THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 14, 1994 TAG: 9410120129
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
As the football season heads into the second half, the field is being trimmed weekly for the eight qualifiers for the Eastern Region playoffs in the two divisions.
The only outside chance for a team with more than two defeats to qualify for the Division 5 playoffs is in the Eastern District - if its champion should have that poor a record.
Thus playoff hopes have evaporated for all the Southeastern District teams in Division 5 except Deep Creek, Norcom, Churchland and Western Branch.
Since all Beach District schools except Ocean Lakes are Division 6, the champion there automatically gains one of the four large-school playoff berths. There is even a possibility that three teams from the Beach could qualify.
Only six teams are still in the hunt for the four Division 6 berths. Thirteen still have chances in Division 5. Fifteen teams have been eliminated.
Here are the teams still in contention:
Division 6
Southeastern - Indian River (4-1)
Beach - Green Run (5-0), Tallwood (5-0), Kempsville (4-1), Bayside (3-2).
Eastern - None
Peninsula - Bethel (4-2)
Division 5
Southeastern - Deep Creek (5-0); Norcom (4-1); Churchland (3-2); Western Branch (3-2)
Beach - None
Eastern - Booker T. Washington (4-1); Norview (3-2); Lake Taylor (3-3); Granby (3-3).
Peninsula - Phoebus (6-0); Hampton (5-0); Ferguson (4-2); Tabb (3-2); Kecoughtan (2-2).
If teams finish as league co-champions, the VHSL regional representative rule determines the playoff participants.
The VHSL power rating is the No. 1 tiebreaker and that is based upon all games played.
The second tiebreaker gives the nod to the winner of any game between the two tied teams.
The third tiebreaker is a drawing by lot.
Deep Creek has taken the lead in the VHSL point ratings in Division 5 with a 14.80 rating. Norcom (11.20) is fifth and Churchland and Western Branch are tied for seventh (8.20).
In Division 6 Green Run (13.80) leads. Indian River (11.40) is third.
The five leaders in each division:
Division 5 - 1. Deep Creek, 14.80; 2. Hampton, 14.33; 3. Phoebus, 14.17; 4. Booker T. Washington, 11.40; 5. Norcom, 11.20.
Division 6 - 1. Green Run, 13.80; 2. Tallwood ,13.00; 3. Indian River, 11.40; 4. Kempsville, 10.60; 5. Bethel, 8.83.
Two games are scheduled in Portsmouth Friday night. Wilson plays Oscar Smith in Frank D. Lawrence Stadium and Churchland entertains Lake Taylor.
Norcom plays Booker T. Washington at Chittum Field in Norview.
The other Southeastern games have Deep Creek visiting Indian River (with the district lead at stake) and Western Branch at Great Bridge. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Indian River players strip the ball from a Norcom runner.
by CNB