THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 21, 1995 TAG: 9511210419
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Rookie of the Year is one of the most coveted awards in any sport. There was even a movie made about it in 1993.
But on the high school level the top newcomers usually get overlooked in the rush to hand out post-season honors.
No more.
Here is one person's All-Tidewater rookie teams led by offensive rookie of the year Dominic Perry from Booker T. Washington and defensive rookie of the year Tony Spivey from Indian River.
Only sophomores who started fewer than five games last season and freshmen were eligible. That eliminated such high-profile sophomores as Tallwood's TaRon Anderson, Lake Taylor's Ronyell Whitaker, Ocean Lakes' Walter Amos and Green Run's Ben Root.
Perry, a sophomore quarterback, passed for 744 yards and nine TDs with only two interceptions in leading Booker T. to a 9-1 record on the field.
``We had a good team coming back,'' Booker T. coach Larry Stepney said.
``We just needed a spark plug to ignite the machine. Dominic is an excellent athlete, smart, canny and rises to the level of the competition.''
Spivey, a 6-2, 220-pound sophomore linebacker, graded highest on the Braves' defensive point system.
Spivey, a junior high sprint champion, is a tantalizing package of size, strength and speed. He had four tackles for losses against Deep Creek.
``Tony has stepped up and gotten better and better every week,'' Indian River coach Bob Parker said.
INJURY REPORT: Deep Creek's starting right guard, Eric Wynn, injured a knee in the first quarter against Kecoughtan and is questionable for Friday night's Division 5 region final against Hampton.
Brian Wingate, who started at the position last season but plays mostly defense this year, will fill in if necessary.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW: The only surprising aspect about Indian River's 27-0 rout of Tallwood last week was the final margin. The Braves are 6-1 in region play over the past four years, 4-1 against Beach teams.
No one plays bigger in the postseason than Braves quarterback James Boyd, who ran for two touchdowns and passed for one against the Lions. Boyd caught three touchdown passes in three playoff games as a freshman wide receiver.
He moved to quarterback last season and has 767 yards total offense in four playoff games over the past two years.
TICKETS: Tickets for the Division 6 final between Green Run and Indian River at Kellam and the Division 5 final between Deep Creek and Hampton at Oscar Smith can be purchased today and Wednesday at the participating schools as well as at Booker T. Washington. Prices are $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12. by CNB