DATE: Thursday, October 2, 1997             TAG: 9710020722

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   77 lines

BIG FAMILY, BIG COLLEGES GIVE WIDE RECEIVER A BOOST

Jermaine Lauzon learned to be aggressive at an early age; otherwise he never would have gotten to use the bathroom.

Ocean Lakes' star running back and defensive back is one of 13 children from his parents' two marriages. Seven of them live with Don Lauzon Sr., and his second wife, Michelle.

That doesn't count Jermaine's two soul brothers, teen-agers that Don Sr. took in because there is no such thing as a bad boy, he says, and besides, 11 bodies allows them to field their own football team.

``We have hourly shifts to use the shower,'' said 17-year-old Jermaine, who shares a bedroom with David, 16, and Shawn, 13.

David, a junior and a wide receiver, is the fourth family member to play for Ocean Lakes coach Jim Prince. Shawn will be No. 5 next year when he moves up from Corporate Landing Middle School.

``They're an old-timey family,'' Prince said. ``You say something about one you may as well say it about all of them. But I've never seen or heard them say a coarse word about each other.''

That's Don, Sr.'s influence. A heavy equipment mechanic, he works two jobs but always finds time for his children's activities.

``He's crazy, but I love him to death,'' Jermaine said. ``He sits on the 45-yard line and I can hear him all over the field. If I make a bad play he'll yell, `Jermaine, you better get your head up and get back in the game.'

``He's my biggest critic, but also my biggest supporter.''

He might be Jermaine's only critic.

Lauzon's combination of size (6-3 1/2), speed (4.5 in the 40) and athleticism (33-inch vertical leap) has made him a prime recruiting target as a defensive back. Virginia, Wisconsin, Boston College and Maryland have offered scholarships with the Cavaliers in the lead, he said.

Lauzon leads the 3-1 Dolphins in rushing (343 yards), passing (81 yards), scoring (18 points) and interceptions (three) and also does the punting.

His passing edge doesn't figure to hold up - he leads regular quarterback Walter Amos by one yard. But, perhaps, more than any other statistic it reveals his value to the team.

With Ocean Lakes at 1-1 after being upset by Kellam and Amos sidelined with an illness for a second week, Lauzon volunteered to play quarterback against Kempsville.

He rushed five times for 31 yards and completed 2 of 5 passes for 61 yards in the Dolphins' 28-7 victory. His greatest contribution, however, was directing an error-free attack after the Dolphins committed four turnovers the week before.

``I enjoyed playing quarterback but more than that it was the best thing for the team,'' he said. ``I don't care about stats. I'm going to college for defense, anyway.''

Until then he'll continue to be a two-way mainstay for Ocean Lakes. Prince put together a Lauzon highlight video for recruiting purposes that's filled with long TD runs in clutch situations.

But Jermaine's favorite play, and the one that triggered thoughts of playing big-time college football, was an end zone interception with two seconds left against Salem to preserve a 7-3 victory last year.

``I started realizing then that I could do a few more things than I'd been doing,'' he said.

A few more - whether it is plays on the field, activities off the field, or children - could be the Lauzon family motto.

As if 12 siblings weren't enough, sometimes it seems like Jermaine is playing big-brother to an entire community.

``I love kids,'' he said. ``They are our future.''

Jermaine officiates youth football on Saturdays and has read to elementary students and counseled them against drugs.

``I'm proud of every one of my children,'' Don Sr. said. ``And Jermaine is super.''

Even the toughest critics sometime give great reviews. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

Ocean Lakes' Jermaine Lauzon says filling in as quarterback gave him

chance to do more.

Staff graphic

Terrific 20 Football Prospects

For complete copy, see microfilm

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