ALUMNI IN THE NEWS

From the December 26, 2001 issue of the Richmond Times-Dispatch

PLAYING FOR THE FLAG

by Fred Jeter, Times-Dispatch Staff Writer

Childhood friends James Roe and LaRome Kenney never got a chance to play football together in high school or college.

They're making up for it as adults.

The long distance, pass-catch combination of Kenney to Roe ranks with the best in the area and state in the flag football ranks.

This past fall, quarterback Kenney and receiver Roe helped Generation X to a runner-up spot (behind Ritz Salon) in the Weekend Warrior League at Elkhardt Middle School.

Generation X went on to reach the semifinals of the state tournament at Dorey Park.

"Our roster is virtually a list of All-Metro football and basketball players," said Kenney, the squad's coach. "I know, as the quarterback, I've got a lot of great receivers to go to."

Generation X (short for Generation X cel, a community for at-risk teen-age boys) is comprised of mostly former Henrico High and Highland Springs stars.

The group includes brothers Anthony and Rodney Archer, Marlon Lancaster, Jasmon Coleman, Calvin Suitte, Lawrence Waldon, Kerrell Bryant, Aubrey Bailey, Lewis Friend, and Damon "Red" Thompson, a recent Virginia State University All-America wide receiver.

In flag football, everyone is an eligible pass receiver.

Kenney starred at Henrico High until his senior year. He transferred to Clover Hill and set many school passing records.
He went on to play quarterback two years at Virginia State.

Roe, a year behind Kenney in school, was a standout at Henrico High and Norfolk State before entering the pro ranks.

Kenney made the Henrico varsity as a freshman. Roe didn't join the Warriors' varsity until his junior year when Kenney was gone.

"We kept missing each other," Kenney said. "If I'd stayed at Henrico, we'd have had one year there. We always wanted to be teammates, but it didn't work out until now."

A third-round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens in '96, Roe is an active pro with the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena League.

This past season, Roe was among the Arena League's top receivers with 78 catches, 1,232 yards and a whopping 30 touchdowns in 11 games.

He also plays some defense and returned one interception for a TD.

For the past three falls, Roe has joined his eastern Henrico buddies for the fall flag league in South Richmond. He didn't miss a game this season.

"It's a whole lot of fun and a chance to play with the friends I grew up with," said Roe, who resides in Mechanicsville. "It's like bringing back my childhood times."

Roe keeps hoping an NFL coach will call, but he says the Arena League is no slouch in terms of pay.

"You're provided a good income," he said. "I'd like to get back into the NFL, and I think I could play there, but there are a whole lot of issues you have to deal with."

Generation X's top rival in the Sunday league is the Young Gunz, another squad made up former athletes from the area.

The Young Gunz were the other semifinal loser in the state tournament.

Last spring, the Young Guns and Generation X actually combined for a spring-league team.

Young Gunz coach Vashon Boisseau, from John Marshall High, respects Roe's "pro status," but he is not intimidated by it.

"Just because you play pro ball doesn't mean you can come back here and do anything you want," Boisseau said.

Proudly, Boisseau noted that his Young Gunz defeated Generation X in their head-to-head meeting this fall in the league.

Among the Young Gunz stars are K.C. Hinton, Vosean Smyre, brothers Calvin and David Jackson, Antonio Taylor and Leonard Mitchell.

Boisseau rates Roe, Calvin Jackson, Curtis Porter and another former NFL player, Brian Still, as the most dangerous receivers in the league.

"Our league is so tough," Boisseau said. "All the teams have a lot of fast guys, but we've won as many championships and picked up as many trophies as any of them.

"We're no bunch of couch potatoes."

The league is not for the slow-footed.

Finding young athletes wanting to play a little weekend football is one thing. Finding them with the speed and stamina to cover the likes of Kenney to Roe poses a stiffer challenge.