THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608250330
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: V28 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Preview: High school forecasts:
SOURCE: VICKI L. FRIEDMAN
LENGTH: 47 lines
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
COACH: Larry Stepney (5th year, 18-22)
STAFF MEMBERS: Romeo Lambert, Robert Toran, Curtis Barnett, Jason Harris, Michael Holloway, Victor Hill
WHERE THEY PLAY: Home games will be Chittum Field, 6401 Chesapeake Blvd., (capacity 8,000) and Harbor Park until the new stadium at Booker T. (capacity 2,500), 1111 Park Ave., Norfolk, is ready in October.
LAST YEAR`S RECORD: 4-6 overall, 2-2 in the district. The Bookers were 9-1 on the field but had to forfeit five games because of an ineligible player.
RETURNING STARTERS: Dominic Perry, Jr., QB, 5-11, 170; Duwyne Williams, Jr., LB-FB, 5-10, 190; Kamal Gardner, Sr., RB-LB, 5-11, 200, Lavelle Reid, Jr., OT-DT, 6-2, 240; Kelvin Fuller, Jr., WR-FS, 6-0, 195; Tommy Cutler, Jr., WR-SS, 6-0, 175; Demeitrus Scott, So., DB-RB, 5-11, 185; Dennis Anderson, Sr., WR-DB, 6-1, 190; Reshan Ashley, Sr., OT-DT, 6-1, 295.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Garion Baker, Sr., WR-LB, 6-3, 190; Antonio Woodson, Sr., T-LB, 6-2, 220; Dion Davis, Sr., WR-DB, 5-9, 175; Danny Agate, Jr., T, 6-2, 265; Chwight Olige, Jr., C-DT, 6-3, 270; Trenell Brown, Sr., T, 6-4, 245; Detrell Wood, Jr., RB, 5-10, 190; Anthony Smith, Jr., 6-1, 250; Tremayne Adams, Jr., OG, 6-0, 220; Joe George, Fr., OG, 5-11, 215; Ron Marcus, Jr., NG-FB, 5-11, 210; Steve Trotman, Sr., FB-DB, 5-11, 185; Robert Jordan, So., TE, 6-3, 220; William Alston, Sr., LB, 6-1. 185.
OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW: Stepney, an All-American tailback at Norview in his playing days, says the key for the Bookers is the backfield led by Perry, last year's Virginian-Pilot Rookie of the Year. Perry was the 10th leading passer in the area with 744 yards and nine touchdowns. Gone is the Bookers' leading rusher, Sean Minter, who averaged 5.4 yards a carry, and ran for 1,097 yards, third best in the area. This year's backs lack Minter's speed but will be more physical. The line, with three returning starters, promises to be tougher inside.
DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW: The Bookers lost their entire front seven, including leading tackler Chester Jones, now at Virginia Union. Williams, Gardner and Fuller will be key in leading the inexperienced defense.
COACH'S QUOTE: ``I look for us to go back to old-fashioned football, four yards and a cloud of dust.''
IT'S A FACT: The Bookers play Deep Creek, Norview and Indian River, three of the area's top teams, in their first three games.
KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION PREVIEW by CNB