Small details lead to large feats at Phoebus (Va.)

Many of the assumed notions about the Phoebus (Hampton, Va.) Phantoms – who should break the Virginia win-streak record of 40 games tonight – are true.

* The Phantoms are loaded with top-tier talent

Despite drawing from a school of just 1,100 students, the nation's No. 9 team boast up to eight Division I prospects among their senior class alone.

That includes 2011 U.S. Army All-American selections Caleb Taylor, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound Virginia-bound linebacker who has 132 tackles, and 6-2, 215-pound North Carolina-bound tight end/defensive end Daquan Romero, who had 30 sacks last season and 18 more this year.

Add in 1,700-yard rusher Tyree Lee (24 touchdowns, 11 yards per carry) and remarkable all-around athlete, defensive back, receiver and returner Breon Key, a 6-3, 175-pound senior who just signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Old Dominion, and Phoebus might have its most talented team ever.

And that's saying something, considering the Phantoms (10-0) have won two straight state crowns, three in the last four and five since 2001. The talent pool in that time includes current Houston Texans' linebacker Xavier Adibi and All-American quarterback Taj Boyd, the MVP of the U.S. Army game and now backup at Clemson.

"(The talent) is probably on par with the 2008 team," said Phoebus coach Stan Sexton, who was a center at Phoebus in the early 1980s and an assistant for William Dee from 1991 to 2005. "We have plenty of it on both sides of the ball."

* The Phantoms bring it on both sides of the ball

They've outscored their opponents by an almost absurd 497-37 count, having recorded five shutouts in the first six games.

"We've come from the old adage that defense wins championships, that they can't win if they don't score," Sexton said.

Remarkably, the defense, at times, has outscored a high-powered offense, which has scored more than 50 four times with a high of 70.

The Phantoms' low-point total this year is 37 and they average close to 500 yards per game. A very talented receiving core leads the way.

"We can definitely score quickly," Sexton said.

* The Phantoms must overcome major off-the-field obstacles

Located in a low-income, urban region of Hampton, Phoebus lacks facilities associated with other perennial national power programs.

Maintaining a playable field and piecing together a weight room are challenges. Funding for uniforms and travel are extremely limited.

"The equipment we get are donations and hand-me-downs," said assistant coach Dennis Rowsey. "College coaches come into our weight room and laugh. They can't believe we produce these kind of athletes with what we're expected to work with."

Said Sexton: "Compared to Northern Virginia, we're definitely on the low end of the totem pole. We just make the best of it."

They do it with a dedicated staff of about eight, most of them who have been together for close to two decades. Sexton and company preaches accountability, school and teamwork. Weights coach Greg Day pushes the team to the limit.

Most impressive, the roster of 50 student-athletes respond.

"We have kids who are really willing to work and put the time in," Sexton said. "They work well together."

Considering some of the players' backgrounds, the uneven field and shabby weight room often serves as a sanctuary.

"We have a lot of kids from really bad backgrounds, and areas," Sexton said. "Coming to practice two or three hours a day after working in the class room is a good diversion from the reality of their worlds. If they put their minds and body to good use here, it's also their ticket out of here."

Special teams, special details

How Sexton and staff have combated the big issues is by paying attention to small details.

That is what probably surprises most about Phoebus' program. The Phantoms don't rely simply on their vast speed or athleticism. Far from it.

Indeed the team's strength might just be its special teams.

According to Sexton, the team has returned five punts and five kickoffs for touchdowns. They have also blocked four punts and possess one of the nation's top kickers in Eric Enderson, who booted 12 field goals last season including two game-winners.

Key returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns in a huge 37-12 showdown win over Hampton three weeks ago.

"Honestly, I think we have the best special teams in the state," Sexton said. "It's just a big focus for us. We push little things hard, like stances. If you don't take care of the little things, then you can't accomplish big things."

Like win 40 games in a row.

The Phantoms own the nation's second longest win streak currently and with a win over Warwick (Newport News), a team it beat earlier this season 46-6, tonight in a first-round Division V playoff game at Darling Stadium, will break the state mark of 40 they share with cross-town rival Hampton.

Sexton took the head-coaching job at Warwick for three seasons before taking over for Dee in 2008.

Though claiming to state's top streak at 41 would be nice, Sexton has his eye on a more important streak.

"The only streak I'm interested in now is winning five straight (to win another state title)," he said. "These five weeks are the most important of their high school careers."