THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 8, 1994 TAG: 9411080476
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: FOOTBALL NOTES
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 102 lines
With Western Branch officially eliminated from playoff contention, the Bruins turn their attention to a regular season finale against Deep Creek.
``This is our playoff game and the chance to show everybody that we are that good,'' said Western Branch coach Lew Johnston.
As if there is any doubt. The Bruins are playing as well as anyone.
Winners of six straight, the Bruins' only losses this season were a 29-28 setback to Churchland in the second week of the season and a 15-13 loss to Norcom in the season's third week.
Since then, Western Branch has solidified itself as the area's most prolific offensive unit, averaging 37.3 points per game and 348 yards offensively.
And for the fourth consecutive year, the Bruins have had a quarterback surpass 1,000 yards passing for the season - sophomore Daryl Walton has thrown for 1,091 yards this season.
There's a deep-seated reason for that. Johnston was attending a coaching clinic when he heard a fellow coach make a disparaging remark about Western Branch's lack of a passing game.
``Somebody said, `Too bad Western Branch can't throw the ball,' '' Johnston remembers. ``I took it as a personal affront, particularly when someone else said, `Oh, they can throw it. They just can't catch it.' ''
The Bruins should again have the services of junior Shyrone Stith, who sat out last week's 35-8 win over Oscar Smith. Stith had fluid drained from his knee and should be back to form this week. Through eight games, Stith had 17 touchdowns and had run for 815 yards.
Deep Creek, meanwhile, is banged up and will be without defensive end Andre Thomas (broken ankle), linebacker Marquis Hicks (knee injury) and running back Cedrec Williams (ankle contusion).
``If we win, we come away with the satisfaction of beating the district champion,'' Johnston said. ``Plus that will be seven straight wins and will carry over into next year.''
BULLDOGS IN? In beating Fork Union last week, 21-19, and claiming a share of the Virginia Prep Legue title, Norfolk Academy has positioned itself to receive a bid in the Virginia Independent Schools Football Association Division III playoffs.
Now the problem is finding an opponent.
The Bulldogs are 7-1 heading into a regular season finale against Norfolk Catholic on Thursday at Harbor Park. They are ranked No. 3 in the Division III poll, which includes the state's largest private schools. And the two teams ahead of them have said they will not play in the one-game state championship game.
Top-ranked Bishop O'Connell is committed to playing in the Washington-area Catholic League playoffs. Second-ranked Woodberry Forest is committed to midterm exams.
If this is the type of response a one-game Division III state playoff is going to receive - even Academy officials have a lukewarm feeling about the playoffs - why play it?
Academy wouldn't be participating either if it hadn't beaten Fork Union. Without a share of the Prep League title, the Bulldogs would not have felt worthy of a postseason bid.
``We are looking at it hard,'' said Dave Trickler, Norfolk Academy athletic director. ``Assuming a bid is coming, (Academy football coach) Tom York has discussed it with the players.''
The Bulldogs will most likely announce a decision today. Probable opponents include a rematch with Fork Union (4-5) or St. Christopher's (5-3) or a game with Benedictine (6-4).
RUSHING CHAMPION: Best bet to win the area Group AAA rushing title this season is Princess Anne junior Mike Majette (1,087 yards), who trails Great Bridge's Corey Holley (1,133) by 46 yards.
Princess Anne's final game is against Kellam, which allowed an area record 427 yards rushing by Norview's Wayne Bacon earlier this season. Majette already owns Princess Anne's career rushing record with 2,582 yards, recently surpassing the previous mark of 2,300 yards, set by Ernie Jones from 1980 to 1982.
Great Bridge's season has ended, leaving Holley to watch the competitors pass his standard in the final week.
He could be passed by quite a few players, and it appears the area will have as many as seven rushers surpass the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
Bacon has 1,082 yards heading into a showdown with Booker T. Washington, Wilson's Darryl Scott has 1,061 yards with Churchland awaiting and Kempsville's Mike Pishioneri has 1,044 yards as the Chiefs do battle with Green Run for the Beach District title.
Booker T.'s Michael Basnight has 851 yards and Tallwood's TaRon Anderson has 986 yards. Anderson would be the first freshman to rush for 1,000 yards since The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star began keeping extensive records in 1969.
JOYNER OUT: Indian River tailback Shawndell Joyner has left the team after what sources have described as a falling out between Joyner and the coaching staff.
``It's an unfortunate set of circumstances and I'm not real happy about it,'' said Indian River coach Bob Parker, who confirmed Joyner's departure but would say no more.
Joyner had run for 897 yards in eight games, the most memorable being a 125-yard performance against Norcom that ended the Greyhounds' 18-game winning streak. Joyner finishes his career with 2,505 yards.
MILESTONE: Wilson's Darius Edwards needs seven receptions to reach 100 for his career. He's already surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for receiving with 1,114 yards. by CNB