THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 28, 1995 TAG: 9511280430
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
It's always difficult to win a state championship, but Indian River may never have a smoother path.
None of the four teams left in Division 6 finished in the state top 10 and only one of them, Lake Braddock, received a vote in the final poll.
Indian River (10-2) plays host to Lake Braddock (11-1) Saturday at 1:30 at Oscar Smith. Hylton (9-3) visits Varina (9-3) in the other semifinal.
Lake Braddock upset previously unbeaten Chantilly and Varina surprised once-beaten L.C. Bird in region finals.
The situation is exactly the opposite in Division 5 where No. 2 E.C. Glass plays host to No. 3 Lee-Davis and No. 4 Hampton is at No. 6 McLean.
BROADWAY BOB: Indian River coach Bob Parker borrowed a page from Joe Namath's notebook when he predicted the Braves' 14-7 victory over unbeaten Green Run in the Eastern Region final.
``I didn't know you were going to print it,'' he said, ``but I just felt we were two touchdowns better.''
Parker's prediction was 28-14, and when he told his players that they became upset. Not because he put undue pressure on them, but because they were insulted he thought they would give up 14 points.
``The bottom line is that we have almost always played good defense,'' Parker said.
Green Run and Tallwood averaged a combined 68 points per game in the regular-season.
In two playoff games against Indian River they combined for seven.
STRANGE CALLS: Deep Creek coach Jerry Carter was confounded by several penalties against the Hornets for cut blocks in a 24-19 loss to Hampton in the Division 5 region final.
``It's not in the rules book and I'm going to demand an explanation,'' Carter said.
The officials were from the Peninsula District.
``The calls didn't cause us to lose and I'm not criticizing the officials' integrity,'' Carter said. ``But the calls had an effect on the way we played.''
Carter said two plays determined the outcome.
The first was a 27-yard touchdown run by the Hornets' Terrance Mack that was called back. The other was a 47-yard touchdown pass from Hampton's Ronald Curry to Ahmed Hawkins on a busted play in the final minute of the first half.
``That was a 14-point turnaround,'' Carter said. ``It had a profound effect on our players.'' by CNB