THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 20, 1994 TAG: 9410190181
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOHN GORDON, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 141 lines
IF IT ISN'T ONE Peninsula team, it's another.
For years, Tabb was the Bay Rivers District powerhouse and, for most of the other teams, their big game of the year was against the Tigers. Then Tabb vaulted up to AAA, joining the Peninsula District, and area teams breathed a sigh of relief.
Make that a short sigh. There's no relief in sight. Another four-letter word is now on the lips of local coaches: York.
York, ranked fourth in the state with one first-place vote, has a 6-0 record after thrashing previously undefeated Southampton, 31-0, last Saturday. Nansemond River, a preseason contender for the throne and the state's No. 6 team, still has a shot at York, but not for another week. And Lakeland, which is showing improvement, faces the Tigers the following week.
This week, though, both Nansemond River and Lakeland are on the road. The Warriors travel to Smithfield and the Cavaliers visit Franklin. Southampton, rated ninth in the state despite its win over Nansemond River, will play host to Bruton in a homecoming game.
Windsor is at home against Sussex Central. Nansemond-Suffolk Academy will battle Hampton Roads Academy in Hampton and the Isle of Wight Academy Chargers will play at Brunswick Academy. Nansemond River vs. Smithfield
Date: Oct. 21
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: The Pig Pen
Records: Nansemond River (5-1, 2-1); Smithfield (0-6, 0-3)
Last year's result: Smithfield won, 27-14.
Outlook: Coach Jerry Varacallo's Warriors bounced back well from their loss to Southampton with a 27-0 shutout of Poquoson in the rain, and it could have been worse.
A holding penalty erased Donald Turner's 9-yard touchdown run as time was running out in the second quarter. And a bad snap prevented Drey Asbell from attempting a field goal on the last play of the first half.
In a game postponed one day by the rain, Smithfield fell to Lakeland, 50-0, as the host Cavaliers converted four Packer turnovers into touchdowns. Coach Miles Blount's team managed only four total yards and one first down in the first half.
However, Nansemond River must not be caught looking ahead and the Pig Pen could be a dangerous place for visitors. Lakeland vs. Franklin
Date: Oct. 21
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Armory Field
Records: Lakeland (3-3, 2-1); Franklin (1-5, 0-3)
Last year's result: Did not play.
Outlook: Coach Ed Smither's Cavaliers are coming off a 50-0 shutout over Smithfield.
``I don't know how much better we could have played,'' Smither said. ``I hope we continue to do so.
``We didn't turn the ball over, and we didn't make mistakes. That's what you've got to do to win.''
Lakeland faces another struggling team in Franklin, which dropped a 27-6 contest to Bruton.
Reginald Wiggins, who scored three touchdowns and rushed for a 186 yards against Smithfield, leads Lakeland in scoring with six TDs and two conversions for 40 points and in rushing with 775 yards for a 6.1 average. Southampton vs. Bruton
Date: Oct. 21
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Southampton High
Records: Southampton 5-1, 2-1; Bruton (4-2, 3-0).
Last year's result: Southampton won, 40-6.
Outlook: Coach Kyle Neve's Panthers may have been the Bay Rivers District's perennial doormat, but all of a sudden they are 3-0 and tied with York for the Bay Rivers District lead.
The Indians, under coach Littleton Parker, must bounce back after suffering their first loss - a 31-0 shellacking by York. Until the Indians gave up seven points to Nansemond River, they had not even allowed a point in four games.
Southampton's vaunted offense also struggled as junior fullback William Brown, one of the district's top rushers, carried the ball only 10 times for 58 yards. Windsor vs. Sussex
Date: Oct. 21
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Windsor High
Records: Windsor (5-1, 1-0); Sussex Central (6-0, 0-0)
Last year's result: Sussex Central won, 26-20.
Outlook: Windsor is tied with New Kent for the new Tri-Rivers District lead, but this could be the game that determines the champion.
Coach Tommy Austin's Dukes have lost only once this season and that was to a powerful Middlesex team. They opened their district campaign with a sound 35-0 shutout over Charles City as junior Wayne Briggs tallied four touchdowns and rushed 140 yards.
However, Charles City (0-6, 0-1) is not nearly as strong as Sussex Central although the Tigers did struggle with King William before winning, 14-12, last Friday. Gregory Gay scored on a 31-yard run with four minutes left in the game to give Sussex Central the win. N-SA vs. HRA
Date: Oct. 21
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Hampton Roads Academy in Newport News
Records: Nansemond-Suffolk Academy (1-6, 0-3); Hampton Roads Academy (0-7, 0-2).
Last year's result: Nansemond-Suffolk Academy won, 20-14.
Outlook: A victory over Hampton Roads Academy could keep N-SA out of the Colonial Football Association's cellar, but it is a road game and last week's away game was not kind to the Saints. Highly ranked Norfolk Academy clinched at least a tie for the CFA title with 36-14 victory over N-SA.
Saints' quarterback Walt Bondurant did pass for one touchdown and run for another in a losing cause. Running back Mark Fowler caught seven passes for 127 yards, but the Bulldogs proved to be too much.
Meanwhile, Catholic was defeating coach Paul Horne's Navigators, 36-2. Thus, on the basis of comparative scores, N-SA should be favored since the Saints lost to the Crusaders by only three points. Isle of Wight vs. Brunswick Academy
Date: Oct. 21
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Brunswick Academy in Lawrenceville
Records: Isle of Wight Academy (1-7); Brunswick Academy (4-4)
Last year's result: Brunswick Academy won, 28-15.
Outlook: This is the last away game for coach Dale Chapman's Chargers, and they must win it to have a shot at equaling last season's 3-7 record. The finale comes next week at home against Chincoteague.
IOW traveled to Fuqua School last week and lost, 35-6.
Coach Dennis Moore and his band of Vikings are having to play two games in one week because they beat Kenston Forest at home Monday night, 28-16, in a game postponed from last Friday. And this Friday's contest will be Brunswick Academy's homecoming. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Franklin High football players Marcus Jones, left, Charlie Coffelt
and Clay Councill will face Lakeland Friday.
by CNB