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[Jeff Cunningham]

Norview head coach Robert Toran looks for more consistency out of his Pilots this
season. Photo by Jeff Cunningham/HRVarsity

HRVarsity Two-a-Days: Norview

2006: 5-5 (3-4, T-4th in Eastern District).
Coach: Robert Toran, 4th year.
School Colors: Royal Blue and White.
School Phone: 852-4500.
Web Site: http://www.nps.k12.va.us/schools/norviewhs/index.html
Fun Fact: Senior running back Marquez Fields is drawing interest from Connecticut.
Key Game: Sept. 14, @ Hickory; thought not a district game, an early loss to the Hawks derailed Norview's season last year. For Toran, the team will have to maintain its early success past Hickory to finish above .500 and contend for the postseason.

Schedule:
* denotes district game
Aug. 31 -- vs. King's Fork, 7:00
Sept. 7 -- vs. Gloucester, 7:00
Sept. 14 -- @ Hickory, 7:00
Sept. 21 -- @ I.C. Norcom*, 7:00
Sept. 28 -- vs. Wilson*, 7:00
Oct. 6 -- @ Booker T. Washington*, 2:00
Oct. 12 -- vs. Churchland*, 7:00
Oct. 18 -- @ Granby*, 7:00
Oct. 26 -- @ Maury*, 7:00
Nov. 2 -- vs. Lake Taylor*, 7:00

2006 Results:
* denotes district game
Norview 33, King's Fork 14
Norview 24, Gloucester 11
Norview 12, Booker T. 6 *
Hickory 37, Norview 6
Norcom 24, Norview 21 *
Churchland 21, Norview 6 *
Norview 39, Wilson 0 *
Norview 14, Granby 0 *
Maury 35, Norview 7 *
Lake Taylor 21, Norview 0 *

OFFENSE:
Marquez Fields was the Eastern District's leading rusher last season, running for 1,244 yards and 13 touchdowns. His production will again go a long way in helping an offense that in 2006 averaged 16 points a game. Toran got over 800 yards and 10 touchdowns out of quarterback Ethan Newton, whom Toran calls "highly underrated." Mike Williams will be the Pilots' go-to wide receiver. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound wideout has good hands and an extraordinary jumping ability. Toran wants balance in his offense, but admitted that normally depends on who he has on offense. With Fields in the backfield, look for the Pilots to do some running in 2007.

DEFENSE:
Klinton "Buddy" Ruff is the anchor of the defensive line, where he'll be flanked by 6-foot-3, 265-pound returner Nnamdi Oriuwa, who's become stronger and faster in the offseason. Those bookend tackles give Norview a strong defensive presence up front, especially since Ruff led the team in tackles and tackles for losses in 2006. Williams will feature at outside linebacker, looking to use the same speed he has at wide receiver to his advantage in coverage. Travis Bride will complement Williams at weak-side linebacker, transitioning from free safety to help Toran put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Deante Latham and Marcus Hall come off the JV squad looking to dominate the corners for a defense that gave up 17 points a game last year.

OUTLOOK:
Norview got off to a good start in 2006, winning its first three games before suffering a 37-6 loss to Hickory. According to Toran, that derailed the team's season and contributed to two late losses to Churchland and Norcom -- two games he felt were winnable. So the idea in 2007 is again to get off to a good start -- the Pilots open up with a pair of home games against King's Fork and Gloucester -- but maintain that consistency through the season and into district play. A steady dose of Fields at running back and a strong defensive effort should put Norview right in the thick of the playoff race ... especially since four teams from the district will qualify this year. "I'd like to say that's very possible," Toran said of making the playoffs. "We just have to maintain and not have any slippages ... you have to beat teams that you're expected to beat."

JEFF CUNNINGHAM