DATE: Thursday, September 4, 1997           TAG: 9709040638

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER  

                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

STARS WILL BE OUT WHEN NORCOM HOSTS W. BRANCH TOP-RANKED GREYHOUNDS, NO. 3 BRUINS FEATURE PLENTY OF WEAPONS.

A blockbuster weekend for high school football begins tonight with No. 1 Norcom playing host to No. 3 Western Branch at Churchland.

The spotlight shifts Friday night to Hampton where the Crabbers put their 28-game winning streak on the line against Kecoughtan at Darling Stadium.

Norcom and Western Branch return nearly 5,000 yards of total offense between them and feature marquee names such as the Greyhounds' TaRon Anderson and Kevin Jones and the Bruins' Keith Burnell.

Anderson is the area's active career rushing leader with 2,785 yards and Jones is the active career passing leader with 1,632 yards. Burnell led the area in scoring last season with 20 touchdowns and is considered one of the top prospects in the state by most recruiting services.

Neither coach, however, expects an offensive orgy. Of Norcom's 64 victories in this decade, 30 have been shutouts.

``Their aggression always concerns you,'' Western Branch coach Lew Johnston says. ``Their defense puts you in a position to make mistakes''

Western Branch's hopes of making the playoffs for the first time since 1976 are pinned on a retooled defense that didn't allow a point in two scrimmages.

``They have more speed than we're accustomed to seeing and they are blitzing and running to the ball more,'' Norcom coach Joe Langston says.

This is the second straight season Western Branch and Norcom have opened against each other, a result of the Greyhounds' move to the Eastern District.

The Bruins lost quarterback Daryl Walton with a season-ending knee injury on the third play last year and fell 37-20. The three previous meetings were decided by a touchdown or less.

``We're trying to downplay it a little from the standpoint that it's a non-district game,'' Johnston says. ``But it's tough.'' MEMO: No. 3 Western Branch vs. No. 1 Norcom

Where: Churchland High

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Last year's records: Western Branch (5-5); Norcom (10-2).

Analysis: Western Branch's talent is equal to or better than

Norcom's. But no one plays with more heart than the Greyhounds.

Pick: Norcom 27-21

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu