THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 17, 1995 TAG: 9511170344
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines
Perfection hasn't done Deep Creek any favors the past two years when it comes to the playoff draw.
The Hornets, ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 21 in the USA Today Super 25, open defense of their Eastern Region Division 5 championship against Kecoughtan (8-2) tonight at 8 at Oscar Smith.
The Warriors, who won a coin flip against Western Branch to make the field, are the only team to beat Peninsula District champion Hampton.
Last year Deep Creek had to beat a 9-1 Phoebus team in the first round.
``Kecoughtan is bigger than anybody we've played,'' Deep Creek coach Jerry Carter said. ``They have good technique. I think it will be a good match.''
The Hornets have advanced this far on the strength of a power running game led by Deon Dyer. Kecoughtan counters with an eight-man front on defense.
``I know it sounds trite, but we don't change a whole lot for the playoffs,'' Carter said. ``We can throw when we have to. Western Branch played a 10-man front (against us) and didn't prove a point.''
Carter considers his defense a notch above last year's unit. If he has a concern, it is how the Hornets will respond to the hoopla and pressure.
``Each team has a different personality,'' he said. ``This team has played well when it's had to. I have a lot of faith in them.''
In tonight's other playoff games:
Green Run vs. Kempsville
Explosive Green Run (10-0) will go for its second victory over Kempsville (7-3) in as many weeks when the teams meet in the Eastern Region Division 6 semifinals at Kellam.
The Stallions' 28-14 victory provided a measure of revenge for a 1994 loss to the Chiefs that cost them the Beach District title.
Despite losing three of their last four games, the Chiefs acquitted themselves fairly well against the Stallions last week, pulling to within six points in the fourth quarter before Larry Jordan's 22-yard touchdown run put the game away.
But therein lies Kempsville's problem. In one snap, Green Run can offset several minutes of Chiefs ball control.
``All it takes is one, two or three plays and we can be in the end zone,'' Green Run coach Elisha ``Cadillac'' Harris said.
Indian River vs. Tallwood
Defense will be the name of the game when Indian River (8-2) and Tallwood (8-2) hook up at Princess Anne in another Eastern Region Division 6 semifinal.
While Indian River has one of the top-rated pass defenses in the area, the Lions have dominated opponents on both sides of the ball, giving up just 145 yards (80 rushing and 65 passing) per game. Tallwood tops the area in points allowed, limiting opponents to an average of 6.8.
``John Joseph and Alvin Jones have put a tremendous amount of pressure on the quarterback. They've been successful at that all year,'' said Lions coach Ken Barto. ``Our defensive secondary is also real strong. We were tested by Green Run, and I wasn't pleased with all of our play, but we were adequate.''
Granby vs. Hampton
Granby's defense is hoping its ``second season'' continues when the Comets (7-3), who have posted three straight shutouts after a slow start, collide with high-powered Hampton (9-1) in an Eastern Region Division 5 semifinal at Darling Stadium.
``We know now that we're going against a great Hampton offense with an option that certainly can't be shut down,'' said Granby coach Dave Hudak. ``But we're going to try and play the same kind of defense that got us here.''
Hampton is the highest-scoring Division 5 team in the region. The Crabbers have chalked up 380 points, 101 in the last two games.
The Comets' task will be to control the football and keep it out of the hands of gifted Hampton quarterback Ronald Curry, who led the Peninsula District in total offense with 1,994 yards and is regarded by many as the finest quarterback the Crabbers have ever had.
York at Lakeland
This Region I Division 4 game features teams heading in different directions. The Cavaliers (7-3) have won six straight in which they've averaged more than 44 points, while the Falcons (5-5) have lost four of their last five.
Lakeland also routed York 48-10 two weeks ago, which concerns Lakeland coach Ed Smither.
``That's a very misleading score,'' said Smither, whose team hasn't made it past the first round of the playoffs since a regional championship appearance in 1990. ``They had seven turnovers and they were all on our side of the field. That could happen to us.''
Southampton vs. Nottoway
Southampton will be out to regain its edge after a easy stretch of games when they take on Nottoway in the Region I, Division 3 semifinals at Southampton.
The 10-0 Indians closed their season against Poquoson, Smithfield and Franklin, the three weakest teams in the Bay Rivers District.
``That's had its advantages and disadvantages,'' Southampton coach Littleton Parker said. ``We may not be as sharp as we were earlier in the season, but we've had a chance to play a lot of people. Everybody should be ready.''
Nottoway, on the other hand, is coming off a 13-8 loss to Matoaca, the top seed in the Division 3 playoffs. MEMO: Staff writers Julie Goodrich, Paul White, Jami Frankenberry and Bill
Leffler contributed to this report. by CNB