Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 29, 1993                   TAG: 9312290042
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PLAYERS ATTACK RECORDS BY AIR

One Virginia High School League single-season individual record was set and another was tied this year as many football teams emphasized the passing game.

Junior wide receiver Michael Partlow of Handley, an All-Group AA selection, caught 19 touchdown passes in 13 games, wiping out the record of 18 set by Darrell Schrock of Appomattox in 12 games in 1978.

Another All-Group AA choice, senior quarterback Craig Akins of Matoaca, threw 30 touchdown passes in 14 games. That tied the record set by Aaron Sparrow of Woodrow Wilson in 12 games three years ago.

As an indication of how much the aerial game was stressed in Virginia in 1993, there were 17 passing performances that ranked among the top 10 of all time in a career, season or game, and six receiving performances were among the top 10 in a career, season or game.

All-Group A quarterback Russ Bradshaw of Windsor completed 360 passes, No. 5 all-time for a career, for 5,206 yards, also No. 5 for a career. Bradshaw passed for 51 touchdowns, which ties for 10th on the all-time list.

Akins also made the top 10 in three career passing statistics - completions (319, No. 8); yards (5,136, No. 6); and touchdowns (51, tied for No. 10). All-Group AAA quarterback Tony Morrison of Indian River also threw for 51 touchdowns in his career.

Junior quarterback Brian Partlow of Handley completed 184 passes, the second-highest total for one season, and Ken Seidel of Jefferson-Alexandria had 149 completions, the seventh-best total for a season.

Brian Partlow, Michael's twin, threw for 2,420 yards and Akins passed for 2,351, the third- and fourth-highest totals for a season, and Seidel threw for 2,122 yards, a total that ranked ninth for a season.

Akins tied the single-season record for touchdown passes and sophomore quarterback Jason Compton of Haysi threw for 27, tying for fifth. Morrison and Partlow tied for ninth with 25 touchdown passes apiece.

Jefferson-Alexandria's Seidel tied for fifth with 27 completions in one game.

Michael Partlow had 1,141 yards receiving, ranking seventh for a season, and 74 receptions, the fourth-highest single-season total. Madison County's Kevin Arrington, an All-Group A back, finished his career with 30 touchdown catches, No. 7 on the list.

All-Group AAA wide receiver Stu Greene of Jefferson-Alexandria had the ninth-highest yardage total for a game, with 225 on five catches, and Darius Edwards of Woodrow Wilson-Portsmouth tied for 10th with 12 catches in one game.

Even though most of the records came via the air, there were a few non-passing statistical highlights in 1993.

Evan Penn of Magna Vista scored 527 points, the seventh-highest total ever, and Terry Ricks of Norcom scored 358 points, No. 4 on the Group AAA career list.

Neil Porter of Luray, the Group A player of the year, was responsible for 82 touchdowns - 37 passing and 45 rushing, receiving or on returns. That ranks No. 8 on the all-time touchdown-scoring list.

Shane Griffith of Grayson County kicked a 54-yard field goal, which ties him for the fifth-longest ever.