THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 1, 1996 TAG: 9610010424
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 77 lines
Everybody talks about special teams, but at third-ranked Tallwood it's more than lip service.
Senior Mike Nagelin leads the area in punting at 38.1 yards per kick and is fourth in kick scoring with 14 points.
He kicked off seven times Friday night in the Lions' 46-14 rout of First Colonial. The Patriots' average starting field position was their own 25.
``Mike's a natural-born kicker,'' Lions coach Ken Barto said. ``He can place the ball anywhere I tell him. We don't just kick deep.''
Barto has coached some outstanding kickers in the past, including Scott Caparelli and Danny McVey. But Nagelin's versatility puts him in a class by himself.
As good as Nagelin is, however, he has to share the special teams spotlight with the Lions' return men.
Tallwood has returned two kicks for touchdowns and it was the return game that sparked the victory over First Colonial.
In the first quarter alone, the Lions returned three kicks for 129 yards.
Travis Mazyck returned the opening kickoff 38 yards to set up the first TD.
Earl Hudgins returned a punt 22 yards and Ronnie Clark returned one 69 yards for the second TD.
The Lions practice special teams every day and the responsibility is divided among Barto (kickoff team) and assistants David Swanger (punting), Thad Harold (punt return) and Gene Beck (kickoff return).
``Special teams are an integral part of our practice,'' Barto said. ``They can make you or break you.''
QUIZ: Third-ranked Tallwood, which opened in 1992, has a chance to win a Beach District title in only its fifth season.
Among area schools that have opened since 1965, which was the quickest to win its first district football title?
ANSWER: First Colonial shared the Eastern District title with Norview and advanced to the Eastern Region playoffs in 1968, its second season.
REBUILDING: Few schools in Hampton Roads cherish their tradition more than Great Bridge. That can be a double-edged sword when the Wildcats lose or simply fail to meet the expectations of a loyal but vocal fan base.
Perhaps because of that, or maybe just to face reality, first-year Wildcats coach Dennis Meyers has tried to change the focus from an 0-4 start to just having fun.
``When we are going to be able to win or not, it's going to take awhile,'' Meyers said. ``I'm just trying to get kids interested in playing again and make it an enjoyable experience.''
Meyers succeeded in doing just that with senior quarterback Chris Duda, who hadn't played since he was a sophomore. Duda led the area in passing yards through the first three weeks, but tore a muscle in his stomach against Maury and is out indefinitely.
Junior Chemonz Olds, Duda's favorite target, has moved to quarterback - perhaps permanently.
But quarterback isn't the Wildcats' biggest problem. Size and strength is.
``When we go to the line we're looking up at everybody,'' Meyers said.
Great Bridge has lost 10 in a row dating back to last season and appears headed for a school-record fourth-consecutive losing season. But so far, any criticism of Meyers has been muted.
``The fans have been good, especially the parents,'' he said.
``The ones in the know understand we're in a building situation. I haven't heard any complaints.''
SHORT YARDAGE: Erick Pryor, Kellam's leading rusher, should be at full strength for Friday's game against Tallwood. Pryor twisted his ankle in practice last week and carried only once for 5 yards against Salem . . . Indian River leads the area in scoring at 40 points per game, but the team's strength is still its defense. The Braves have allowed only 42 yards rushing and have given up only three touchdowns on the ground during a nine-game winning streak dating back to last year. . . Lake Taylor coach Dan Newell is mystified by a television report that called junior safety Ronyell Whitaker a poor tackler. Whitaker, an All-Tidewater defensive back and a candidate for the Abe Goldblatt award, was the Titans'leading tackler last week against Granby and is drawing interest from numerous Division I schools. by CNB