Football: News and notes from Hampton Roads

Sawyer collects 100th victory

Lake Taylor coach Hank Sawyer picked up career win No. 100 on Friday – the Titans’ third consecutive victory. The Titans topped Maury 48-0.

Sawyer, 54, trails only Oscar Smith’s Richard Morgan among South Hampton Roads’ active coaches with the most wins at their current school. Morgan has 105 wins over nine-plus years.

Sawyer entered this season 96-37 in 12 years; he and Kellam’s Chris DeWitt, in his 14th season, are South Hampton Roads’ longest-tenured coaches at the same school. DeWitt has 77 wins.

Bayside’s Darnell Moore leads local coaches with 167 career wins over 24½ seasons – the last 10½ at Bayside. Landstown’s Tommy Reamon has 118 wins in 25½ seasons – 3½ at Landstown.

By the numbers

3,958: Career rushing yards – including playoff games – for Oscar Smith senior RB J.C. Coleman.

Pilots enjoying best start since ’01

Norview, which beat Booker T. Washington 55-27 on Friday, has won four consecutive games for the first time since 2001.

That also was the last time the Pilots made the playoffs.

“To see where they were last year to where they are now is incredible,” said first-year Norview coach Greg Gibson. The Pilots were 0-10 last year.

Now comes a key stretch that includes Lake Taylor and Norcom in consecutive weeks. Norview has outscored its district opponents 99-43.

He said it

“This is a big deal. Coach called our next three games the gauntlet because they’re against some tough teams. And they’re three games that we plan on winning.” - Norview QB Kwe’shon Williams, referring to a stretch that includes last week’s win.

Grizzlies’ Franklin should return

Grassfield running back Jonathan Franklin, who missed last week’s game with a shoulder injury, is expected to return for Friday’s Southeastern District showdown against Lakeland.

Franklin was the team’s top running back in its most important game of the season, a 15-13 win over Great Bridge. He had 14 carries for 91 yards.

Vincent Lowe and Isaiah Harper have picked up in his absence, and with Franklin back they’ll return to a three-way timeshare.

“We rotate, keep each other fresh and just keep running,” said Lowe, who has 258 yards in the past two games. “We all pitch in and do our part.”

– Jami Frankenberry, Larry Rubama and Chris Carlson

South Hampton Roads Top 10

The Virginian-Pilot’s South Hampton Roads high school football poll, as voted upon by Pilot football staffers Jami Frankenberry, Larry Rubama, Lee Tolliver, Chris Carlson, Ray Nimmo and Paul Eldert (first-place votes in parentheses, followed by record, voting points and previous rank):

1. Oscar Smith (5); 5-1; 59; 1

2. Ocean Lakes; 6-1; 51; 2

3. Norcom; 5-1; 43; 3

4. Salem; 5-1; 41; 4

5. Grassfield (1); 6-0; 40; 5 

6. Landstown; 5-1; 28; 6

7. Lake Taylor; 4-1; 25; 7

8. Lakeland; 5-1; 18; 8

9. Bayside; 5-2; 15; 9

10. Great Bridge; 4-2; 6; 10

Also receiving votes: Greenbrier Christian 4, Norview 3.