THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996 TAG: 9610100151
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: THE SPORTS EDITOR'S COLUMN
SOURCE: Lee Tolliver
LENGTH: 80 lines
Thad Herron called The Score's Friday night high school football radio show last week to talk about how well his Kellam Knights had been playing.
HELLOOOO!
Thad my man, you guys are 1-4 for goodness sake . . . 2-13 the last two years . . . 2-23 the last three years. You know the score. You've heard the talk.
``No matter,'' said the Knights offensive guard, linebacker and team captain after the evening's 14-10 loss to Beach District frontrunner Tallwood.
``We pushed them up and down the field. These guys are fired up and they know they can beat some of these teams.''
But you're 1-4.
``The record doesn't show the true us,'' the rest of the team chimed in.
And you know what? You guys are right.
Kellam opened with a victory over Great Bridge, but followed with a 26-13 loss to Ocean Lakes that was one pass and one official's flag away from going the other way.
The Knights then dropped a 19-9 game to Green Run that was also much closer than the score would indicate.
And the opponents of the last two weeks are no doubt considering themselves extremely lucky to have gotten past the Knights with victories.
Kellam lost to Salem, 10-4, but had two first-and-goals inside the 5-yard line. Just one score would have made the difference.
Last week, the Knights had a 10-0 lead over Tallwood before falling, 14-10. Again, Kellam had a first-and-goal opportunity to win it.
Yes, there are a lot of ``ifs'' here, but for crying out loud, it's very obvious to all in the Beach District that Kellam is a much-improved football team that sooner or later will get back on the winning track.
``My God,'' coach Chris Worst gasped. ``We've been through two thrillers and had a chance to win both. If Salem and Tallwood are two of the best teams in the district and we can play them like that, be in a position to win against those guys, we must have a darned good football team.
``We're going to win. It's going to happen.''
All Kellam needs is the key. They've beaten on the door, scratched at the hinges and tried to pick the locks.
``Oh, we're at the gates,'' Worst said. ``I guess we're just going to have to kick them in. It's very hard, but we're getting there.
``You know anybody with a good pair of bolt cutters?''
Despite keeping an up-tempo personality, Worst takes it all very personally. He hates to lose, he'll tell you.
``It kills me,'' he said. ``It kills me for them. They've laid it on the line and they believe in what they're doing. I'd do anything for these kids to experience winning and it's going to be a great thing when it happens.''
Worst has tried everything to convince the kids that it's just around the corner. New principal Bruce Biehl has talked to them, athletic director Roy Ammons has had his say, alumnus Gene Bunn pumped them up. Also lending support and motivation have been a pastor, the ring company salesman, the cooks in the cafeteria - Worst has even considered asking a sports writer to talk to them.
``Anybody know a good exorcist?'' he asked. ``Wear your rosary or a strand of garlic to the game Friday. We're almost willing to try anything.''
Except give up.
Just go to a Kellam practice and witness the intensity, the determination. There aren't any hanging heads or defeatist attitudes. Definitely not the atmosphere you'd expect from a team that has come so close only to lose time and time again.
``I have to calm them down sometimes, they're hitting so hard,'' Worst said. ``People think it's got to be miserable over here, but it's not. These kids are fighting their rear ends off and I couldn't be more proud of them.''
Yes, there is plenty of character on the Kellam football team. Arguably more so than at any other program in the area, considering the circumstances. To suffer through loss after loss for the past few years and keep playing hard shows . . . well, tons of character.
And the kids are winners for their efforts.
And future opponents had better play their best, because Herron and his teammates speak with straight tongue.
Kellam has been playing great football lately. ILLUSTRATION: Staff file photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK
``People think it's got to be miserable over here, but it's not,''
says Kellam coach Chris Worst. ``These kids are fighting their rear
ends off and I couldn't be more proud of them.'' by CNB