THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 23, 1994 TAG: 9409230704
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE AND RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Long : 225 lines
Start with two archrivals. Put them in the Top 10. Make it a must-win game, and you have tonight's showdown between fifth-ranked Western Branch and No. 6 Churchland.
Division 5 is loaded this year with Norcom, Deep Creek, Hampton, Phoebus and Tabb. Add the Bruins, Truckers and the Eastern District champion, and it's obvious some good teams will be left out of the playoff mix.
It's possible, maybe even likely, that a team will go 8-2 in Division 5 and not make the playoffs.
The Western Branch-Churchland game is the only one tonight pitting two ranked teams. In other attractive matchups around the area, third-ranked Deep Creek plays improving Granby at Chittum Field, fourth-ranked Indian River takes on struggling Lake Taylor at Harbor Park, and surprising Tallwood, ranked ninth in the area, hosts Salem. Western Branch vs. Churchland
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Churchland
Records: Western Branch (1-1); Churchland (1-1)
Last year's result: Western Branch won, 33-13.
Outlook: Last week, Western Branch became one of the few teams to gain 100 yards rushing against Norcom. The total was more impressive considering the Bruins got away from their running game in the middle of the contest and went with the pass. The air game met with little success. A key will be how well Churchland pursues to the outside to limit the home-run potential of Bruin running backs Dre Bly and Shyrone Stith. The Truckers are coming off a 20-0 win over Great Bridge. Salem vs. Tallwood
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Tallwood High
Records: Salem (1-1); Tallwood (2-0).
Last year's result: Salem won, 15-14.
Outlook: This backyard rivalry began in earnest last year and should heat up even more. Both teams are young at key positions, with No. 9 Tallwood starting a sophomore quarterback (Gilbert Harris) and freshman running back (Taron Anderson) and Salem starting a freshman running back (Rico Clay). A victory by Tallwood would give the Lions more wins to start the season than they had in their first two years of existence. Green Run vs. Ocean Lakes
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Ocean Lakes High
Records: Green Run (2-0); Ocean Lakes (1-2).
Outlook: Second-ranked Green Run leads the Beach District in total offense and total defense, and the margins only figure to grow in this mismatch. With 326 totals yards rushing and 275 passing in two games, the Stallions boast one of the area's most lethal and balanced attacks. Ocean Lakes is giving up 39 points per game. Indian River vs. Lake Taylor
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Harbor Park
Records: Indian River (2-0); Lake Taylor (1-2).
Last year's result: Did not play.
Outlook: Two teams now moving in opposite directions. The No. 4 Braves are the only team in the Southeastern District that begins the season with three nondistrict games. They've feasted on Eastern District competition this far, beating Norview and Maury. Lake Taylor has lost two straight but played great defense last week against Booker T. The Braves need to dust off their passing game or this one could be closer than the records suggest. Maury vs. First Colonial
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: First Colonial High
Records: Maury (1-2); First Colonial (0-2).
Last year's result: Maury won, 34-31.
Outlook: These two playoff teams from a year ago have fallen on hard times. Maury's offense is barely managing 200 yards a game. First Colonial's can't even match that. Both defenses have allowed an average of almost 300 yards. While it might not be on the same level of play of the last six years of this rivalry, in which each team won three times and the average difference was 7.3 points, it could be just as competitive. Great Bridge vs. Wilson
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Lawrence Stadium
Records: Great Bridge (1-2); Wilson (1-2).
Last year's result: Wilson won, 33-28.
Outlook: The Southeastern's top two runners, Wilson's Darryl Scott (442 yards) and Great Bridge's Corey Holley (362 yards) meet. But they aren't the only statistical titans. Wilson's Terrance Winston leads the area in passing (319 yards) and Darrius Edwards leads in receptions with 15. St. Christopher's vs. Norfolk Academy
Time: 4 p.m.
Site: Norfolk Academy
Records: St. Christopher's (1-0); Norfolk Academy (2-0).
Last year's result: Norfolk Academy won, 19-14.
Outlook: These two private schools mirror each other in school mission, so it's always fun, and usually close, when they get together. St. Christopher's runs a one-back spread offense that could present problems. But the Bulldogs have a double-edged weapon with brothers Damien and D.A. Taylor in their backfield. Nansemond River vs. Matoaca
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Matoaca High
Records: Nansemond River (2-0); Matoaca (2-1).
Last year's result: Matoaca won, 14-12.
Outlook: A matchup of state finalists from a year ago. Matoaca has gone 25-3 the last two years, with two of its losses to Jefferson Forest in the state finals. Matoaca spreads it out and throws about 60 percent of the time. Matoaca is big on intimidation and will flood the line on defense if the Warriors don't prove they can pass. Sophomore two-way back Clarence Skinner has run for more than 100 yards in in each of the first two games for the Warriors. Deep Creek vs. Granby
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Chittum Field
Records: Deep Creek (2-0); Granby (2-1).
Last year's result: Did not play.
Outlook: The Hornets face a multidimensional offense for the third straight game. Quarterback Anthony King has jump-started the Comets and is on a record-setting pace for all-purpose yards from his position. Granby is coming off a shutout against Cox but got burned by big plays in a loss to Western Branch. The Bruins scored four times against Granby from 25 yards away or more. Fullback Deon Dyer carried the load in Deep Creek's first two games, but this could be the breakout game for tailbacks Lawrence Claiborne and Cedric Williams. Princess Anne vs. Kempsville
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Kempsville
Records: Princess Anne (1-1); Kempsville (1-1).
Last year's result: Kempsville, 33-6.
Outlook: After struggling in the opening week, Kempsville played up to its preseason billing in an overtime win over First Colonial. The Cavaliers were hamstrung by Tallwood's defense last week, but still boast an impressive arsenal of offensive weapons. With Green Run, Bayside and First Colonial still on the schedule, a loss tonight could be devastating to Princess Anne's title hopes. Cox vs. Kellam
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Kellam
Records: Cox (0-2); Kellam (0-2).
Last year's result: Cox won, 17-9.
Outlook: Despite rumors of dissension among the Falcons after their 0-2 start, coach Gene Beck said the players are sticking together and will face Kellam after their best week of practice. Cox's Aaron Stausbaugh looks to become the third straight running back to post a career-best rushing total against the sievelike Knights' defense. But as bad as Kellam has looked of late, the Knights traditionally have played some of their best games against Cox. The Knights have a 10-52 record since 1988, but 3-3 against Cox during that time. Norcom vs. Oscar Smith
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Oscar Smith
Records: Norcom (2-0); Oscar Smith (0-2).
Last year's result: Norcom won, 47-0.
Outlook: This will be Oscar Smith's first game in its new school, and the Tigers have been focusing for months on making a splashy debut this week. The Tigers will look to stop the Greyhounds on first down and force sometimes-erratic quarterback Rod Richardson into passing situations. But Norcom, riding a 16-game winning streak, hardly figures to play the role of cooperative foil. Norcom will be looking to shore up the left side of its defensive line. Both Churchland and Western Branch have had success running that way the past two weeks. Catholic vs. Atlantic Shores
Time: 4 p.m.
Site: Atlantic Shores
Records: Catholic (1-0); Atlantic Shores (2-2).
Last year's result: Did not play.
Outlook: Fans of old-fashioned shoot-outs figure to love this one, as both teams have big-play capabilities. Although the Seahawks fell to Norfolk Academy last week, they continued to gain the respect of opposing teams by hanging with the talented Bulldogs throughout. It will be up to the Seahawks' defense to keep this one close. Even in Atlantic Shores' two victories, Seahawk opponents have had little trouble moving the ball, and Catholic's Jimmy Whitehead might the best pure passer in the region. Lakeland at Greensville
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Greensville
Records: Lakeland (1-1); Greensville (1-2).
Last year's result: Lakeland, 16-6.
Outlook: The Cavaliers pulled off one of the most significant victories in the school's five-year history last week by stopping Division 2 state runner-up Central Lunenberg. Lakeland did it with a relentless running attack that eventually wore the Wildcats down. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, the physical style has taken its toll - coach Ed Smither said several players are banged up. Lakeland has just 24 players, but so does Greensville. N-SA vs. Collegiate
Time: 4 p.m.
Site: Richmond Collegiate
Records: Nansemond-Suffolk (2-1); Richmond Collegiate (1-0).
Last year's result: Richmond Collegiate won, 40-8.
Outlook: The Saints roll in on a two-game winning streak and are bidding to avenge last season's humiliating defeat. A solid mixture of running and passing, combined with a clutch defense, has keyed N-SA's resurgence.
Other area games (All 7:30 p.m.)
Brunswick at Smithfield
Middlesex at Windsor
Halifax Academy at Isle of Wight
Southampton at Park View-South Hill
Southampton Academy at Harrells
Hampton vs. Bethel at Darling Stadium
Denbigh vs. Warwick at Todd Field
Gloucester at Lafayette
Bruton at York
Nottoway at Poquoson
King & Queen at Surry
New Kent at Nandua
Charles City at Mathews
Northampton at Lancaster
Lake Forest at Arcadia, 7 p.m.
Chincoteague at West Point by CNB