DATE: Friday, September 5, 1997             TAG: 9709050814

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   46 lines

CRABBERS FACE TOUGHEST FOEKECOUGHTAN IS THE LAST TEAM TO DEFEAT HAMPTON, WINNING 2 OF THE LAST 4 GAMES.

All the elements of a great rivalry will be on display tonight when Hampton meets Kecoughtan in a Peninsula District headliner at Darling Stadium.

The Warriors are the last team to beat the two-time state Division 5 champion Crabbers and have won two of the past four meetings. Three of those games went down to the last play.

Tonight's game matches father against son, cousin against cousin, coach against mentor.

Hampton coach Mike Smith's son, Bryan, is a sophomore kicker for the Warriors.

``It's been an interesting week,'' Smith said. ``Bryan's been on my sideline all his life. But all the kids on both teams know each other. We have four or five cousins who'll be playing against each other.''

Even Kecoughtan coach Curt Newsome studied under Smith.

``Playing Kecoughtan is like looking in a mirror,'' Smith says. ``They run more split backs, but everything else is Crabber plays.''

Smith hopes Hampton, ranked sixth in the USA Today Super 25 and riding a 28-game winning streak, executes better than it did in last week's 48-6 win over Heritage. The Crabbers turned the ball over twice in Heritage territory and the receivers did a poor job of finishing their routes, leading to Ronald Curry's 7 of 22 passing performance.

``I'm not so much worried about Kecoughtan as I am eliminating our mistakes,'' Smith said.

At least the Crabbers had a game to work out the kinks. This is Kecoughtan's opener.

The Warriors, defending Eastern Region Division 6 champs, are led by quarterback Jovonn Quillen and defensive tackle Marlan Hicks. Both are being heavily recruited.

As improbable as it seems no one will be surprised if the outcome rides on the last play again.

``Any time you play these guys and you say the last play decides it, you take it,'' Newsome says.

PICK: Hampton, 24-21. When in doubt, go with Ronald Curry. ILLUSTRATION: FILE PHOTO

Kecoughtan may be Hampton's biggest obstacle to the state title, but

Ronald Curry still makes the Crabbers the team to beat.

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