DATE: Friday, September 12, 1997            TAG: 9709120823

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   44 lines

NORFOLK ACADEMY FACES STIFF TEST ATLANTIC SHORES COULD END BULLDOGS' WINNING STREAK IN HAMPTON ROADS.

What is quickly shaping up as one of the best seasons for private-school football in Hampton Roads has its first big game today when Norfolk Academy plays host to Atlantic Shores Christian.

Norfolk Academy (1-0) hasn't lost in Hampton Roads since 1990. But seldom in that stretch have the Bulldogs faced a team as talented and explosive as the Seahawks (2-0).

``They're pretty good, very similar to last year,'' Academy coach Tom York says of the Seahawks.

Norfolk Academy won last season's meeting 40-23 but only after Atlantic Shores shocked the Bulldogs by spreading the field and passing its way to a 13-0 lead.

Norfolk Academy figures to be better prepared this time. Atlantic Shores quarterback Janson Greene has thrown seven TD passes and has two of the biggest outside targets around in 6-foot-6 Channing Robertson and 6-3 Demetrius Doss.

``We'll try to mix up defenses as much as we can,'' York says. ``You're always worried about kids with that kind of skill.''

Norfolk Academy's best defense might be a ball-control offense. The Bulldogs rushed for 336 yards in last week's 40-23 win over Hampton Roads Academy.

Claude Diggs carried seven times for 142 yards and three TDs, as the Bulldogs bolted to a 40-3 lead before York cleared his bench.

``Norfolk Academy is a machine,'' Atlantic Shores coach Scott Williams says. ``That's a testament to coach York.''

Depth was a key factor in last year's game, as the Bulldogs simply wore down the Seahawks. Williams says he began preparing for that possibility last month when he used all of his players in both scrimmages.

``We just couldn't hold them last year,'' Seahawks tackle Chris Connor says. ``This is our year to go all the way.''

Pick: Norfolk Academy 27, Atlantic Shores 20. A vote for the machine. ILLUSTRATION: HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Quarterback Janson Greene has thrown 7 TDs this season and leads an

explosive Atlantic Shores offense.

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