THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408240159
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: S12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Football Special '94
SOURCE: BY JOHN GORDON, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Southampton is one of those Group A-sized schools playing AA ball, but it doesn't phase athletic director and head football coach Littleton Parker one bit.
After all, he had more than 100 players turn out for football, and Parker said that is about par for the course. The big problem is where to put them.
Of course, 49 of them are junior varsity prospects, and not all of the 52 varsity candidates will stick with the club. But the numbers are there.
And so are the returning starters. The Indians have six returnees on offense and seven on defense. Trouble is, most of them are the same person because they play both ways.
Raynard Holloway, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound senior, does double duty on the line, as does John Rawls, a 6-6, 275-pound senior. However, Parker may not start Holloway on defense to keep him from having to go both ways.
And the coach may shift Rawls from offensive tackle to tight end.
``That's the only possible position shift,'' Parker said. ``Otherwise, we're not shifting anyone.''
At split end is senior Raymond Brown (5-10, 160), and moving into an offensive tackle slot is Armard Phillips, a 6-2, 270-pound sophomore.
``He's got good size, but no experience,'' Parker said.
Playing in the guard spots are two more seniors: Armazlo Smith (6-foot, 265) and Charlie Harris (6-1, 200).
``Smith may be my best lineman overall,'' Parker said. ``But Harris didn't play much last year.''
Anchoring the offensive line at center is Tim Mason, a 5-9, 170-pound senior who is a returning starter.
Cliff Applewhite, a 6-1, 180-pound senior, returns at quarterback, and team captain William Brown, a 5-10, 220-pound junior, will handle the fullback duties again this year.
``Brown played most of last season,'' Parker said. ``But I don't have any halfbacks coming back.''
Kenneth Williams, a 5-11, 200-pound junior, did play a little last season and may be the setback, but the tailback position is up in the air. Parker is working with three different prospects.
On the defensive line, one guard spot is undecided, but G.T. Bryant, a 6-foot, 200-pound senior, probably will fill in the other slot. Southampton has Rawls and Smith at defensive end.
The outside linebackers will be Duran Parker, a 5-9, 160-pound sophomore, and Antonio Golohson, a 5-11, 155-pound junior. The inside linebackers will be Brown and Williams.
Andre Jones, a 5-10, 155-pound junior, and Deshawn Hunt, a 5-8, 165-pound senior, will be the cornerbacks, while Rico Ivey, a 5-11, 150-pound sophomore, will handle the safety chores.
``I'm mainly concerned about the receivers, the backs and the defensive backs,'' Parker said. ``We lost some players at key positions.''
Gone are tailback LaShawn Butler, tight end Melvin Mason, offensive tackle Sandy McDonald - at Bowie State now - and cornerback Larry Fulghum.
The schedule is about the same, except the Indians dropped Tabb and picked up Park View of South Hill. And Franklin, which replaced Tabb in the Bay Rivers District, moves from the season opener to the last regular-season contest.
Several coaches are picking Southampton to finish first or second in the district, but Parker is not so sure.
``This is a real strong league,'' Parker said. ``Any team is capable of beating you on a Friday night.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by MICHAEL KESTNER
ABOVE: Seniors Raynard Holloway, left, a 290-pounder, and John
Rawls, who checks in at 6-6, 275, pull double duty on the
Southampton offensive and defensive lines.
RIGHT: Senior quarterback Cliff Applewhite returns for another year
of starting in the Indians' backfield this season.
by CNB