THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 4, 1995 TAG: 9510040473
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Deep Creek dressed 46 players last Friday against Churchland and each of them wore a different number.
But as far as the Truckers were concerned the Hornets were all wearing the same number: 21.
Deep Creek entered the game ranked No. 21 in the nation by USA Today - a compliment to a program that has won 19 of its last 20 games, but a burden to the players.
``Is that a lot of pressure?'' asked defensive back Darryl Huskey, one of the Hornets' captains. ``Yes sir, it's a big pressure.''
The ranking suggests that Deep Creek should be blowing teams away. But with the exception of a 42-0 rout of Wilson, all the Hornets' games have been competitive.
``If you're going to be a championship team you've got to step up and play like one,'' coach Jerry Carter said after the Hornets' 29-21 victory over Churchland.
The implied message was that the Hornets aren't playing like a champion. Then again they are the only team in the South Hampton Roads top 10 that has beaten three ranked opponents: No. 6 Booker T. Washington, No. 8 Granby and No. 9 Churchland. Second-ranked Indian River and third-ranked Green Run haven't beaten any teams in the current top 10.
That's little solace for Carter. The Hornets nearly squandered a 17-0 halftime lead against Churchland and among their many sins, he said, was failing to recover any of Churchland's four fumbles; getting two extra point attempts blocked; and getting penalized seven times for 75 yards.
SHORT PASSES: Norview is 1-0 in the Eastern District for the first time since 1988 and gets defensive back Eric Hines back for Friday night's game against Great Bridge. Hines, whom Norview coach Will Robinson called his best defensive player, has missed four games with nerve damage in his shoulder . . games. The Stallions are averaging 9.1 yards per rush and 8.9 yards per play . three times this season.
NORCOM'S FUTURE: Norcom freshman Kevin Jones came off the bench to pass for 177 yards and a touchdown in leading the Greyhounds to a come-from-behind, 13-12 win over Great Bridge last Thursday. The 177 yards was the fourth-highest total by a quarterback this season, but it didn't guarantee Jones the starting nod this week against Indian River.
Michael Ponds is expecting to retain the starting spot and Jones will only play if needed, Norcom coach Joe Langston said.
``Jones is real poised; he's the future,'' Langston said.
That's what was once said about Ponds, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound junior. But he has completed only 18 of 54 passes for 193 yards with five interceptions and one touchdown.
TRANSFER TRIVIA: Indian River's Corey Holley was the most ballyhooed transfer this season after rushing for more than 1,000 yards last year at Great Bridge. Holley has played well, averaging more than 6 yards a carry.
But the transfer who has had the biggest impact is Ocean Lakes' Marcus Wilcox. The senior fullback has 430 yards and seven touchdowns. First Colonial, his former team, has only 257 yards rushing.
MILESTONES: Princess Anne's Mike Majette moved up to eighth on the South Hampton Roads all-time rushing with 173 yards against Bayside. Majette, who has 3,262 career yards, passed former Lake Taylor star Dink Hodges and former Kempsville great D. J. Dozier . . . Deon Dyer's three touchdowns against Churchland gave the Deep Creek senior 212 career points. by CNB