THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408310641
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: R12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Football Special '94
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
If Princess Anne is expected to vault into the ranks of the Beach District elite, now would be a good time.
After a 4-6 effort last season, the Cavaliers return potentially one of the most explosive offensive backfields in the area.
But many of the players are seniors and won't be around for an encore.
At PA, there is talent, there is size and now there is experience.
No wonder head coach Mike Benzel is smiling a lot and talking enthusiastically about his Cavaliers.
While rambling off district ``teams to beat'' like Green Run, First Colonial and Bayside, Benzel managed to talk about the reasons for his high hopes.
Leading the way will be Mike Majette, the top returning rusher in South Hampton Roads. Majette - only a junior - finished fifth among area rushers with 1,000 yards on 210 carries and scored 11 touchdowns last season.
Then there is senior Ray Gatlin, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound linebacker and Majette's running mate in the offensive backfield.
``He's a mainstay,'' Benzel said. ``Ray will be on the field nearly every down. Duke and UNC are interested in him. He's a Matt Darby-type,'' evoking the name of the ex-Green Run, ex-UCLA star who currently earns his living with the Buffalo Bills.
Toss in three-year starting quarterback Justin Sharp - one of last year's area leaders with 743 yards and four touchdowns - and you've got the makings for lots of yards and scoring.
``Justin's a hard-nosed kid, a leader,'' Benzel said. ``He has improved his passing a lot. He's throwing better now than he did at the end of last season.''
Those Sharp passes will fly in the direction of second-team All-Beach wide receiver/defensive back Rashad Rogers, who Benzel said has ``matured while adding 20 pounds of muscle and a year of experience to his great natural ability.''
``Our offensive line was a question mark last year. Almost everyone came back, so we should be in better shape,'' Benzel noted.
The group includes 6-6, 248-pound David Ward, a two-way tackle and another second-team All-Beach pick; 6-1, 220-pound Kevin Rowland, an offensive guard/defensive end; 6-2, 190-pound T.J. Ucciardi, a two-way tackle Benzel called ``the best lineman on the team as far as technique''; and 6-0, 263-pound Jason Willie.
Willie is stronger than an onion milkshake, belonging to the team's 1,000-pound club. A player attains membership by lifting that much in three attempts.
In the defensive backfield, Tony McDaniels should sparkle again. He started as a freshman and made an impression - the kind you leave on an opponent.
``Tony's just 5-7 and about 150, but he loves to hit,'' Benzel said. ``He set us up to win a couple of games - one with a kick return, another with an interception.''
Besides McDaniels, Benzel said he has six or seven players who rotate playing time in the secondary, including returning lettermen Matt Favor, Mansa Knox, Ron Sayco and L.J. Holzhauser.
The Cavaliers' talented and experienced backfield will work from a Multiple-I offense with the speedy Majette set deep at tailback.
On defense, Princess Anne will use a 4-3 to try to stop opponents - four down linemen and three linebackers playing in and out of the gaps between the beef.
What does it all add up to for a talented team in a talent-laden district? A team that has to play Bayside, Green Run and First Colonial on consecutive weeks?
Benzel is entering his eighth year as head coach at Princess Anne. Many of those have been lean times for the once-powerful Cavaliers.
But Benzel managed to flash his slow, broad smile.
``I wouldn't count us out,'' he said. ``Our kids won three of their last four games to end the season last year, and they feel real good about themselves.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by Mort Fryman
Princess Anne should feature a high-scoring offense, led by wide
receiver Rashad Rogers, left, fullback Ray Gatlin, quarterback
Justin Sharp and tailback Mike Majette - the top returning rusher in
South Hampton Roads with 1,000 yards on 210 carries as a sophomore
in 1993.
The Cavaliers run through a weaving drill during preseason
practice.
by CNB