THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511170758
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
AFTER BEING SPOILED by having three state champions in a span of just five years, Portsmouth high school football fans have been without a hometown team to root for in the post-season playoffs these past two seasons.
Will a city team return to the playoff picture in 1996?
There will be a lot of changes in the near future in the Eastern Region. First off, Portsmouth's teams will be moving into the Eastern District next September.
The Southeastern District will be adding another Chesapeake school - Hickory - and two Suffolk schools - Lakeland and Nansemond River. The Southeastern also loses the three Portsmouth schools.
The present Division 5-Division 6 alignment will change. Currently, only Great Bridge and Indian River from Portsmouth and Chesapeake schools are in Division 6, the larger 50 percent of the Eastern Region.
Wilson, Churchland and Norcom will continue in Division 5. Western Branch and Deep Creek could be moving into Division 6.
The new eight-team Eastern District will comprise five Norfolk schools and three Portsmouth schools. All are expected to be in Division 5 except Maury.
Here's the way the eight teams fared against each other this past season:
Churchland - 4-1; did not play Maury or Granby.
Norcom - 2-3; 3-2 after forfeit win over Booker T.; did not play Maury or Lake Taylor.
Wilson - 0-5; did not play Maury or Norview.
Granby - 4-2; 5-1 after forfeit win over Booker T.; did not play Churchland.
Booker T. Washington - 7-0; had to forfeit wins over Oscar Smith, Norcom, Lake Taylor and Granby.
Lake Taylor - 1-5; received a forfeit win over Booker T.; did not play Norcom.
Norview - 2-4; did not play Wilson.
Maury - 2-2; did not play Wilson, Churchland or Norcom.
If proposed schedules for 1996 are approved, the chances seem excellent for better records for all three Portsmouth teams.
Churchland was 6-4 this past season and will not be playing two of the four teams - Deep Creek and Indian River - that beat the Truckers. Also being dropped is Great Bridge. Oscar Smith and Western Branch will continue on the schedule, and Nansemond River will be added along with Maury and Granby.
Norcom was 4-6 this year and will not be playing teams that went 14-16, including two opponents who beat the Greyhounds this year. The Greyhounds add foes that were 7-14 and newcomer Hickory.
Wilson was winless in 10 games but picks up teams that were 13-18, dropping teams that were 14-16. The Presidents will not play Great Bridge, Indian River or Oscar Smith and will replace them with Maury, Norview and Nansemond River. Wilson will continue to play Western Branch and Deep Creek.
Western Branch's three non-Southeastern District games will be against the Portsmouth schools.
The Churchland Truckers graduate 18 players from their squad with 19 returning. Otis Jones will be back at quarterback, along with linebacker Tee Styles.
Norcom will have 40 players returning, including quarterbacks Kevin Jones and Michael Ponds, wide receiver Lutrell Chavis and running back Briheim Rice.
There were only seven seniors on the Wilson team. Versatile Kavonzo Beamon, end Ryan Sykes and center Paul Connolly head a group of 24 returnees. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK
Otis Jones, left, will be back at quarterback for the Churchland
Truckers.
by CNB