DATE: Sunday, August 3, 1997                TAG: 9708010343

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 16   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, SUN SPORTS EDITOR 

                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

UNCERTAINTY DOMINATES AS PRACTICE OPENS THIS WEEK GRADUATIONS AND GRADES TAKE TOLL ON NANSEMOND RIVER AND LAKELAND.

For every turn on Lakeland and Nansemond River's path to success stands a roadblock that could temporarily impede progress.

The two Suffolk implants into the Southeastern District begin football practice Monday with major holes to fill.

At Lakeland, coach Ed Smither has to overcome a great loss in talent. Nansemond River, on the other hand, has to rebound from a terrible season and deal with literally not knowing who'll show up Monday.

``We won't have a full squad of people coming out until the 11th,'' Nansemond River coach Jerry Varacallo said. ``It puts us a little bit behind in knowing who's going to be there and it puts those kids a week behind in conditioning.''

The Warriors, who went 1-9 last year and finished winless in the district, will be missing some players until summer school is over on Friday. Nansemond River had 26 players who were academically ineligible when school ended in June. Varacallo knows of 10 prospective players who were trying to regain their eligibility in summer school. In addition, Varacallo has heard rumors that one of his better players may be transferring to Nansemond-Suffolk.

Despite the distractions, Varacallo figures the future could be no worse than the last season, which was quite a comedown from recent years, when the Warriors were regular playoff participants in Group AA.

``The shock of last year is over,'' Varacallo said. ``We're very aware of what it takes to be successful in this district and we'll take it one day at a time.''

Optimism isn't much higher at the other end of town.

Lakeland, which went 6-4 and finished fifth in the district last season, must replace eight two-way performers.

Among the graduated players were Darius Bryant, a 1996 All-Tidewater performer and 1995 state Group AA defensive player of the year, who has signed with North Carolina State, and Phoenix Long, who will attend Virginia State.

A strength for the Cavaliers will be the running back position. Travis Rawls led South Hampton Roads in rushing most of the '96 season while Kevin Knight, one of the area's top sprinters on the track, had a couple of big games as Lakeland's second option on the run. KEYWORDS: SPORTS FOOTBALL

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