THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408260225
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: I04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Football Special '94
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
I'm thinking that this might be the year that Western Branch finally makes the playoffs. But that doesn't mean I'm going to pick them first.
It's safe to say that Norcom, barring natural catastrophe or alien invasion, will win the district.
That is not to say that the Greyhounds won't lose a game.
That said, the Southeastern District could be a legitimate five-team race. And that's not a cop-out. Western Branch, Deep Creek, Indian River, and Churchland are all contenders. On any given night, if everything falls into place, any one of those teams could beat Norcom. 1. NORCOM
Accept no substitute. The only question is - will they ever lose again? They've certainly got enough talent, especially in the explosive tandem of Rudy Howard and Rod Richardson. They'll repeat as district champs, but they'll lose at least one along the way.
Clipper pick: 9-1 2. WESTERN BRANCH
Western Branch, Deep Creek. Deep Creek, Western Branch. The Bruins get the nod due to their abundance of talent. Dre Bly and Malik Cook will inspire panic attacks in defenders. Bly led Western Branch in rushing and receiving last year. Cook might be even better.
Every year seems to be coach Lew Johnston's year to make the playoffs. And every year . . . well, you know. It's time for the Bruins to shake off the underachiever label.
Clipper pick: 8-2 3. DEEP CREEK
Deon Dyer. Mr. Wonderful. Mr. Everything. After sitting out last season with a bum ankle, Dyer will be looking to do some damage. Let's just hope he doesn't get hurt.
Fortunately, Dyer is not the entire team. The line is experienced, and defensively the Hornets are as good as they come. Coach Jerry Carter uses a power running game in order to offset an unproven quarterback. They'll drop only two games, but one will be to Western Branch, which lost a heartbreaker to the Hornets in the season finale last year.
Clipper pick: 8-2 4. INDIAN RIVER
I do not envy Bob Parker. The Braves lost 22 players and eight starters off last year's state semifinalist team. It would be easy to label the team in ``rebuilding'' and not expect much, but that won't be the case. The Braves will be solid, and could play the spoiler in the big games with Norcom, Western Branch, and Deep Creek.
Clipper pick: 7-3 5. CHURCHLAND
Pity the Truckers, for they have to open the season with Norcom. That game by itself will color Churchland's season. If they win, well, that would be the stuff of legends.
But if they lose - which, let's be honest, is more likely - the margin will come into play. A close game would still be a moral victory. But if they get waxed . . .
Clipper pick: 6-4 6. GREAT BRIDGE
The Wildcats could go either way. A lot rides on sophomore quarterback Michael Cuddyer. If the second half of last season, when Cuddyer led Great Bridge to a 2-3 record, is any indication, he'll be just fine.
Cuddyer has a strong supporting cast, but the Wildcats are definitely on the second tier in the district.
Clipper pick: 4-6 7. OSCAR SMITH
Maybe it's going out on a limb to say that the Tigers will win a game at all, much less finish out of the district cellar. They won't even approach
All eyes will be on. . . the stadium, at least in the early going. Then the main attraction will be multipurpose man Kelvin Bethea. See Kelvin run. See Kelvin punt. See Kelvin flatten a receiver with a bone-jarring hit. Coach Charlie Stukes needs to settle on a starting quarterback sometime soon, like on opening night.
Clipper pick: 2-8 8. WILSON
The Presidents have few warm bodies to put on the field, which is an obvious disadvantage. They've got Darrius Edwards, one of the premier receivers in the district, but if he gets hurt things will be mighty dark for Wilson.
They won't be very bright regardless.
Clipper pick: 1-9 by CNB