THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608250348
SECTION: SPORTS MISCELLANEOUS PAGE: V29 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Preview: High school forecasts:
SOURCE: REA FARMER
LENGTH: 42 lines
HICKORY HIGH
COACH: Joey Habit
STAFF MEMBERS: Steve O'Neal, Trey Knox, Scott Bigbie, Wiley Lee, Marty Asprey, Dorian Hubbard, Al Habit.
WHERE THEY PLAY: The Hawks will open at Colon L. Hall Stadium, behind Great Bridge Middle School off Battlefield Boulevard in Chesapeake, until their stadium at Hickory High on South Battlefield Blvd. in Chesapeake is ready.
LAST YEAR'S RECORD: This is Hickory's first season.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Jesse Jones, Sr., TE-LB, 6-2, 220; Brad Simmons, Jr., OT-DT, 6-2, 255; Jupiter Wilson, So., OT-DT, 6-4, 260; Milton Gregory, So., TB-DB, 6-1, 195; Brad Brickhouse, Sr., OG, 5-11, 190; Kevin Foxwell, Jr., LB-OL, 5-22, 185; Robert Cornelius, Jr., RB-DB, 5-7, 140; Brian Beshears, Sr., C-DE, 5-11, 175.
OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW: If you liked Great Bridge's offensive line last year, go see the Hawks. Through redistricting, Hickory inherited virtually all of the Wildcats' returning linemen, including Simmons, Wilson, Brickhouse, Foxwell and Beshears. Junior James Cisneros steps in at quarterback and running backs Akil Riddick and Jarrell Boone are battling for receptions. The Hawks have talent, but lack depth.
DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW: Virtually all of the offensive linemen will be doing double duty. The Hawks are young and slim everywhere else on the defensive unit.
COACH'S QUOTE: ``This is real exciting. I told the kids this is a chance to be a part of something special. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of the first football team for a school. They're excited about the fact that everything they do will be a first. They will be setting records every game.''
IT'S A FACT: Although the Hawks are a first-year team, they have plenty of Habits. Head coach Joe Habit, a former assistant at Great Bridge, is being assisted by his father, former Cox head coach Al Habit.
KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION PREVIEW by CNB