THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608250349
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: V31 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Preview: High school forecasts:
SOURCE: PAUL WHITE
LENGTH: 40 lines
WINDSOR
COACH: Tommy Austin (9th year, 43-45).
STAFF MEMBERS: Rusty Boutton, Paul Hall Jr., Rossie Brock, David Creason, Jimmy Jones, Ray Council, Bruce Carroll, Nathan Elliott, Dave Taylor, Johnnie Rawls.
WHERE THEY PLAY: Windsor High (capacity 1,500), 24 Church St. in Windsor.
LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 10-3 overall, 3-2 in the Tri-Rivers District.
RETURNING STARTERS: David Bickley, Sr., FB/LB, 6-1, 210; Robby Tew, Sr., TB/S, 5-10, 180; Nicholas Mitchell, Sr., OL/LB, 5-10, 190.
TOP NEWCOMERS: Matt Brock, Jr., QB, 5-11, 165; Matt Roberts, 6-2, 175, TE, Jr.; Mike Jones, Jr., DE/OT, 6-0, 200; Kenny Turner, Jr., WR/DB, 5-6, 140; Chad Jones, Sr., WR, 6-0, 160.
OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW: The Dukes' attack will look the same - a Power-I - but won't pack last year's punch since 220-pound Wayne Briggs, who racked up a school-record 2,319 yards and 36 touchdowns, is now at Hargrave Military Academy. Briggs' 30 carries a game will be spread throughout the backfield, with fullback Bickley, a second-team All-Tri Rivers pick, likely to emerge as the featured runner. Brock's passing should also become more prominent.
DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW: No longer able to overpower opponents - last year, the linemen averaged 235 pounds, the linebackers 215 and the free safety weighed 220 - the Dukes must now rely on technique, aggression and confusing variations out of their base 4-3. Having to break in eight new starters adds to the challenge.
COACH'S QUOTE: ``Last year, our defense was like, `Come at us, 'cause we're going to knock the tar out of you when you get here.' But we're not big enough to do that anymore. Now we're going to have to go after people.''
IT'S A FACT: Windsor's Region A title last year was the first football championship in school history.
KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION PREVIEW by CNB