THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996 TAG: 9610110678
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 73 lines
When Western Branch quarterback Daryl Walton slipped and tore a knee ligament on the fourth play of this year's season opener, his twin brother and favorite target Darren was devastated.
He mourned for Daryl, a senior coming off two consecutive 1,000-yard passing seasons and seemingly destined for greatness.
``I felt sorry for him because he's going to have to live with this the rest of his life,'' Darren said.
But mostly he felt sorry for himself.
``I knew my stats for my senior year were going to be down,'' Darren said. ``I wasn't going to catch as many passes.''
So far he's right on one count. Walton has only 13 receptions for 205 yards, well off his pace of a year ago when he caught 39 passes for 554 yards.
But his six touchdown receptions lead all receivers in South Hampton Roads and are two more than he made during all of last year.
Three of those TDs came last week in a 40-19 victory over Lakeland. And as sophomore quarterback David ``Magic'' Johnson gets more comfortable running the offense, Walton can envision a big second half - for himself and the team.
``I've got to keep having faith in Magic,'' Walton said. ``He throws the ball just like Daryl, except it spins the other way. He's lefthanded.''
The Bruins (3-2, 2-0) have won two straight games entering tonight's showdown with No. 2 Indian River at Western Branch.
The turnaround, coach Lew Johnston said, coincided with a team meeting in which the Bruins vowed to put Darren's injury behind them and focus on the rest of the season.
``We went through a grieving process and Darren, being Daryl's twin, he suffered the worst,'' Johnston said. ``He made the comment to me that when he'd look over at the sideline and see Daryl in a wheelchair he'd come unglued.''
Daryl, whose knee was repaired Wednesday in a four-hour operation at Maryview Medical Center, hasn't returned to school since the injury. So he depends on Darren to preserve his identity with the team.
``On Thursday night I'll come in and he'll ask me if we're ready,'' Darren said. ``I'll tell him the game plan and who are the captains of the week. Other nights we watch old (game) tapes.''
Said Daryl: ``He cheers me up. He tells me that my football career isn't over.''
Both Waltons planned to play college football before the injury. Darren, the defending Southeastern District 100-meter champ in track, is being recruited by Virginia, Virginia Tech and Maryland, among others.
``One of the things the colleges like is Darren's ability to catch the ball over the middle with no fear,'' Johnston said.
``It doesn't bother me taking those hits,'' he said. ``I like to be able to get up and hold the ball in front of the defensive back, let him know I caught it and I'll be coming back.''
Those schools could use a receiver with velcro hands and iron ribs. But if Walton were to sign today, he'd pick Hampton University.
``I love that campus to death,'' he said. ``I'm familiar with the coaches. It's close to home and I probably wouldn't have to redshirt.''
Daryl's situation is far less certain. He's continued to hear from several Division I-A schools, but he has yet to qualify academically. Now there is the the issue of his knee.
No one is rooting for a quicker rehabilitation for Daryl than Darren.
``I have to do all the housework now,'' he said. ``Dust, vacuum, clean the bathrooms, iron clothes, cut the yard.''
His biggest chore, however, is trying to play football for two people. ILLUSTRATION: MIKE HEFFNER
Virginian-Pilot file
Western Branch's Darren Walton has six TD catches thus far, tops in
South Hampton Roads.
A knee injury suffered in the season-opener has forced QB Daryl
Walton to miss the entire year. by CNB