THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408260212
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: P03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Football Special '94
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST.
That old saying obviously didn't carry any weight with the football schedule-maker in the Eastern Region this year.
Perhaps the biggest game in the region - and most certainly one of the most significant in determining the Southeastern District title - is scheduled as a season opener.
That game matches defending Group AAA Division 5 state champion Norcom against Churchland on Friday, Sept. 9. It will be played at Churchland.
Actually some of the area teams open a week earlier but this will be the first outing for both the Greyhounds and the Truckers.
Neither school was particularly happy with one of its ``must win'' type games at the outset of the season. Churchland made a request to have it played later in the year but officials indicated it would have necessitated other changes and was not feasible.
While the game is expected to draw a standing-room crowd to Churchland Stadium, it actually could cost the Truckers at the gate.
Usually season-opening games draw one of the larger crowds of the year. If the Norcom-Churchland game could have been moved into a later spot when the Truckers face a poor-drawing out-of-town rival, another sellout likely would be generated.
Since football is the prime money raiser in the athletic programs, schedule-makers in past years have tried to accommodate schools in setting up the best drawing games as late-season attractions.
Several years ago, when it became apparent that the annual meeting between Wilson and Great Bridge was one of the title-deciding games, the schools requested that the game be played as the season finale.
For nearly a decade the Presidents and Wildcats had met in the sixth game. Then it was moved to the seventh game for several years.
In the late 1980s, this clash became the last regular season game, and it immediately became what it was intended to be - a game to decide the conference championship.
In 1987, Wilson beat Great Bridge in overtime, dropping the Wildcats into a tie for the district title.
In 1988, Wilson again topped Great Bridge, depriving the Wildcats of another undisputed district crown, and forcing them to share the championship with Deep Creek.
In 1989, first place was on the line in the Southeastern as Great Bridge and Wilson closed out the season at Great Bridge. The Presidents were 9-0. The Wildcats were 8-1. Wilson prevailed, 20-0.
Near capacity crowds turned out. Lesser games the same evening drew 300.
A year ago Wilson inherited the schedule being played by Manor when those schools merged, and the two rivals ceased playing in the final game.
The Eastern Region now plays under a master schedule, designed primarily to help Norfolk schools secure games against local Group AAA foes. No longer is any special consideration given for traditional rivalries or ``big'' games.
With the expansion of the Peninsula and Beach Districts, the Southeastern now shoulders the entire burden in assisting the Eastern teams get games.
This year Granby, Booker T. Washington and Lake Taylor will play five Southeastern teams, one more than they play in their own district.
The schedule is flawed for several of the Southeastern schools.
Two teams, Deep Creek and Indian River, play on Sept. 2 and then have an open date the second week of the season.
Norcom, the area's top drawing team, will have its first four games on the road.
Oscar Smith will be dedicating a new stadium - and the Tigers will not get to play at home until the fourth week of the season.
And when the 1994 season moves into the home stretch - when excitement should be at its peak - Norcom has its last two games against a pair of non-conference opponents.
It's possible that the Southeastern championship could be decided by Oct. 28 - when the action should really just be heating up.
Perhaps next year, Portsmouth officials can wield more power in the schedule making.
Why not have crosstown rivals Norcom and Wilson finish up against each other? Let Churchland close against nearby Chesapeake rival Western Branch.
Sprinkle in non-conference games early in the year. Simply forbid season finales against out-of-district opponents.
The Norcom-Churchland game should definitely be moved away from opening day.
The adrenalin already is flowing for this matchup.
It was a difficult enough task just getting two of the opposing players together for our cover picture.
``Let's use quarterbacks,'' said Norcom coach Joe Langston.
``Let's use linebackers,'' said Churchland coach Ken Taylor.
``Let's take the picture at Frank D. Lawrence Stadium,'' said Langston.
``The game is being played at Churchland. Let's take it at Churchland,'' said Taylor.
The stage is set for a thrilling contest.
But why does it have to be on opening day? ILLUSTRATION: Staff file photo
In the late 1980s, the Wildcats-Presidents clash was the last
regular-season game and became what it was supposed to be - a
championship.
by CNB