DATE: Tuesday, September 23, 1997           TAG: 9709230378

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: ROBIN BRINKLEY

LENGTH: 79 lines

FOOTBALL REPORT

Worst is doing

his best to make

Kellam better

Worst to First!

Who cares if it's still September? Kellam fans have been waiting to read that since Chris Worst became the Knights' head coach in 1993.

The Knights, who lost 29 of their first 30 games under Worst, are tied for first place in the Beach District with Tallwood and First Colonial after consecutive victories over Ocean Lakes and Green Run.

That sent the crack research team here at Football Report scrambling through the archives where it dug up these nuggets: This is the latest Kellam has been in first place since 1985 and the Knights' two-game winning streak is their longest since 1989.

``It sure is nice going to school on Monday,'' Worst said. ``Especially for the players. Everybody wants to wear Kellam stuff.''

The Knights have received their share of breaks; Ocean Lakes played without quarterback Walter Amos and Green Run was penalized 149 yards. But give Kellam credit for capitalizing.

The Knights' plus-9 turnover ratio is the best in the area and Worst finally has the personel on defense to blitz while mixing coverages in the secondary. The Knights rank eighth in scoring defense, allowing only 11.3 points per game.

Kellam plays Salem this week and if the Knights win again we're ready. Kellam's last three-game winning streak came in 1987.

Eastern District gets

non-district bragging rights

The Eastern District won four out of six games against the Southeastern District last week to finish 14-9 in non-district play and lay claim to the title of best league in South Hampton Roads.

Easing the sting for the Southeastern District were the big nights Western Branch, Deep Creek and Indian River enjoyed at the gate. The three schools combined took in nearly $30,000.

Attendance figures are to hard gauge because high schools don't use turnstiles, but Deep Creek sold 3,800 tickets for Norcom and Western Branch sold 2,911 for Churchland. The figure for Indian River was not available.

Add in several hundred complementary tickets at each location and the attendance figures likely ranged from 3,200 to 4,000.

``We lost the game but we made money,'' Indian River principal James Frye said.

Chesapeake instituted a policy this year allowing parents of all athletes and cheerleaders to buy tickets for half price.

Big week for closing in

on career milestones

Three players reached significant career milestones last week:

Norcom's TaRon Anderson became the 14th player in South Hampton Roads history to rush for at least 3,000 yards. He needs 179 yards to pass, in order, Kevin Blanding, Boom Boom Jackson, Dink Hodges and D. J. Dozier to move into 10th place.

Green Run's Ben Root caught two passes last week against Kellam giving him 51 receptions for 1,016 yards.

Salem's Kevin Miller kicked three extra points against Tallwood giving him 102 kicking points.

Around the league

Tallwood coach Ken Barto is fast becoming a convert to smash-mouth football. With 215-pound Antoine Jenkins running behind the area's biggest offensive line, the fourth-ranked Lions rallied from a 14-0 deficit to beat Salem 22-21. Jenkins, a transfer from Buffalo, rushed 27 times for 147 yards after carrying the ball only three times previously . . . Ocean Lakes also discovered a star in waiting in junior Quinton Smith. With Walter Amos out against Kempsville, Jermaine Lauzon moved to quarterback and Smith took over at tailback. After carrying 9 times for 9 yards in his first games, Smith rushed 20 times for 197 yards against the Chiefs. Amos, who missed two games with ulcerated colitis, was cleared for light practice Monday. He is questionable for Friday night's game against Green Run.

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