Down the Line: As Halloween approaches, local NFL legend Bruce Smith’s ‘graveyard’ is a special attraction
Since it’s almost Halloween, let’s recall perhaps the best sports-themed decorations in Hampton Roads: Bruce Smith’s home “graveyard” in Virginia Beach.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer, who grew up in Norfolk, is one of the better-known businessmen in the area. He is the NFL’s all-time sacks leader with 200, compiled over 15 years with Buffalo and four with Washington. After starring for Booker T. Washington High and Virginia Tech, he was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year with the Bills in 1990 and 1996.
He once noticed on Twitter a “graveyard” display by current Cleveland Browns standout Myles Garrett of the quarterbacks he had sacked, and friends Paul Holley and Mike Hillier convinced Smith he could have a better one. Some of the quarterbacks on the 76 “tombstones” are famous, like Joe Montana and Troy Aikman. Some (Timm Rosenbach?) are anything but.
Colleague Larry Rubama wrote a story on the display a year ago: https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/vp-sp-bruce-smith-halloween-20211026-e7qm7xxyujf2fh2ciclh3mm75u-story.html
Virginia Beach-based artist Sam Clayman was the chief artist in making the display. It will be up through Halloween. Recommendation: Go see it if you haven’t already.
Freedom rings up points: After Friday night’s 2-0 victory by reigning state champion Oscar Smith over Western Branch, it’s interesting to note the likely Class 6 semifinal opponent for the Region A champion — which well could be the Tigers or Bruins.
That would be undefeated Freedom High of Woodbridge, a Region B resident that has rolled up the following point totals this season: 62, 74, 36, 42, 61, 74, 68, 41, 65 — oh, and 112. That’s no typo: one hundred and twelve!
That came in a 96-point rout of Colgan, with four defensive and two special-teams touchdowns contributing. It was the highest point total by any team in a VHSL game in more than 50 years, and Eagles coach Daryl Overton insisted his team did not run up the score.
It will be interesting to see how Oscar Smith responds to this looming threat.
Same excellence, new place: When last we saw Christina Baxter in southeastern Virginia, she was a Tabb sophomore winning the VHSL Class 3 state girls tennis singles and doubles championship alongside Valentina Crespo-Berker in early June. It was her second consecutive doubles crown; Baxter won as a freshman with then-senior Emily Beckner, who now starts in college for nationally ranked Mary Washington.
Because Baxter’s father is in the military, the family moved this summer to Texas, where she has kept on shining on the court. Blessed with smarts and track-worthy speed, she’s now playing for the Keller Central Chargers in Fort Worth.
High school tennis in the Lone Star State is in the fall, and Baxter was the District 4-6A MVP and a first-team all-district singles player.
What’s coming up
Tuesday: Old Dominion closes its men’s soccer regular season with a 7 p.m. home game against Georgia State. ... Virginia Wesleyan’s women’s soccer team will play an Old Dominion Athletic Conference quarterfinal, probably at home, against a foe to be determined.
Wednesday: Ranked fourth in the NCAA Division III men’s basketball preseason poll, Christopher Newport will play at Old Dominion in a 7 p.m. exhibition at Chartway Arena.
Thursday: The Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference women’s soccer tournament begins at 4 p.m. with a quarterfinal doubleheader on the field of CNU, the nation’s top-ranked D-III team.
Friday: No. 14 Old Dominion not only is the host for the Big East field hockey semifinals, the Monarchs are the tournament’s top seeds. They’ll face Temple at 1 p.m. at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex, followed by second-seeded Liberty against third-seeded Connecticut at 4 p.m.
Saturday: W&M’s women’s volleyball team will play host to Delaware at Kaplan Arena at 2 p.m. ... A young Virginia Wesleyan women’s basketball team, with several Hampton Roads high school products on the roster and new coach Quntashea Lewis, entertains Elizabeth City State in a 1 p.m. exhibition.
