THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 19, 1995 TAG: 9509190170
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
It's never too early to start speculating about the playoffs.
We say that because Churchland visits Western Branch and Hampton meets Bethel Friday night in a pair of showdowns with - as Bruins' coach Lew Johnston says - district and regional implications.
Churchland, Western Branch and Hampton all compete in Division 5, which is crawling with playoff contenders and has produced only four wildcard bids since 1992, when Hampton dropped from Division 6.
The Crabbers have made the playoffs a staggering 17 consecutive years, but at 1-1 and with Phoebus (3-0) and Tabb (2-0) still to play, they need a victory over Bethel (3-0) to keep their fate in their own claws.
Churchland and Western Branch are both 2-0. But the loser likely would need to win the rest of its games to have a chance at the post-season and that means beating Deep Creek and Indian River.
Division 6, even in September, seems as almost as obvious as a Florida State rout. Bethel, Indian River, Green Run, Kempsville and Tallwood are all undefeated and four of those five teams should make the playoffs.
EXTRA, EXTRA: Missed extra points cost Ocean Lakes dearly in back-to-back losses to Cox and Norview and now the Dolphins have to face Green Run. The Stallions held Bayside to minus-5 yards rushing in a 37-0 rout last week.
``Never in the seven years I've been down here have I seen a Bayside team get pushed around like that,'' Ocean Lakes coach Jim Prince said.
SHORT PASSES: Booker T. Washington has won six straight Eastern District games dating to 1993. . . . First Colonial has played its free safety 25 yards off the line of scrimmage for years, but coach Frank Webster abandoned that strategy two weeks ago against Bayside. The Patriots again played their safety up last week against Kempsville. But after the Chiefs ripped off touchdowns runs of 43, 53 and 66 yards he was back in his accustomed position 25 yards off the line.
MILESTONES: Princess Anne's Mike Majette became the 11th-leading rusher in South Hampton Roads history with his 113-yard effort against Tallwood. Majette has 3,046 yards and needs 71 Friday night against Kempsville to pass former Lake Taylor star Dink Hodges . . . Corey Holley, not Anthony Cason, should have been credited with Indian River's last touchdown against Maury. It was also Holley's first TD as a Brave and gave him 102 career points . . . Green Run's Ben Root has a caught a touchdown pass in six straight games. Root, a sophomore tight end, has 12 career scoring catches. Root's teammate, Plaxico Burress, scored his 17th career touchdown against Bayside, giving him 106 career points.
AROUND THE STATE: Thomas Jones of Group A Powell Valley is the leading candidate for Gatorade state player of the year. Jones, who rushed for 3,314 yards in 14 games last season, has gained 694 yards in only 68 carries this year. Leading the recruiting chase for Jones are Tennessee, Florida State, Virginia and North Carolina, said Powell Valley coach Phil Robbins . . . Antoine Womack of Phoebus is keeping up with Jones. Womack, a junior, has rushed for 659 yards in three games . . . Two-time defending Division 6 champion Annandale is 0-2 after losing to Fairfax, 40-0, last Friday. by CNB