surpassed Minoso Rodgers as the Cavaliers' all-time rushing leader. In 10 games this year, Wiggins has 1,280 yards on 168 attempts for an average of 7.7, bringing his career yardage to 3,743.
``I just pretty much go out there and do what you gotta do,'' said Wiggins, Lakeland's career touchdown scoring leader with 37. ``My goals are just to play hard and have a winning season.''
So far this year, he's done both.
He helped lead the Cavaliers to a 6-1 regular season record in the Bay Rivers District and a 7-3 mark overall. On Friday at 7:30, Lakeland, the top seed in the Region I, Division 4 playoffs, will host York, a team it beat 48-10 two weeks ago.
``The most (Wiggins) brings is an experience factor,'' Smither said. ``He gets better every year. We've pretty much counted on him for 100 yards a game throughout his whole career. He's not a whole lot bigger, but he's gotten stronger and better at reading blocks.''
Wiggins, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds, said those blocks and the experienced players giving them are the reasons for his success and are why Lakeland football is having one of its best seasons.
``(The offensive line) knows what to do this year,'' said Wiggins, who has not decided on a college and will take the SAT in December to determine his eligibility. ``Last year they were good, but they were still getting used to each other. Now everybody knows each other.''
Smither agreed that returning the entire starting offense - Whitley Cisco, James Temple, Nathan Carr, Jamie Groves and Darius Bryant - meant a lot for Wiggins.
``I'm sure that's a big plus for any back to have the same kids blocking for him,'' he said. ``A lot of these kids have been playing for three or four years now and we've been an OK team but hadn't really progressed. I think now they're all real anxious to do well and I think that's why we've done so well this year.''
A successful season couldn't have happened without some improvement by Wiggins.
``I think I've gotten better,'' said Wiggins, a member of the track team who admitted that his small size makes him use his speed to get past tacklers. ``I'm learning to cut back more and am better at viewing the field now. This is my last year so I've had to step it up.''
Wiggins' senior season became a lot better when Lakeland beat cross-town rival Nansemond River 34-20 on Friday. It marked the first time the Cavaliers have beaten the Warriors twice in the same year.
``I've been playing varsity for three years and this is the first time I've ever beaten them,'' said Wiggins, who has 231 yards on 48 carries against Nansemond River this year. ``It feels really good.''
``(Beating Nansemond River) has been a real positive thing for us,'' said Smither, whose team had lost seven straight to the Warriors and had been outscored 152-12 in that span. ``We've been dominated for three years. It was almost to the point where it was getting ridiculous.''
Lakeland knows, however, that the rivals may not have seen the last of each other this season. Nansemond River hosts Greensville County on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and would meet the Cavaliers if both teams win.
``I figure that,'' Wiggins said of a third game with the Warriors. ``We'll just have to go out and do what we did for the first two games. We've got the people that can (win a state championship) if everybody is working together. I'll just have to step it up a notch as well as everybody else.''
Wiggins is not shy about his desire for a state championship. ``That's the ultimate goal,'' he said. ``This is my last year of high school so if we lose one, it's over. That makes you want it more.''
NOTE: Previews of this weekend's football playoff games involving Lakeland and Southampton will appear in The Virginian-Pilot Sports section on Friday. Previews of the games involving Nansemond River and Windsor will appear in Saturday's Pilot. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Lakeland running back Reginald Wiggins, right, finds a hole in the
Nansemond River defensive line.
by CNB