THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608250200
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: V30 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Preview: High school forecasts:
SOURCE: LEE TOLLIVER
LENGTH: 44 lines
GREEN RUN
COACH: Johnny White (First year).
STAFF MEMBERS: Quincey Bethea, Roger Wilson, Skeet Jones, Lavelle Hines, Andre Vickers, Bill Henderson
WHERE THEY PLAY: Green Run High (capacity 6,000), 1700 Dahlia Drive in Virginia Beach
LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 11-1 overall, 9-0 in the district (district champion)
RETURNING STARTERS: Ben Root, Jr., TE/LB, 6-2, 210; Larron Jones, Sr., RB/LB, 5-10, 215; Clyde Bryant, Sr., OL/DL, 6-4, 310; Barron McPherson, Sr., RB/DB, 5-10, 175; Charles Baker, Jr., OL/DE, 6-0, 215; Charles Wilson, Jr., QB/DB, 5-10, 170; Charles Benjumea, Sr., RB/DB, 5-10, 210; Arsha Gilchrist, Jr., WR/DB, 5-11, 170; Thomas Todd, Sr., OL/LB, 6-2, 235.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Mike Lundy, Jr., WR/DB, 6-2, 170; Travorus Gorum, So., RB/DB, 5-9, 180; Terrance Worlds, Jr., OL/DL, 6-2, 298; Thomas Thornton, Fr., RB/LB, 5-10, 190.
OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW: Despite the loss of so many gifted performers, Green Run still has some talent at the skill positions. Wilson took a few snaps at quarterback, Root caught 17 passes for 389 yards and four touchdowns, Larron Jones rushed for 240 yards and seven touchdowns on 37 carries last year. Jones has 4.7 speed, but takes pleasure in using his size to bowl over people. Root gets his turn to shine after being the third target last year.
DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW: As the line is suspect, the Stallions could have trouble stopping ground-control running games. Speed in the secondary will have to do a lot of chasing. Between the offense and defense, the Stallions will start as many as six freshmen. But White likes to throw the talented youngsters into the fire to get them experience. And some of them are likely to make a quick name for themselves.
COACH'S QUOTE: ``We're not very big, so whatever we do, we're going to have to do it quick and fast. And the kids are working twice as hard to be half as good (as last year).''
IT'S A FACT: Former Stallions' All-Tidewater selection and Virginia Peach Bowl MVP Skeet Jones returns to his alma matter as an assistant.
KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION PREVIEW by CNB