Great Bridge receiver Logan Heastie has no plans to follow good friend and Phoebus quarterback Tajh Boyd in rescinding his commitment to West Virginia.
Heastie and Boyd, regarded among the nation’s top recruits, took official visits together to Morgantown and committed in March. But Boyd reopened his recruitment this week and reportedly no longer is considering the Mountaineers.
“I’m still solid with West Virginia,” Heastie said. “It’d be awesome to have him, but you can’t go to college just because that’s where somebody else is going.”
Heastie is No. 1 on scout.com’s national list of receivers in the class of 2009; Boyd is No. 4 on the recruiting service’s quarterback list.
Heastie said Boyd, who played at Landstown as a freshman, plans to take four official recruiting trips.
“Hopefully he takes his four, five visits,” Heastie said, “and he comes back.”
Cox’s Jarrett closing in on career kicking marks
Cox’s Drew Jarrett is on the verge of becoming South Hampton Roads’ career leader in field goals.
Four last week – two from 27 yards and two from 30 yards – gave Jarrett 25, matching Kevin Miller, who kicked for Salem in the 1990s.
“It didn’t occur to me until after the game that I was tied,” Jarrett said.
Jarrett also is tied with Miller and Steve Finnern of Lake Braddock for fifth on the Virginia High School League’s career list.
Jarrett has eight field goals this season, including a 54-yarder that ranks third all-time in South Hampton Roads. Jarrett, who kicked a 50-yarder last season, has two more regular-season games.
Indian River beginning to diversify its attack
Just “cultivating other facets of our game” is how coach Cadillac Harris described Indian River’s 239 rushing yards Friday.
The Braves and quarterback Frankie Hamrock entered last week leading South Hampton Roads in passing yards per game. But Van Dyke Jones rushed for 190 yards in a 14-7 victory over Deep Creek.
“Deep Creek did a good job of playing some of our deep balls, and they had some people in coverage and were more concentrated on coverage,” Harris said. “So we were smart enough to take what they gave us.”
Jones, also a starter at defensive back, had just 300 rushing yards in the first six games, and his season high in attempts was 10. On Friday, he gained 34 yards on the first of his 25 carries and had TD runs of 1 and 29 yards.
“He’s a very versatile player,” Harris said. “He can run in between the tackles as well as outside the tackles, and he’s got good enough hands that he can catch the ball.”
Norcom takes steps to get back on right road
Norcom’s 28-0 victory over Granby last week did more than snap a two-game losing streak.
The victory helped the Greyhounds in their drive toward the playoffs and lifted the team’s morale. Many players are still feeling the pain of losing teammate Rashawn “Peanut” Finney. Finney, one of the team’s captains, died last month from injuries sustained after he was shot at a party.
“We can’t put that totally behind us yet, but our focus is a lot better right now,” wide receiver Carlos Mills said. “Those two games we lost we were going through so much. We’ll never forget him, but it’s behind us now, and now we have to focus.”
If the playoffs were to begin today, the Greyhounds would be tied with Norview for the No. 7 seed in an eight-team Division 5 field. Norcom (5-2) plays unbeaten Lake Taylor on Friday followed by games with Wilson and Booker T. Washington, who have a combined record of 3-11.
“I think the team is slowly starting to move on,” linebacker Michael Terrell said. “That victory also helped to put us back in motion toward winning the rest of our games.”
Oscar Smith QB making mark on record books
Oscar Smith quarterback Phillip Sims is moving quickly up the all-time passing lists in South Hampton Roads.
Sims, a junior, is sixth in TD passes with 54 and eighth in passing yardage with 4,594. These lists include only regular-season games.
Former Great Bridge quarterback Casey Turner is the leader in both categories with 80 TD passes and 7,667 yards. But Sims, with three regular-season games left this season, has a chance to move into the top five in touchdowns and top six in yards.
Sims also is close to breaking into the VHSL career lists, which include postseason games. He has 66 touchdown passes and needs three more to be tied for 10th. He also has 5,985 passing yards, 239 behind former Landstown standout Terry Mitchell, who is 10th.
“It’s great and everything, but it’s not me out there doing it alone,” said Sims, who will be one of the nation’s top recruits next season. “Last season, I had four Division I receivers, and this year I have a great group of receivers who are making big plays now.
“And all three of my years I’ve had great lines. They make big blocks and protect me. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to get the big yards and touchdowns.”
It takes OT, but Bayside gets back in win column
Bayside snapped a five-game skid last week with an overtime victory over First Colonial.
Leading the way was quarterback Jaquan Glover, who threw the winning touchdown pass to Henry Coley in the second overtime.
But it has been a tough season for the Marlins, who expected to contend for the Beach District title. Their previous victory came in their opener against Kempsville.
Glover, a converted wide receiver, has had to fill the shoes of All-American E.J. Manuel, who is now at Florida State.
“At first, I thought this was my senior year and I have to switch my position?” Glover said at the beginning of the season. “But it’s OK. I figured I’m an athlete so I could do it.”
Glover has completed 50 of 111 passes for 740 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions. He also has rushed for two touchdowns.
He hopes to help the Marlins finish strong against Landstown, Princess Anne and Cox.
Oscar Smith still No. 8 in ESPN national rankings
There’s no change in the national rankings for Oscar Smith, the top-ranked team in South Hampton Roads and in the state.
The Tigers are No. 8 in ESPN’s ranking and No. 14 in USA Today’s rankings. Oscar Smith is ranked No. 9 by Prep Nation and No. 11 by Rivals.com.
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