DATE: Friday, September 26, 1997            TAG: 9709261027

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C10  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   40 lines

TALLWOOD LINE A TOUGH TEST FOR FC

The big keep getting bigger.

Fourth-ranked Tallwood inserted yet another behemoth on its offensive line last week and it wasn't to improve the Lions' pass blocking.

``We outweigh most teams by 50 to 75 pounds across the line,'' coach Ken Barto said, referring to super heavyweights Brandon Langhorne (6-1, 350), Lamar Stevens (6-2, 330), Sherwin Joseph (6-1, 316) and John Dunn (6-6, 295). ``We're going to keep playing power football until somebody stops us.''

The challenge tonight falls to sixth-ranked First Colonial and the winner could wind up alone atop the Beach District. Tallwood (3-0, 2-0), First Colonial (2-1, 2-0) and Kellam (2-1, 2-0) are tied for first. The Knights visit Salem, which took Tallwood into overtime last week.

Tallwood is averaging 214 yards per game on the ground and has had at least one long, time-consuming TD drive in each game.

``They are four yards and a cloud of dust,'' First Colonial coach Frank Webster said of the Lions. ``But a lot of things can happen in a football game. Hopefully some of them will go our way.''

The Patriots' defense, led by tackle Eric Miller, made things happen in victories over Kempsville and Princess Anne. First Colonial has a plus-5 turnover differential to Tallwood's minus-1 and has a decided edge in the kicking game.

But that might not be enough for the Patriots to overcome their lack of a passing attack. Quarterbacks Colin Mitchell and Adam Wingfield have completed only seven passes between them, putting added pressure on fullback Lamar King.

Pick: Tallwood 21, First Colonial 7. Tough to make a living running against the Lions. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

L. TODD SPENCER/The Virginian-Pilot

Lamar Stevens, Tallwood's 6-foot-2, 330-pound offensive lineman,

clears the way for Dennis Freeman in the Lions' victory over Cox

Sept. 12.

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