THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 6, 1995 TAG: 9512060556
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
In a classic case of life imitating art, Deon Dyer's favorite movie is Jurassic Park.
Imagine trying to tackle a dinosaur and you can appreciate the fear 160-pound defensive backs felt when the 6-foot, 240-pound Dyer broke into the secondary.
Dyer, the T-Rex of area running backs, ravaged opposing defenses for 1,740 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns in leading Deep Creek to an 11-1 record this fall.
He was the only Group AAA player in South Hampton Roads to score a touchdown in every game and saved his best performance for last. Dyer hammered Hampton for 301 yards on 34 carries in a 24-19 loss to the Crabbers in the Division 5 region final.
Put it all together and you don't need a DNA sample to identify Dyer as the second annual Abe Golblatt Award winner, emblematic of the outstanding high school football player in South Hampton Roads.
``Deon is kind of a legend, really,'' Deep Creek coach Jerry Carter said.
John Dukes, the Hornets' defensive coordinator, told Carter shortly after the season that they would never coach another player like Dyer.
``He does all the right things,'' Carter said. ``We'll miss his leadership more than anything else.''
That leadership was never more evident than in the Hampton game. Several calls for blocking below the waist had the Hornets' linemen confused and bickering.
When the offense came off the field after one series, Dyer pointed a finger and barked, ``OK, so we've got Peninsula officials. You've got to learn how to block.''
The message got through as Deep Creek finished with a season-high 454 yards rushing.
Dyer leaves Deep Creek with every school record for rushing and scoring, including career yards, 3,773, and career touchdowns, 57.
Yet there was a time two years ago when his career was in doubt. He sprained both ankles as a sophomore and was hospitalized the second time.
``I was laying there in a lot of pain and thinking do I want to continue doing this or not?'' he said. ``But I had too many dreams to let it go.''
Dyer's next dream - to play college football - is virtually certain to come true. The only question is when.
He still needs a qualifying score on the SAT or ACT to be eligible next season. If he doesn't get it he will probably spend a year in prep school.
Dyer is taking the ACT on Saturday.
``Deep down inside I'd like more time to study for it,'' he said. ``I'm still excited about it, but the following Monday I'll get back into it. I have a teacher at school who is helping me prepare for the tests.''
Florida State, Virginia Tech, Virginia and North Carolina are among the schools recruiting Dyer. If childhood sentiment plays a role Dyer will become a Tar Heel.
``I've always liked North Carolina,'' he said. ``I like their running game and Natrone Means is one of my role models. I also like the area. My family holds its reunions near there.''
Dyer visited Chapel Hill in October and saw North Carolina upset Virginia. He talked to former Western Branch star Dre Bly, a redshirt defensive back who signed with the Tar Heels last winter, and heard nothing but good things about the program.
If Dyer signs with North Carolina the Tar Heels will get a a punishing runner who loves to block and never complains.
``In four years I never saw Deon loaf in practice,'' Carter said. ``If you tell him to sprint 10 yards, he sprints 20. His greatest attribute is that he's a total team player.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MOTOYA NAKAMURA/Staff
``In four years I never saw Deon loag in practice,'' Deep Creek
coach Jerry Carter said, ``If you tell him to sprint 10 yards, he
sprints 20.''
by CNB