THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 31, 1996 TAG: 9610310481
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 83 lines
Imagine waking up on Christmas Day eager to open that big box under the tree only to find a small gift inside?
For much of his career Deep Creek quarterback Arnie Powell has been that big box. The size and arm strength - the box and the bow, if you will - have been there since his first start three years ago.
Yet despite leading the Hornets to a 32-2 record over the past three seasons and a berth in the 1994 state final, Powell has been a victim of the small gift syndrome. His numbers, it seems, have rarely equaled his potential.
That potential was established in one night two years ago when he led the Hornets to a pulsating 42-41 win over Hampton in the Division 5 region final. Powell passed for 185 yards and two TDs and smartly led the Hornets downfield in the waning seconds for the winning score.
``That's the best game I ever played,'' Powell says. ``I just felt like I was in a zone.''
Overshadowed last year by the great Deon Dyer, a fullback disguised as a Land Rover, Powell attempted only 65 passes in the regular season. He was 2 of 13 in the rematch against the Crabbers, a game the Hornets lost 24-19 despite rushing for 454 yards.
This season, Hornets coach Jerry Carter promised that Powell, a robust 6-foot-5, 210-pounder, would emerge as the senior leader and driving force of the offense.
But after you've opened that big box once, it's human nature to be skeptical when it's put there again.
It's also human nature to rip off the wrapping and this time - surprise - Powell has emerged as the most complete quarterback in South Hampton Roads.
He has passed for 637 yards and seven TDs with only two interceptions and his 59.6 completion percentage leads the area. He also has rushed for 221 yards on 34 attempts - a 6.5 yard average - and scored seven TDs.
The bottom line: Deep Creek is 8-0 for the third straight season and ranked No. 1 entering Friday night's showdown at No. 2 Indian River.
``I'm a little more focused this year in what I'm doing,'' Powell says. ``I take things a little more seriously.''
It's been a long and sometimes painful maturation process for Powell. He didn't start the season-opener this year because of a team rules violation and he and Carter have clashed over Powell's insistence on playing AAU basketball in the summer.
Powell was a first-team all-district forward last winter and has received recruiting interest from several mid-major basketball programs. But Carter was convinced that Powell's future lies in football and this year they finally agreed.
``I made the decision in late spring or early summer,'' Powell says. ``I was playing (basketball) against guys my size who were quicker and could jump higher. I didn't have the necessary skills to play at a high level.''
Powell spent most of the summer lifting weights and improving his passing mechanics.
``That helped me get in the flow earlier this season,'' he says.
And for the first time since that magical night two years ago, he rediscovered the ``zone.''
In a four-game stretch against Oscar Smith, Hickory, Nansemond River and Lakeland, Powell completed 24 of 30 passes, including 16 in a row.
``All the things we had worked on so hard the three previous years came to fruition,'' Carter says. ``To see it was awfully satisfying.
``I remember one pass in particular. We were driving just before halftime and Arnie rolled out and hit Devondus Neal with a little touch pass. I've been on him that he doesn't have to drill everything. I stood on the sideline and just smiled.''
Powell has a lot of recruiters smiling, as well. East Carolina and Virginia Tech top his list, but Maryland, Boston College and Georgia are also on it.
Powell got a call from East Carolina two weeks ago after the Pirates upset Miami and five coaches came on the line and delivered their pitch.
Whichever team he chooses, figure it to be a winner.
``That's what it's all about to me,'' Powell says. ``If we win every game I don't care if I don't score or throw another TD pass.''
That might have worked at one time. But this year, Powell has passed or rushed for a TD in every game.
``Arnie is real confident in his ability,'' Carter says. ``He feels he can do anything and he just about can.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by L. Todd Spencer
[Deep Creek quarterback Arnie Powell...]
KEYWORDS: PROFILE by CNB