
DATE: Friday, September 5, 1997             TAG: 9709050832
SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   62 lines

BRUINS KNOCK OFF NO.1 GREYHOUNDS

No team has been more demonized this decade for coming up short in the big games than Western Branch. So Thursday night the Bruins held an exorcism.

The third-ranked Bruins beat No. 1 Norcom 12-7 before a standing-room crowd of more than 3,500 at Churchland that was surprising not so much for the outcome but for the manner in which it was accomplished.

Western Branch dominated both lines of scrimmage, rushing for 204 yards while holding Norcom to 30 yards in 21 carries.

The Bruins' defense, often the scapegoat of past failures, stopped Norcom on four plays inside the 20 late in the game.

``Our slogan this year,'' Bruins coach Lew Johnston said, ``is offense wins games and defense wins championships.''

This was a non-district game, but it's impact could be felt in November when playoff bids are proffered.

``This sets the tone for the whole season,'' said Keith Burnell, who rushed 29 times for 128 yards and scored both Bruins' touchdowns.

In an ironic twist, Norcom played without starting quarterback Kevin Jones, who sprained an ankle in the Greyhounds' last scrimmage. Last year Norcom capitalized on a season-ending injury to Western Branch quarterback Daryl Walton on the game's third play to beat the Bruins 37-20.

``Who's Jones?'' Bruins' defensive tackle Frank Lemagna asked innocently when asked about the junior quarterback's absence after the game.

Azaza Hudson filled in admirably for Jones, completing 6 of 15 passes for 120 yards. His 21-yard TD strike to tight end LeShaun Britt and Michael Lathan's extra point kick gave Norcom a 7-6 lead midway through the third quarter.

Western Branch's winning drive began at its own 41 with 11:50 to play and was aided by two major penalties.

A 3-yard loss by Burnell that would have set up a fourth-and-5 became a first down at the Norcom 39 when the Greyhounds were called for grabbing the facemask.

A personal foul call moved the ball to the 14 and on the next play Burnell burst off left guard, ran through TaRon Anderon's attempted tackle at the 10 and scored standing up to make it 12-7 with 8:01 to play.

Norcom would get only one more chance. After Ramon Hurdle sacked Hudson for a 17-yard loss on first down, the junor quarterback experiecing his first varsity action rolled out of the pocket and hit DeMarkeo Hurdle with a 68-yard gain to the Bruins' 16.

Three plays gained only two yard and fourth down from the 14 Hudson misread is receiver and threw incomplete.

Western Branch opened the scoring with an 80-yard, 19-play drive that took up all but 34 seconds of the first quarter. Burnell carried 11 times for 51 yards and scored the touchdown on a 3-yard sweep. ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

L. TODD SPENCER

Norcom's Azaza Hudson tries to cut between Western Branch defenders

during Thursday's 12-7 Bruins victory at Churchland High School.

Photo

L. TODD SPENCER

Western Branch's Keith Burnell gets behind his blockers on one of

his 29 carries Thursday against Norcom. The Bruins' workhorse

finished with 128 yards and scored two touchdowns.3