THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 17, 1996 TAG: 9609170436
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 65 lines
There is a rule here at High School Notebook forbidding anyone to mention the phrase ``football playoffs'' in September.
But First Colonial's sudden resurgence - how 'bout that Frank Webster, he makes Lazarus look like some guy who overslept for work - has created such an extreme possibility that we're waiving the rule this week.
Should First Colonial win the Beach District - this is neither a prediction nor an endorsement of said fact - all four district champions in the Eastern Region could be from Division 5.
So what, you say?
Here's what. Hampton, Deep Creek, Indian River, Norcom, Phoebus, Western Branch, Churchland, Booker T. Washington and Lakeland are all in Division 5.
You do the math.
One district loss by any of those teams - uh, Phoebus, please check your helmets and cleats at the door (the Phantoms were waxed and buffed by Kecoughtan 20-0 last week) - and it could be so long playoffs. FC's Tyler at the top of wide-out list
In the year of the wide receiver (David Martin, Darren Walton, Mike Ponds, etc.) no one is off to a better start than First Colonial's Steve Tyler. Overlooked for most major honors last season despite catching 50 passes, Tyler made four catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns and returned a punt 68 yards for another score in the Patriots' 35-14 demolition of Kempsville.
Tyler, who doubles as a shortstop on the Patriots' baseball team, is the active receiving leader in South Hampton Roads with 63 catches for 849 yards and 6 TDs.
``Steve is one of the best athletes we've ever had,'' Webster said. ``He catches, he runs, he tackles, he blocks, he returns kicks, makes big plays. He does everything.'' Gut-wrenching defeat leaves Norview coach with difficult crowd
What do you say to a team that celebrates a victory over the defending state champion only to have the referee put two seconds back on the clock and see that victory turn into a gut-wrenching defeat? That was David Heath's task after Norview fell to Indian River 16-14 on a last-play field goal Friday night.
``It was emotional,'' Heath said. ``I got in the locker room and the kids were upset. I'm not sure Bear Bryant could have come up with something to say at that point.
``I just told the kids I was proud of them. That they played four complete quarters and beat them. When the official waves the ball in the air and tosses it to a kid you pretty much assume the game is over.''
Short yardage
Norcom's 62-0 rout of Hickory was the most lopsided victory by a Joe Langston team. The 1994 team held that honor with a 60-0 wipeout of Wilson . . yet to score an offensive touchdown . . . If Deep Creek's No. 44 looks suspiciously like Deon Dyer there is a reason. Paul Sinclair, a 6-2, 190-pound sophomore, is Dyer's half-brother . . . Cox punter Brian Anderson was penalized 15 yards for kicking the ball in the Falcons' 12-10 loss to Tallwood. Anderson dropped the snap and as the rush converged on him he simply kicked the ball off the ground, which is a penalty, even if you are the kicker action last week since breaking his wrist in the preseason and made 12 tackles, including a sack, blocked an extra point attempt and forced a fumble in the Wildcats' 16-7 loss to Maury.
- Robin Brinkley by CNB