THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608250341
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: V32 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Preview: High school forecasts:
SOURCE: BRIAN FRENCH
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LENGTH: 43 lines
CATHOLIC
COACH: John O'Hara (14th year, 48-71-7)
STAFF MEMBERS: James
Whitehead, David Stubbs
WHERE THEY PLAY: Catholic High School (capacity 500), 4552 Princess Anne Road in Virginia Beach
LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 2-7 overall, 1-3 TCIS
RETURNING STARTERS: James Aspatore, Sr., G, 5-8, 165; Derek Hardy, Sr., RB, 5-8, 150; Jason Holley, Sr., RB, 6-0, 190; Eric Washburn, Sr., TE, 6-6, 230; Ben Kinney, Soph. C, 5-9, 230, Anthony Oliveto, Jr. QB, 5-10, 160; Marty White, Jr., RB, 6-3, 180; Byron Whitehead, Sr., QB, 6-2, 180; Marc Zagrocki, Sr., DE, 6-2, 170.
TOP NEWCOMER: Joe Wunder, Jr, G, 6-2, 205.
OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW: The Crusaders, who had trouble putting points on the board last year, will depend on the running game for any improvement. Holley and Hardy are the top returning backs. Holley ran for 228 yards on 49 carries, while Hardy averaged 6.1 yards on 15 carries. Whitehead, who completed 40.2 percent of his passes for 641 yards, returns as starting quarterback. White - the leading Crusader receiver with 11 catches for 214 yards and the leading scorer with 26 points - is back as Whitehead's primary target. The offensive line, with the exception of tight end Washburn, is undersized.
DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW: The linebacking corps is a strength. Inexperience and lack of depth could present problems; of the 29 players on the roster, 16 are either freshmen or sophomores and 11 starters will play both offense and defense. Zagrocki is the only returning defense-only starter. The defensive line is essentially the offensive, so the Crusaders are undersized here, too.
COACH'S QUOTE: ``We're gonna take what we have and try to build a good team with it. These kids will have to grow up quickly if we're going to have a good season.''
IT'S A FACT: This will be O'Hara's 28th year with Catholic High School and his 14th as head football coach. <
KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION PREVIEW by CNB