THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 29, 1994 TAG: 9409280177
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: High School Football
SOURCE: BY JOHN GORDON, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
BAY RIVERS DISTRICT football action opens this week with Nansemond River hosting Franklin, Lakeland traveling to Southampton and Smithfield visiting York.
Nansemond-Suffolk Academy plays host to St. Christopher's, Isle of Wight Academy is at home against Broadwater Academy, and Southampton Academy entertains Hobgood.
All games will be Friday except the Smithfield-York contest, which is set for Saturday.
Windsor was scheduled to go on the road for a non-district game, but King and Queen Central High had to cancel the rest of its season due to lack of numbers. So Windsor gained a victory, without playing a game, and an unexpected week off.
The Royal Tigers of King and Queen were down to 16 players and had three injuries. School Principal John Whittington called off the rest of the season.
``Due to low numbers, youth of the players, small size and concern over the safety of the players, the coach staff and administration decided to cancel the remainder of the varsity games,'' Whittington said. ``We had to consider the welfare of our students.
``We have a real strong JV program, and a majority of the varsity players are eligible to play junior varsity and will be incorporated into that program. But most of the JVs are eighth-graders and not ready to play varsity football.''
King and Queen forfeited its opener against Cumberland, but tried to play Goochland. Trailing 49-0 at halftime and down to only 10 available players, King and Queen hung it up.
Earl Hawkins, who has replaced the deceased Edd Mercer as athletic director, decided not to go to Surry County last Friday and called Windsor athletic director Tex Murray to cancel this week's game. Thus, the Dukes have an extra week to prepare for their visit to Mathews, the last game before starting their Tri-Rivers District schedule.
WHEN BOTH Lakeland and Nansemond River were in town two weeks ago and then on the road last week, some fans wondered if the schools could arrange it where at least one of the local teams could be at home during the football season.
``We've been working on it,'' Lakeland Athletic Director Ed Smither said. ``We switched some games this year.''
As it stands later this fall, both teams are at home Oct. 14 and both are on the road Oct. 21. Otherwise, one or the other is playing in Suffolk.
``We do our best to avoid conflicts like that,'' Smither continued. ``We know that there are a lot of people in the community who want to see a high school game on Friday night without traveling very far.
``Not everyone is affiliated with one school or the other. And we know that some Nansemond River fans come to see us when Nansemond River has a long road trip, and vice versa.''
Nansemond River Athletic Director Phil Braswell agreed, saying that trying to avoid such conflicts was a high priority and big concern when Bay Rivers District officials met at Nansemond River to discuss the football schedule.
``We thought when Tabb dropped out, it might be easier,'' Braswell said. ``But it wasn't.
``Bruton and York have the same problem. And the conflicts are going to happen more in basketball.
``We wanted to make everyone happy, but it was impossible to do. There's nothing else we can do.''
Schedulers were able to give all schools three non-district games at the start of the season. A lot of the schools wanted to keep their non-district rivalries and it was difficult to schedule all of them early in the season.
``We wanted to stay away from the Peanut Fest, but we couldn't do it,'' Braswell said. ``We play Southampton at home that weekend (Oct. 7), and that's a big game for us.''
Another time when both Lakeland and Nansemond River will be at home is Nov. 10 when they play each other again. However, the rematch will be at Nansemond River and that one will count in district standings.
The game has been moved from Friday, Nov. 11, because that is Veterans Day and not only is it a federal holiday, but the start of a three-day weekend.
Schedulers admit they didn't think of that when they were working on the fall season and several games in Western Tidewater and South Hampton Roads have been shifted from Friday to Thursday. [A list of High School football schedules follows. For copy of list, see microfilm.] ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Nansemond River running back Clarence Skinner drags Lakeland
defender Antoine Riddick toward the goal line as another player in
the background begins a premature celebration Friday night.
by CNB