THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 29, 1996 TAG: 9610290440
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 73 lines
It's ER against Seinfeld. Independence Day against Twister. Hertz against Avis.
It's No. 1 against No. 2 and it's finally here.
Top-ranked Deep Creek travels to No. 2 Indian River in the last regular-season matchup of unbeaten teams Friday night with the Southeastern District title at stake along with insufferable bragging rights for another year.
And who should have the early line on this epic but Football Report. Better yet we give it to you both ways.
3 reasons Deep Creek will win:
1. The Hornets make fewer mistakes. Deep Creek leads the area in turnover differential at +15. Indian River is -1.
2. Arnie Powell is 32-2 as the Hornets' starting quarterback and provides stability and experience at this crucial position.
3. Indian River's sophomore quarterback, Antwan Stukes, is most effective when keeping the ball on the option. But you can't run outside on Deep Creek.
3 reasons Indian River will win:
1. The Braves' David Selby is the most dangerous game-breaker in South Hampton Roads. He has caught 8 touchdown passes and returned three punts and one interception for TDs.
2. An injury to Deep Creek's James Green has weakened the Hornets at two key positions, fullback and inside linebacker.
3. The Braves have never won a district title, not with Mike Voight, William Fuller or Tony Morrison. This is James Boyd's last chance and the law of averages says the Braves have to win sometime.
MORE DEEP CREEK: Coach Jerry Carter went to great lengths Monday to distance himself from a small group of fans that began chanting ``We Want Hampton'' late in the Hornets' homecoming win over Lakeland.
``As far as this school and team are concerned, there has been no mention of Hampton,'' Carter said. ``I want to make it perfectly clear that we respect Indian River. They are the state champs in Division 6 and we just hope we can be competitive Friday.''
POSTSEASON PATTER: The door is rapidly closing on playoff aspirants. Barring any upsets the Division 5 field will be Hampton, Deep Creek, Indian River and Norcom. If Deep Creek goes undefeated it should edge Hampton for the top seed and would play Indian River, the wildcard, again in the semifinals, according to tournament coordinator Paul Palumbo.
In Division 6 Kempsville and Tallwood are both 7-1 and tied for first place in the Beach District. If both win out the Chiefs would receive the district's automatic bid on the strength of a higher power rating and be seeded first as a district champion. Kecoughtan looks like a lock to finish 9-1 and would be seeded second, followed for now by Tallwood and Bethel. Also because Hampton and Kecoughtan share Darling Stadium the Warriors' semifinal game would be moved to Saturday night.
STREAKING: Oscar Smith's 42-7 win over Hickory last week marked the first time the Tigers have scored 40 points since The Pilot began keeping records in 1969. Oscar Smith (5-3, 4-1) has won four in a row since losing to Deep Creek and still has a shot at the Southeastern District title . . . Norview (5-3, 4-1) is another team making a late-season run. The Pilots have won three in a row and five of their last six, despite injuries to receivers David Martin and Joe Jordan, running backs Larry Austin and Eric Hines and quarterback James Whitley. ``We hold our team meetings in the training room,'' coach David Heath says.
MILESTONES: Indian River's Boyd reached the the 2,000-yard career passing plateau (regular-season games only) last week with a 69-yard TD toss to Selby. Boyd has 2,033 yards passing. . . Kempsville's Alex Lleces reached the 2,000-yard career rushing plateau with 74 yards against Cox. Lleces has 2,011 yards. by CNB