THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512060144
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 30 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
IT WAS YEARS in the making and started with the coach admiring the team from the opposing sideline.
Now Coach Bob Parker and the Indian River football team are on the verge of producing the Chesapeake school's first state championship football team.
It will happen on Saturday afternoon - if the Braves (11-2) can defeat C.D. Hylton of Woodbridge (10-3) in the Group AAA Division 6 finale at Stonewall Jackson in Manassas.
On a Friday night seven years ago, the teaming of Parker and Indian River seemed the remotest of possibilities.
Parker was coaching at Cradock High School. His team had just lost to Indian River 27-8.
``We gave them a few problems,'' said Parker as he sat in his small Cradock office at a school that has since closed its doors.
He looked out into the locker room as his 27 players pulled off muddy uniforms from a game played throughout in a rainstorm.
``This was sending boys against men,'' said Parker. ``We simply were outmanned. Outnumbered. Outplayed.
``If I could coach a team with that kind of talent, I see no reason why I couldn't have my squad playing for the state championship just about every year.''
From a stint at Cradock to a four-year stay as coach at Churchland, Parker then applied for the coaching vacancy at Indian River when it came about in 1993.
True to his belief, Parker steered the Braves into the post-season playoffs in his first year as head coach - and each year since.
Indian River lost in the state semifinals to Pulaski, the 1992 state champion.
Last year, the Braves again bowed out in the state semis - to George Washington of Danville on a 34-yard field goal with seven seconds left in the game.
With only five returning starters from the '94 team, Indian River was a questionable contender this year.
But Parker issued a warning to his rivals in the Southeastern District: ``If I had to pinpoint how good we'll be,'' he said, ``well, . . . I've never had this much team speed. This team is fast.''
The Braves went on to an 8-2 season, losing to Deep Creek and Western Branch and finishing third in the district.
Indian River still qualified as one of the wild card entries in the Eastern Region's District 6 playoffs.
For the third year in a row, the Braves won the regional title. They knocked off previously undefeated Green Run in the championship game.
A decisive 31-10 victory over Lake Braddock followed last Saturday in the semifinal round of the state playoffs.
Now Indian River goes after its first state title in football.
And the Braves will be running from the wishbone. It's an offense that Parker first put in at Cradock when he was looking at the Indian River players from the other side of the field.
BRAVES TALK: Quarterback James Boyd seems to play his best in the post-season. Last year, he rushed for 395 yards, gaining 8.8 yards per carry, in three playoff games. He also passed for 146 yards. In the three playoff games this year, the 190-pound junior has rushed for 369 yards and passed for 268. . . . Indian River had 15 seniors on last year's state semifinalist team. The Braves have 14 this year. Twelve players are juniors, nine are sophomores and one, Antwan Stukes, is a freshman. . . . Parker's coaching record at Indian River is 33-12. . . . The 42-yard field goal Kasper Peterson kicked for the Braves in last week's victory over Lake Braddock was just two yards shy of the record in a state semifinal or final game. Sal Colangelo of Potomac booted a 44-yarder in 1990 against Varina. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Cory Holley dives for yardage against Lake Braddock in Indian
River's victory in the semifinal game of the state championship.
Lance Bishop walks in victory after Indian River moves on to the
state championship.
by CNB