THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 7, 1994 TAG: 9410050133
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
The Southeastern District's two premier defensive teams square off Friday night in Portsmouth.
The headliner in Chesapeake will match the district's top passing team against the No. 1 rushing team.
The defensive slugfest pits undefeated Norcom (4-0) against once-beaten Indian River (3-1) at Frank D. Lawrence Stadium.
It will be Air Wilson (1-4) against ground-oriented Western Branch (2-2) at Western Branch Stadium.
Norcom, playing its first home game of the season, has held opponents to an average 107.5 yards total offense. The Greyhounds have surrendered only 62.3 yards to the rush, 45.2 to the pass.
Indian River ranks second on defense, giving up only 148.5 yards per outing. The Braves rank No. 2 against the run (67.0 yards) and No. 4 against the pass (81.5).
Wilson is the district's premier passing team, averaging 107.0 yards through the air. The Presidents will be going against a Western Branch pass defense that allows only 83.7 yards per game.
Western Branch has racked up an average 245.0 yards rushing. But the balanced Bruins' attack also shows a passing game that stands No. 3 in the district, behind only Wilson and Norcom.
Ironically Wilson stands seventh among the Southeastern's eight teams in rushing, yet the Presidents have the league's premier runner in Darryl Scott. Scott has gained 545 yards in 76 assignments. Scott suffered a hip-pointer last week in Wilson's 6-0 loss to Indian River and had only four carries. Wilson was held to minus-4 yards rushing.
Wilson's Darrius Edwards leads all receivers with 23 catches. He has twice as many as any other player. The receptions have gained a district-leading 242 yards.
Western Branch will be countering with receivers Jeff Leiker (nine catches for 166 yards) and Dre Bly (eight for 193.
``It was really the Dre Bly Show last week against Maury,'' Western Branch coach Lew Johnston said. Bly, a wingback, scored three touchdowns, caught two passes for 106 yards and rushed four times for 70 yards.
Churchland (2-2) will be seeking to gets its offense back in form against winless Oscar Smith (0-4), losers of 17 in a row.
The Truckers, after scoring 68 points in their first three games, were thumped 35-0 by Deep Creek.
Oscar Smith ranks last in the district in rushing. Churchland is last in passing. The Truckers also are last in pass defense.
Offensively, however, Churchland rates a big edge. The Truckers average 215.8 yards in overall offense. Oscar Smith stands last at 119.5.
Deep Creek and Great Bridge have non-district games. The Hornets, 2-0 in the Southeastern, will remain one of only two non-losers in district play after this week, along with the victor in the Norcom-Indian River game. by CNB