THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995 TAG: 9512150230
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
DURING HIGH school football season, Southampton running back William Brown made bulldozing over opposing defenses look simple. Now, the 5-foot-11, 220 pound senior has made receiving postseason honors appear just as easy.
Brown, a team captain since his sophomore year, added Region I offensive player of the year to his list last week in a vote of coaches.
``It comes from a lot of hard work both on and off the field,'' said Brown, the Bay Rivers offensive player of the year and a selection for both district and region first teams as a linebacker. ``(Player of the year honors) is definitely a goal I set for myself early in my high school career.''
Brown led the Bay Rivers in regular season touchdowns and finished with 29 scores and 1,323 yards on 223 carries for an 11-1 Indians team.
``I worked on my speed a lot over the offseason, so my speed increased a lot,'' said Brown, who has qualified academically for college and plans to visit North Carolina, Virginia and the University of Richmond after Christmas. ``Our offensive line dominated this year. A lot of the reason for my success this season was that I was surrounded by a lot of great athletes as well as people.''
Lakeland placed six players on the all-region football teams. First team selections for the Cavaliers were: Reginald Wiggins, running back; James Temple, guard; Darius Bryant, defensive lineman; Diran Cowell, linebacker; Antoine Riddick, defensive back; and Lindell Hunter, kick returner. Bryant was also named to the second team as an offensive tackle.
Wiggins finished the season with 210 carries for 1,586 yards and 23 touchdowns. The senior is also the Cavaliers' all-time leading rusher and touchdown scorer.
Nansemond River's LaShawn Pugh was named to the first team offense and defense. The senior tight end and defensive end was the Warriors leading receiver and caught three touchdown passes. Defensive lineman Chris White was named to the first team, while linebacker Chris Thomas made the second team for Nansemond River.
Rounding out the first team offense was: DuShawn Williams, wide receiver, Nottoway; Carlandous Banks, wide receiver, Franklin; Kenneth Williams, tackle, Southampton; Ulrick Edmonds, tackle, Nottoway; Kevin Davis, guard, Matoaca; Rusty Webb, center, Park View; Keith Campbell, quarterback, Bruton; Byron Thweatt, running back, Matoaca; and Brady Walker, place kicker, York.
The first team defense included: Byron Thweatt, end, Matoaca; Draper Hawkes, line, Nottoway; DuShawn Williams, linebacker, Nottoway; Melvin Woodson, defensive back, Bluestone; Roger Brown, defensive back, Matoaca; and Rusty Webb, punter, Park View.
Southampton's Ivey, at running back, and Durane Parker, at defensive end, were the only other area players named to the second team.
Matoaca's Thweatt earned defensive player of the year honors, while Pat Manuel of Matoaca was named coach of the year. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
William Brown was Bay Rivers' offensive player of the year and made
district and region first teams as a linebacker.
by CNB