THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 6, 1996 TAG: 9608060308
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 87 lines
Who are the reigning high school football champions of Chesapeake? Depends upon whom you ask.
At Indian River, assistant coach Jack Kramer simply points to a left hand adorned with a magnificent gold ring, its head slightly smaller than a matchbook cover, and featuring a gold numeral 1 resting atop an inlaid blue stone surrounded by the words, ``Indian River, State Champions.''
``We've got something everybody else wants,'' Braves head coach Bob Parker said.
Meanwhile, the Deep Creek Hornets point to their two consecutive Southeastern District titles and 20-game regular-season winning streak and give an emphatic nod toward last season's 34-20 victory over Indian River.
So on Monday, the opening of practice for teams throughout the Virginia High School League, it seemed logical that both teams would be pointing toward each other.
But this logic held no sway with one team. At Deep Creek, where the incoming players were greeted by a banner proclaiming ``Hornet Football: A Whole New Bag of Tricks in '96,'' talk of renewing the intracity rivalry when the teams meet Nov. 1 at Indian River was muted.
``We can't worry about all that,'' Deep Creek quarterback Arnie Powell said. ``You start thinking about teams ahead of time, you wind up not taking care of the teams you have to play first.''
The Braves, on the other hand, have spent the offseason stewing. Today's athlete covets few things more than respect, and locally at least, the Braves don't feel the state title they brought home earned them enough of it.
Indian River players say the Hornets and Western Branch's Bruins, who handed the Braves a 21-0 defeat last year, have been snickering at Indian River's status: first in the state, first in the Eastern Region but third in the Southeastern District. In fact, the Braves have never won the district title.
And Chesapeake detractors say the weaker Division 6 classification - reserved for the region's largest schools - was the Braves' fast track to a title. In Division 5, which included Deep Creek, Western Branch and state champion Hampton, the Braves wouldn't have even qualified for the playoffs. Deep Creek wound up losing a 24-19 decision to Hampton in the Eastern Region final.
As a result, the Braves say they welcome the VHSL restructuring that has moved them into powerful Division 5. The better to leave their detractors speechless if they can pull off a state championship again.
``We've got a big point to prove, and we need to start with the people that beat us last year,'' Indian River's Dereck Brooks said. ``Western Branch and Deep Creek didn't give us the respect we deserved. This year, we're going to go all out.''
Offseason comments aside, the Hornets added little fuel to Indian River's fire Monday, preferring to concentrate on life without All-State fullback Deon Dyer, the University of North Carolina-bound star whose physical impact was matched only by his boundless motivational skills.
``He had such a presence,'' Powell said. ``He was one of those rare guys who could make everyone else better.''
Dyer's absence should be mitigated somewhat by the return of eight starters from a defense that recorded four shutouts last season. And despite head coach Jerry Carter's ``new tricks'' theme, it seems safe to expect little offensive deviation from a coach so committed to his misdirection-based attack that his license plates read ``Wing T.''
Meanwhile, the Braves, a freewheeling group that had the swagger of a champion long before last year's coronation, are looking to eliminate some of the egos and bad attitudes that they say cost them in their games against Western Branch and Deep Creek.
``If we don't beat ourselves, I don't think anyone's going to stop us,'' Brooks said. ``We've got stars'' - as he says this, as if on cue, All-State defensive back and team leader James Boyd strolls past - ``regular players and a lot of good athletes. We don't have to rest on what we did last year.''
How serious is Brooks on this last point? So serious that when he left for practice Monday morning, his ring stayed behind.
``I'm keeping it in a box because that dream is over,'' he said. ``It's time to go for another.'' ILLUSTRATION: File color photo
High school football practice opened Monday, with Indian River's
James Boyd looking to add another title to his credits.
Photo by JIM WALKER, THE VRGINIAN PILOT
Deep Creek football coach Jerry Carter puts his team thrugh drills
during the first day of practice Monday. The Hornets will be out to
extend a 20-game regular season win streak.
Photo
Deep Creek's Donnie Todd gets his shoulder into the tackling dummy
as teammate K.C. Smith provides the resistance. by CNB