DATE: Friday, September 19, 1997            TAG: 9709190884

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: - ROBIN BRINKLEY

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   30 lines

PHYSICAL LIONS PRESENT A TALL CHALLENGE FOR SALEM

Tallwood coach Ken Barto thinks he has the answer for Salem's fastbreak offense when the Beach District teams meet tonight at Tallwood.

Nine linebackers.

No, the 2-9 defense isn't about to replace the 5-2 or the 4-3. What Barto means is that all of his defensive starters, with the exception of the tackles, have the speed, size and aggressiveness to play linebacker.

The proof is on the field where the gang-tackling, sixth-ranked Lions (2-0, 1-0) haven't allowed a defensive touchdown while holding opponents to an average of 83 yards per game.

That's less than Salem's offense gains in a quarter. Quez Smith leads the area in scoring with six touchdowns, and when the Sun Devils (1-1, 1-0) come up short they call on Kevin Miller. He kicked field goals of 47 and 36 yards last week and his first point tonight will be the 100th of his career.

Barto hopes to keep Salem at bay by controlling the ball behind a line that features three 300-pounders. The Lions opened both victories with long scoring drives that established a physical tone.

Tallwood won last year's meeting 16-13 on Mike Nagelin's field goal in overtime.

``I don't want to rely on no kicker to win this one,'' Barto said. ``I want to win it up and down the line.''

Pick: Tallwood 21, Salem 13. Lions' defense is the real deal.

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