DATE: Thursday, November 20, 1997           TAG: 9711200644

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   91 lines

BOOKER T.'S PERRY READY TO SHED HIS CARDIAC KID IMAGE

If Dominic Perry were a policeman he'd respond to an armed robbery by stopping for a doughnut, helping an old lady to cross the street and writing a parking ticket.

Then with the scene of the crime escalating out of control, Perry would stroll in and disarm the gunman, leaving good guys and bad guys shaking their heads in amazement.

Only after everyone had praised Perry for saving the day and he'd driven off into the sunset would they gather their wits and ask, ``WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?''

Perry isn't a policeman, of course; he's the senior quarterback for Booker T. Washington's 10-1 football team that meets unbeaten and nationally ranked Hampton on Friday night at Todd Stadium.

It's a comfort to Perry's coaches and teammates to have such a poised veteran at the throttle. But after four straight great escapes, in which he threw a touchdown pass in the final minute of regulation or in overtime to win, even Perry admits his high-wire act is wearing thin.

``We've got to stop that,'' he said. ``You can't always come from behind.''

That would be especially problematic Friday as the Ronald Curry-led Crabbers wait for no team. Hampton scores early and often, averaging just over 40 points a game.

The Bookers have scored only 50 points in the past four games and 42 of those have come in the fourth quarter or in overtime.

In two of those games the defense registered shutouts and in another it allowed three points.

``This is the best defense I've played with in a while,'' Perry said. ``They are the real heroes.''

The defense is also getting impatient.

``Every time I run off the field the defense says, `Come on, we need some points,' '' Perry said.

Could this be the week?

``I've got a good feeling we're going to put some points on the board,'' he said. ``We've got to.''

Whatever ails the offense, the Bookers know a winner when they see one. Perry's record as the starting quarterback is 20-11 and that includes five losses by forfeit for using an ineligible player in 1995. His 2,052 yards passing and 30 TD passes are school career records.

``We're glad Dominic is our quarterback,'' said Ron Lee Marcus, the Booker's all-star defensive lineman and part-time running back.

Perry can't explain his penchant for pulling out games.

``I ain't really been thinking about it,'' he said. ``It just happens. At the end of games the tables have just been turning for us.''

How the tables have turned in the last four games:

Locked in a scoreless tie with Norcom, linebacker Kelvin Fuller forces a fumble at the Greyhounds' 20 with just under a minute remaining. On the next play Perry and Fuller hook up on a TD pass to win the game.

``It was a 107 fade,'' Perry said. ``Kelvin's a veteran receiver and he always asks for the ball. He knows how to get open and I put it up where he could get it.''

Trailing Norview 23-20, Perry connects with Jermaine Burston, his secondary receiver, on a 14-yard TD pass with 32 seconds left. The Bookers win 27-23 in a game in which the lead trades hands five times in the fourth quarter.

``We wanted to win that one for bragging rights,'' Perry said. ``Three of our coaches went to Norview.''

With a share of the district title at stake, Perry hits Fuller again, this time from 14 yards out, on the first series of overtime to beat Lake Taylor 7-0.

``It was just a veteran move by Kelvin again,'' Perry said. ``He went up and got it.''

Trailing Churchland 3-2 in the Eastern Region semifinals, the Bookers take over at their own 20 with 6:07 left. Twelve plays later Fuller finds Detrell Wood over the middle for an 8-yard TD and a 9-3 lead with 22 seconds left. The Bookers hold on to win.

``The play was designed for Burston running a post,'' Perry said. ``I dropped back and stepped to my right to avoid the rush. Wood did a drag and when he came open I dropped it over the defense and he caught it.''

Fuller, the team's leading receiver with 25 catches, said the team's late-game heroics are taking a toll - on the fans.

``The boosters and teachers keep telling me `Ya'll are going to give me a heart attack,'' he said. ``But I've got a strong feeling we're going to play exceptionally well Friday night.''

Said Marcus, ``The offense needs to set the tone for the defense. If they can do that I'll think you'll see an upset.'' ILLUSTRATION: HUY NGUYEN/file color photo

Dominic Perry has been a master of late-game heroics.

Photo

L. TODD SPENCER

Dominic Perry's record as Booker T.'s quarterback is 20-11, and that

includes five games the Bookers forfeited for using an ineligible

player in 1995.

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