DATE: Saturday, October 11, 1997            TAG: 9710110513

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY BRIAN J. FRENCH, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: HAMPTON                           LENGTH:   35 lines

CURRY SURPASSES SPARROW IN ROUT HAMPTON QB STATE'S CAREER PASSING LEADER

Let the records show that, with 7:50 to play in the second quarter of Hampton's game against Bethel Friday night, Ronald Curry laced a 53-yard pass to cousin Almondo Curry, which the latter ran for a touchdown.

It was the second touchdown pass of the game for the quarterback and it gave the Crabbers a 35-0 lead over the Bruins en route to a 53-0 rout.

Oh, and with the pass Ronald Curry became the most prolific public school passer in Virginia history.

Ronald Curry finished the game with 265 yards on 14-of-17 passing and four touchdown tosses. He completed passes both uneventful and unbelievable; a 17-yard scoring strike to Bobby Blizzard with 6:25 left in the half and with four Bethel defenders pinning him along the Bruin sideline left the Hampton fans crowding the home side of Darling Stadium delirious.

By the end, Ronald Curry's career yardage total stood at 6,964, eclipsing Wilson standout Aaron Sparrow's mark of 6,790 yards.

``Once I threw that pass to my cousin Almondo, I knew I had the record,'' said Ronald Curry, who said he was unaware of how close he was to Sparrow's record until last week. ``Now that I've got it, I can focus on the state title. That's what I really want.''

Not that Ronald Curry was the only Hampton player to do well . . . or for that matter, the only Curry to do well.

Almondo Curry caught six balls for 103 yards and three touchdowns and the defense held Bethel (4-3) to 150 total yards, forcing three fumbles and blocking a kick.

Hampton - the top-ranked team in Group AAA - is 6-0 overall and has won 33 straight.

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