DATE: Friday, September 5, 1997             TAG: 9709050815

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   29 lines

LIONS HOPE TO STAY IN RUNNING VS. TITANS

Tallwood couldn't have asked for a better scouting report on Lake Taylor than the Titans' 33-31 victory over Salem last week.

All of Lake Taylor's beauty marks - 261 yards rushing, the all-around excellence of Ronyell Whitaker - and all of its warts - three long TDs allowed, 70 yards in penalties - were exposed for all to see.

Much of that isn't even new.

Tallwood's John Brady and Lewis Floyd combined for 198 yards rushing and three TDs in last year's 24-16 win over the Titans.

``You can run the ball against them,'' Tallwood coach Ken Barto says.

The bigger question is can the Lions stop the Titans?

Whitaker rumbled for 161 yards and three TDs against Salem and his improvisational two-point conversion pass to kicker Sean Harkins proved to be the difference in the game.

``He's supposed to run here and he runs over there,'' Barto said. ``You can't let him go.''

Tallwood has a huge edge in size, especially on the offensive line, and that could prove telling if the Titans' defense spends to much time on the field.

PICK: Tallwood, 27-20. Lions get their licks in on Whitaker and slowly wear down the Titans.

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