THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 24, 1995 TAG: 9511240180
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Southeastern District supremacy will be on the line tonight at 8 when Deep Creek and Indian River try to defend their Eastern Region championships in intriguing rematches from last year's playoffs.
Deep Creek (11-0) meets Hampton (10-1) at Oscar Smith in a repeat of the Division 5 final won by the Hornets 48-42.
Green Run (11-0) meets Indian River (9-2) in a Division 6 playoff game at Kellam. The Braves surprised the Stallions 30-9 in a first-round game last fall.
The winners advance to the state semifinals Dec. 2.
Deep Creek scored a touchdown with three seconds left in last year's victory over Hampton. That game set region playoff records for total yards (910) and points (90).
This is Hampton's 19th consecutive year in the playoffs. The Crabbers have won 11 championships, but their last title came in 1990, making this their longest drought since 1970-74.
Many of the key players from last year's game are back, including Hampton's Ronald Curry and Deep Creek's Deon Dyer and Arnie Powell. Curry passed for 222 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 77 yards and one TD in the greatest performance by a freshman, if not any player, in region history.
``I've never seen a sophomore athlete like him,'' Deep Creek coach Jerry Carter said. ``He's not human.''
Powell emerged from a complementary role to pass for 185 yards and two TDs, and Dyer rushed for 80 yards and three TDs in last year's game.
Indian River is bidding for its third straight Division 6 championship. The last team to win three region titles in a row was Hampton during its run of five straight from 1984-88.
Indian River quarterback James Boyd openly disparaged the Beach District after last year's victory over Green Run and the Stallions haven't forgotten.
``They have no respect for us, none at all,'' Green Run quarterback Eddie Cuffee said.
Green Run coach Cadillac Harris said he was rooting for Indian River to beat Tallwood last week.
``They are the defending champs and it's only right if we're to win we should go through them,'' Harris said. ILLUSTRATION: PILOT PICKS
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[For a copy of the picks, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB