THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 23, 1994 TAG: 9409210148
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Once upon a time the manager of a store in Churchland used to order an extra case of eggs one week every year because Churchland's football game with nearby Western Branch was coming up.
The eggs were not for eating. They were for throwing - or ducking from.
Trees festooned with toilet paper, sidewalks spray-painted, shaving cream spelling out which team was No. 1 - all these were just pranks for the traditional meeting between the schools.
For several years the Churchland and Western Branch stadiums were packed for the arch rivalry. Standing room only. Attendance reached 8,000 when the two teams tangled with undefeated records one year.
School officials figured things could be even better. They scheduled two games with each other for a few seasons.
But Churchland's football program fell upon hard times and Western Branch suddenly began to dominate the series.
Western Branch decided to play only one game with Churchland. A contest against Kempsville replaced the scheduled second meeting.
The Bruins have built up a 19-7-2 edge in the series that awards the Friendship Cup to the winner.
But there is renewed excitement in the latest meeting of the teams. The longtime foes, once located just a stone's throw from each other across Tyre Neck Road, are getting ready for one of those old time rematches.
A standing-room-only audience is expected at Churchland Friday night when the rivals collide. Both teams have suffered their only losses to defending state champion Norcom. And both threw a scare at the Greyhounds.
Western Branch lost to Norcom last week, 15-13, but was attempting a possible game-winning field goal when time expired. A week earlier Churchland built up a two-touchdown lead over the Greyhounds, before falling in the fourth quarter.
This Churchland-Western Branch game has playoff significance because the loser will be pinned with a second loss. The loser will have to win all of its remaining games to have even a remote chance of qualifying for the playoffs. The winner will be very much in contention.
One other game is scheduled locally Friday. Wilson (1-2) plays Great Bridge (1-2) at Frank D. Lawrence Stadium.
Norcom (2-0) visits Oscar Smith (0-2) in a dedication game at the Tigers' new stadium. Smith was idle last week. The Greyhounds are riding a 16-game winning streak. by CNB