THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 18, 1996 TAG: 9610180719
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 190 lines
The most obvious result of realignment this season has been the increasing number of mismatches.
But a more positive effect will be on display tonight when fifth-ranked Churchland hosts No. 3 Norcom in a key Eastern District game.
The Greyhounds (5-1, 3-0) are tied with Booker T. Washington for first place, and the Truckers (5-1, 2-1) are only one game behind.
If Norcom and Churchland had remained in the Southeastern District - with Deep Creek and Indian River - this game wouldn't carry the same ramifications.
But in the Eastern, the Greyhounds and Truckers are still thinking championship.
Churchland's hopes may have suffered a huge setback last week when freshman quarterback Chatame Ward was injured. Ward reportedly broke his arm and is in a cast.
Truckers coach Ken Taylor said only that Ward sprained his wrist and might play tonight.
Ward is the Truckers' leading rusher and scorer. Another freshman, Brandon Hall, will take over. Hall has shared time with Ward and is considered the better passer.
Elsewhere, the Beach District features several intriguing match-ups that could further jumble the standings.
Six teams are within a game of the lead and four of them play each other.
Tallwood, 4-1 in the district and tied for first with Kempsville, visits Green Run (3-2) and Ocean Lakes (3-2) is at Salem (3-2).
No. 10 Lakeland
vs. No. 1 Deep Creek Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Deep Creek
Records: Lakeland 5-1, 2-1; Deep Creek 6-0, 3-0
Last year: Did not meet
Outlook: Lakeland is the most overrated team in the state at No. 10 in the Associated Press poll. The Cavs' five victims have a combined record of 4-26. Deep Creek might be underrated at No. 3. The Hornets rank first in South Hampton Roads in scoring, total offense and scoring defense and are No. 2 in total defense.
Pick: Deep Creek 41-7
No. 2 Indian River
vs. Hickory Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Indian River
Records: Hickory 0-6, 0-3; Indian River 5-0, 3-0
Last year: Did not meet
Outlook: The Braves tend to play to the level of their competition, but this figures to be an exception. Indian River has too many big-play weapons and Hickory's defense is a sieve.
Pick: Indian River 49-0
No. 3 Norcom
vs. No. 5 Churchland Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Churchland
Records: Norcom 5-1, 3-0; Churchland 5-1, 2-1
Last year: Churchland won 41-6
Outlook: Norcom tailback TaRon Anderson (shoulder injury), who is back after a one-game absence, and quarterback Kevin Jones (48.8 percent passing and 8 TDs) make the Greyhounds doubly tough to defend. Churchland needs to establish a ball-control running game. The key could be how disciplined Norcom's defense plays the option.
Pick: Norcom 20-13
No. 4 Kempsville
vs. Kellam Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Kellam
Records: Kempsville 5-1, 4-1; Kellam 1-5, 0-5
Last year: Kempsville won 28-20
Outlook: The records suggest a blowout, but Kellam's last four losses have been by an average of six points. Kempsville is coming off an emotional win over Tallwood and could be ripe for an upset. To do that Kellam will need to force turnovers, and the Chiefs are one of the best teams at protecting the ball.
Pick: Kempsville 24-14
No. 6 Tallwood
vs. Green Run Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Green Run
Records: Tallwood 5-1, 4-1; Green Run 3-3, 3-2
Last year: Green Run won 28-7
Outlook: Green Run has won three of its past four, but is just entering the toughest phase of its schedule. The Stallions have played solid pass defense while scoring just enough points to get by. Tallwood is coming off a devastating loss to Kempsville in which it blew a 10-point lead. The Lions need to get a killer instinct or risk stumbling again down the stretch.
Pick: Tallwood 17-7
No. 7 Booker T.
vs. Maury Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Harbor Park
Records: BTW 4-2, 3-0; Maury 3-3, 1-2
Last year: BTW won, 20-0
Outlook: Booker T. has allowed only 14 points in its four victories and Maury ranks last in the district in scoring. The Commodores need to play a perfect game and hope the Bookers are looking ahead to next week's clash with Norcom.
Pick: BTW 21-3
No. 8 Western Branch
vs. Oscar Smith Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Western Branch
Records: Oscar Smith 3-3, 2-1; Western Branch 3-3, 2-1
Last year: Western Branch won 32-8
Outlook: Oscar Smith has won two straight, but needs to beat a team like Western Branch to truly be considered a program on the rise. Quarterback LeVar Griffin is the perfect catalyst to engineer an upset as his ablility to get on the perimeter and run or throw causes problems for the Bruins. Western Branch has never fully recovered from the loss of quarterback Daryl Walton - few teams could - and needs a win to stay on track for a sixth straight winning season.
Pick: Western Branch 27-20
No. 9 Ocean Lakes
vs. Salem Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Salem
Records: Ocean Lakes 4-2, 3-2; Salem 3-3, 3-2
Last year: Salem won 16-0
Outlook: Both teams are coming off stunning defeats. Ocean Lakes followed its best defensive performance with one of its worst and fell last week to previously winless Bayside 36-33. Salem followed its best offensive performance with its worst and lost to Princess Anne 23-0. Look for both units to bounce back this week. If that's the case, Ocean Lakes gets the nod because of better offensive balance and more firepower.
Pick: Ocean Lakes 21-13
First Colonial
vs. Cox Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: First Colonial
Records: Cox 4-2, 3-2; First Colonial 3-3, 2-3
Last year: Cox won, 28-7
Outlook: First Colonial's old defensive woes have returned and that's good news for Cox's Leroy Ellsworth, who's had four 100-yard games. The Patriots are more balanced, but also more prone to make mistakes. This could come down to a turnover or a big return.
Pick: Cox 27-24
Princess Anne
vs. Bayside Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Bayside
Records: Princess Anne 2-4, 2-3; Bayside 1-4, 1-4
Last year: Bayside won, 17-15
Outlook: Both teams are coming off upset victories. The Marlins have the better running game, and the Cavaliers are still committing too many turnovers.
Pick: Bayside 27-21
Nansemond River
vs. Great Bridge Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Colon Hall Stadium
Records: Nansemond River 1-5, 0-3; Great Bridge 0-6, 0-3
Last year: Did not meet
Outlook: Neither team scores much. The Wildcats play better defense.
Pick: Great Bridge 21-7
Granby
vs. Norview Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Lake Taylor
Records: Granby 2-4, 1-2; Norview 3-3, 2-1
Last year: Norview won, 33-14
Outlook: Granby has played stubborn defense all season and is the kind of team - similar to Maury - that frustrates Norview. But the Pilots need this game to stay in the title chase.
Pick: Norview 21-7
Greenbrier Christian
vs. Broadwater Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Greenbrier Christian
Records: Broadwater 2-5; Greenbrier 2-5
Last year: Broadwater won 8-6
Outlook: The Gators are coming off their best performance of the season, a 38-7 thrashing of Huguenot Academy in which they rushed for 326 yards. Confidence and home-field advantage make the difference.
Pick: Greenbrier 42-28
Atlantic Shores
vs. Surry Time: 3 p.m.
Site: Atlantic Shores
Records: Surry 6-0; ASCS 2-5
Last year: Did not meet
Outlook: Both teams can move the ball. The Seahawks have yet to stop a good team.
Pick: Surry 35-30
Nansemond-Suffolk
vs. Hampton Roads Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Hampton Roads Academy
Records: N-SA 3-3, 1-1; HRA 2-4, 0-2
Last year: N-SA won, 15-7
Outlook: The Saints have been struggling after a fast start. But the return of tailback Sidney Hazelwood has allowed Warren Carroll to move outside and energized the attack.
Pick: N-SA 32-21
Other area games Isle of Wight at Brunswick Academy
Northampton at Arcadia
Grafton at Smithfield
Southampton at Bruton
Parrott at Southampton Academy
Sussex Central at Windsor
Warwick vs. Kecoughtan,
Darling Stadium
Denbigh vs. Heritage, Todd Stadium by CNB