Daily Press from Newport News, Virginia • Page 4

0 Coming Sunday PRO FOOTBALL The Washington Redskins have a new coach and a new attitude this season. ijjj' jrhi j'Oi Ui .4 rJ (0 Grafton opens with shutout win Weaver, Bruton open with victory that he was trying to do what the coaching staff expects from him. "I'm not trying to fill Bryan shoes," Weaver said. "I know what's expected of me. Instead of going 80 yards in one play, we'll probably going to grind it out and get four" After surviving the game-opening kickoff, which was returned 88-yards for a touchdown by the Yellow Jackets' Warren Freeman and a fumble on their initial possession, the Panthers gathered themselves.

Weaver connected with Jones on a 21-yard pass play to even the score. And with Andrew Proctor's extra point Bruton took the lead, which it never surrendered. Dennis Freeman can be reached at 247-4964 or by e-mail at dfreeman Taylor said. "Turnovers played a big part in this. We got three fumbles in their territory." Taylor was making his first start at the position after missing all of last season with an elbow injury.

The senior quarterback completed six of 10 passes for 81 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown to Brian Barnes in the second quarter that put the Clippers ahead 13-0 at halftime. "No interceptions is good, but I can do better," Taylor said. "We need to work on our chemistry" Taylor wasted no time putting his arm to the test Friday when he connected with wide receiver Billy Hogge on the fourth play of the game. The pass put the Clippers into Brunswick territory for the first time, but their euphoria faded when they fumbled the ball to the Bulldogs on the next play. By Jennifer Garvin Daily Press YORK With 10 fUmbles between them, Friday night's season-opener for Grafton High and Brunswick will hardly go down as one of the most brilliantly executed football games ever played.

But Grafton's defense, combined with the speed of running back Terrell Smith, did just what it needed to secure a 19-0 victory over the Bulldogs at Bailey Field. The Clippers' defense took advantage of six Brunswick fumbles, including one on the Bulldogs' 7-yard line. Grafton defensive back Billy Harrell recovered it, setting up a 7-yard score from Smith, his second touchdown of the night. Smith finished with 104 yards on 21 carries. "Our defense was great, but our offense had a little trouble," Grafton quarterback Christian Please see GraftonB5 Kenneth SilverDaily Press a pass during Friday's victory.

seat Take if Mi 'F fir- rr Hi rr? rrri rtr V- hit. -G Ti Ouit i L-vwi Bruton's Onrea Jones (1) catches .1 marks on CNU's new football field lit J- By Dennis Freeman Daily Press WILLIAMSBURG Todd Weaver is not trying to be Bryan RandalL But the Bruton senior did quite nicely in his debut as the Panthers starting quarterback Friday night Weaver, connecting on eight of 11 passes, threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns in leading Bruton to a 35-22 season-opening win over Northampton. It also helped Weaver to have one of the best wide receivers in the state. Onrea Jones, a second team all-state performer last season, gathered in five tosses for 118 yards and two scores. "Todd did a great job keeping his poise," Bruton coach Kyle Neve said.

"He was consistent It was a combination between an experienced player and Todd keeping his poise." Weaver said before the game 1 1 i Jane Hw against Salisbury. Jane HwangDaily Press ain't never played a game," Kelchner said. But Salisbury University coach Sherman Wood is a Norfolk native who says he knows that high school football in Hampton Roads is a cut above that in Maryland. Also Dixie Conference coaches picked CNU fourth among seven football-playing conference members in Please see CNUB2 At Virginia, Bryson Spinner has beaten out Matt Schaub, for the time being, in competition between redshirt sophomores under new coach Al Groh. CNU's Richy Ingram will make history, no matter what he does.

Corley, a junior from Columbia, S.C., will enter his third year as a starter when William and Mary opens at Massachusetts. He was the Atlantic 10 Conference Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1999 and led the A-10 in total offense last season, but his performances and decisionmaking were inconsistent. Please see QBB2 v5- i It's true: Almonte is age 14 Bronx must forfeit Little League wins The Associated Press SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic Little League pitcher Danny Almonte is a teen-ager. The boy who dominated the Little League World Series with his 70-mph fastballs was ruled ineligible Friday after government records experts determined he actually is 14, and that birth certificates showing he is two years younger were false. The finding nullified all the victories by his Bronx, N.Y., team, the Rolando Paulino Little League All-Stars, and wiped out all its records, including Almonte's perfect game and an earlier no-hitter.

It also left his father, Felipe de Jesus Almonte, facing criminal charges for falsifying documents, and may lead to charges against his mother as well. The father brought Danny Almonte to the U.S. and insists he is 12. The two are apparently in the ALMONTE country illegally "Clearly, adults have used Danny Almonte and his teammates in a most contemptible and despicable way," said Stephen D. Keener, president and CEO of Little League Baseball.

"We're clearly sad and angry." The Bronx league's founder, Rolando Paulino, was banned for life from Little League, although the team's charter was not revoked. Almonte's father also was banned for life. "I feel like the government has sold us out," Almonte's maternal uncle, Jose Rojas, said from the boy's hometown of Moca. He said Almonte would return home soon. A week that began with Almonte pitching a two-hitter to win third place in the World Series started unraveling the next day when Little League officials opened an investigation after Sports Illustrated uncovered a document that said he was born in 1987.

Little League rules prohibit any player born before Aug. 1, 1988, from competing this year. New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani had presented the team keys to the city and said he would not take them back, but Universal Orlando theme park, which planned a parade for Tuesday, dropped those plans. It was also learned that the boy has not been enrolled in school during his time in the United States. A city investigation could lead to his removal from his father's home and placement in foster care, although ian-other solution is more likely.

i umppipaiiii 1 Chris Groman of Vincent's Sports Turf Management paints hash (WNIS790AM) (WHOV88.1FM) (WXGM99.1 FM) JWWBR1 07.9FM) (WTAR850AM) 1 p.m. (WNSB91.1FM) Captains' foe is in unknown territory TOP STATEREGION GAMES Connecticut at Virginia Tech. noon I 3 3 3 l. in preparation for today's opener ing at it. It depends on whom you ask.

CNU coach Matt Kelchner says it's a piece of cake for the opponent They've played before, they've got experience and they know what they're doing. "If I'm them, I'm thinking: Keep it basic, keep it simple, line up and come off the ball, don't hurt ourselves and we're going to kick these guys' butts because they're a first-year bunch, they 4 if-- CASH ginia Tech's top-10 ranking rests in part on fourth-year junior Grant Noel, who has thrown exactly 12 more passes in his college career than freshman 1 I football Game Day preview, B2 be the right pieces of the puzzles? I --rr-jj Bryan Randall, his backup. By Jennifer L. Williamt Daily Press Christopher Newport's coaches and players don't know how they'll match up, so how in the world can Salisbury University's team have any idea what CNU will do when they meet today at 1 p.m. in the first football game in Captains' history? There are two ways of look NOEL terback is a bigger piece." William and Mary and Hampton University have veteran starters in David Corley and Ataveus Cash, respectively.

Vlr- 1 r-; Hampton at New Hampshire. 1 p.m. Salisbury at CNU. 1 p.m. William and Mary at Massachusetts, Richmond at Virginia, MenticejLGlJlsMfPxLPJT! Virginia State at Norfolk State, 7 p.m.

Will they Bv Dave Fairbank By Dave Fairbank Daily Press They are as varied as their teams. Upperclassmen with experience, upperclassmen with little experience. New guys learning new systems, veterans learning new systems. As usual, quarterback is the focal point of the first full college football Saturday. The guys taking snaps for several state and local teams compete at different levels and have different backgrounds but the same goal: Make plays.

"You'd like to say that quarterback is no more important than cornerback or safety, just College v.1 Hr- -f 1 i-im ink- SPINNER CORLEY another piece of the puzzle," said Christopher Newport coach Matt Kelchner, whose team plays the first game in school history today. "But the truth is, quar.