DATE: Friday, September 26, 1997            TAG: 9709261026

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C10  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: ROBIN BRINKLEY

LENGTH: 32 lines

EAST SUPREMACY IS ON THE LINE AT BOOKER T. HIGH

NORFOLK - The Eastern District spent the past three weeks establishing itself as the best league in South Hampton Roads. Now starts the process of determining which Eastern District team is the best.

The first major showdown occurs tonight when second-ranked Booker T. Washington (3-0) plays host to No. 7 Churchland (2-1). Last year Churchland came in 3-0 and Booker T. 1-2, but the Bookers held the Truckers to 91 yards in a 14-0 upset.

Many of the same players on both teams return, so Churchland's challenge figures to be moving the ball. The Bookers rank No. 1 in total defense (82.3 yards per game) and are tied for No. 1 in scoring defense (4.0 points per game).

``Churchland runs the veer option, which we don't see much, and has two good quarterbacks,'' Booker T. coach Larry Stepney said.

Those quarterbacks, Chatame Ward and Brandon Hall, combined for only 27 yards on 12 carries against the Bookers last year.

Stepney praised his offensive line for its performance in last week's win over Indian River. The Bookers put together a 15-play drive, all on the ground, to seal the victory.

``I didn't think we'd be able to push them around the way we did,'' Stepney said.

Pick: Booker T. Washington 22, Churchland 8. The Bookers have very few weaknesses.

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