THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 6, 1995 TAG: 9510060627
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY AND PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 162 lines
Looking for an edge against top-ranked Deep Creek, Lake Taylor has banned the Hornets' spirit wagon from tonight's game at Harbor Park.
The spirit wagon is equipped with an air horn and a siren that blare after each Deep Creek touchdown.
``It was an administrative decision,'' Lake Taylor coach and athletic director Bert Harrell said. ``I think there was some controversy last week at Churchland about it bothering some neighborhoods.''
Deep Creek coach Jerry Carter said that shouldn't be a factor at Harbor Park.
``Bert said that it distracts people,'' Carter said. ``Would he prefer not to have the fans cheer or the bands play? Does that distract people?
``We're just trying to get a little enthusiasm started. Rather than ask us to turn down (the volume) he just banned it.''
Carter said Deep Creek will comply with the ban.
``We'll just have to go to Plan B,'' he said.
Elsewhere, Great Bridge's game at Norview has been postponed until Saturday at 7:30 p.m. because Chittum Field is saturated. Norview also has switched its homecoming to next Friday.
There are no games between ranked teams tonight. Deep Creek vs. Lake Taylor
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Harbor Park
Records: Deep Creek (4-0); Lake Taylor (2-3)
Last year's result: Deep Creek won, 21-0
Outlook: The Titans have lost three straight, but are still a dangerous team. They rolled up 294 total yards, including a season-high 87 in the air, last week against Norview. They must continue to throw to keep defenses from ganging up on Ronyell Whitaker. Deep Creek gave up 21 second-half points last week to Churchland, but hung on to win, 29-21. Quarterback Arnie Powell threw his first touchdown pass of the season in that game, a 24-yarder to Angelo Sykes. Norcom vs. Indian River
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Indian River
Records: Norcom (1-3, 1-3); Indian River (1-0, 4-0)
Last year's result: Indian River won, 14-13
Outlook: Norcom notched its first victory last week, 13-12, over Great Bridge. Freshman quarterback Kevin Jones came off the bench to ignite the offense, but is not expected to start against the Braves. The defense, long a Norcom strength, has settled down and is playing well. The Greyhounds have held their last three opponents to an average of 134 yards. Indian River's four victims are a combined 5-14 and coach Bob Parker's big task is to make sure the Braves aren't looking ahead to next week's showdown with Deep Creek. Green Run vs. Princess Anne
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Princess Anne
Records: Green Run (3-0, 4-0); Princess Anne (0-4, 0-4)
Last year's result: Green Run won, 35-11
Outlook: Green Run is another team in need of a challenge. The Stallions have won their four games by an average of 32.3 points and another blowout is in the offing. Princess Anne has given up 40 points to Tallwood, 37 to Kempsville and 30 to Ocean Lakes. Western Branch vs. Wilson
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Churchland
Records: Western Branch (2-0, 4-0); Wilson (0-3, 0-5)
Last year's result: Western Branch won, 48-26
Outlook: The Bruins have gained 836 yards and scored 71 points the past two weeks. Wilson has been outscored 113-2 the past three weeks. Several Presidents, including quarterback Terrence Winston, were suspended for violating team rules last week. But all are expected to play tonight. Kempsville vs. Cox
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Cox
Records: Kempsville (3-0, 4-0); Cox (2-1, 2-2)
Last year's result: Kempsville won, 35-0
Outlook: Salem limited Kempsville to one big play on offense and took the Chiefs into double overtime before losing last week. Kempsville can expect to see more defenses stacked on the line until quarterback Fred Sanders proves he can pass. He has completed only 7 of 23 passes, but proved his worth last week by returning a punt for a touchdown and scoring both TDs in overtime. Cox is coming off a 35-8 loss to Tallwood, in which it was outgained on the ground 240 yards to 63. Tallwood vs. Kellam
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Kellam
Records: Tallwood (2-1, 3-1); Kellam (0-3, 1-3)
Last year's result: Tallwood won, 35-0
Outlook: The Lions are coming off their most complete offensive performance of the season. Quarterback Gilbert Harris hit 6 of 8 passes for 100 yards and TaRon Anderson rushed for 103 yards in a 35-8 win over Cox. That's a bad sign for Kellam, which surrendered 320 yards last week in a 41-14 loss to Ocean Lakes. Bayside vs. Salem
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Salem
Records: Bayside (1-2, 1-3); Salem (2-1, 2-2)
Last year's result: Bayside won, 7-0
Outlook: Salem needs this one in pursuit of its first ever winning season. The Sun Devils are coming off two of the best back-to-back performances in school history, a 3-0 upset of then fifth-ranked Tallwood and a double overtime loss to current No. 5 Kempsville. On the flip side Bayside coach Bill King has never had a losing season and needs a win here to help keep that streak intact. Chris Sherrod leads the Marlins in rushing with only 99 yards. Ocean Lakes vs. First Colonial
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: First Colonial
Records: Ocean Lakes (2-2, 2-3); First Colonial (1-2, 1-3)
Last year's result: First Colonial won, 36-8
Outlook: This could be the most entertaining game of the night. Ocean Lakes has scored at least 20 points in all but one game and is averaging 182 yards per game rushing. First Colonial is allowing a staggering 230.3 yards per game on the ground and has the worst rushing attack in the area. But quarterback Dorman Minor and wideout Steve Tyler are the top pass-and-catch combination in the area and the Patriots figure to throw a lot. Nansemond River vs. Southampton
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Southampton
Records: Nansemond River (1-0, 2-2); Southampton (1-0, 4-0).
Last year's result: Southampton won, 19-7
Outlook: Southampton is ranked No. 2 in the AP Group AA state poll. Warriors starting running backs DeJuan Gambrell and Clarence Skinner return after serving a one-game suspension, and Nansemond River will need them to jump-start an offense which has struggled all season. Warriors must make the most of their offensive possessions, as the Indians have excelled at controlling the ball. Southampton's Rico Ivey is averaging more than 100 yards rushing per game. Lakeland vs. Poquoson
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Lakeland
Records: Lakeland (0-1, 1-3); Poquoson (0-1, 2-2)
Last year's result: Lakeland won, 20-15
Outlook: If there's ever a time for Lakeland coach Ed Smither to finally unleash the passing attack he's been promising for weeks, this is it. Short passes in the flats could be big gainers against an Islanders team that has little speed. Furthermore, leading rusher Reginald Wiggins (381 yards) is questionable because of a pinched nerve in his neck. Hampton Roads vs. Greenbrier
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Greenbrier
Records: Hampton Roads (0-1, 2-2); Greenbrier (1-1, 2-2)
Last year's result: Did not play
Outlook: The Gators continue to get the job done offensively (299 yards total offense last week against Norfolk Academy) but will need to eliminate the mistakes that led to the Bulldogs' 40-14 victory. Defensively, Greenbrier will look for linebacker Jason Zematis and lineman Steve Claggion to return to their early season style of swarming the ball. by CNB