DATE: Thursday, October 2, 1997             TAG: 9710010148

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT                     LENGTH:   71 lines

ISLE OF WIGHT CHARGING THROUGH PERFECT SEASON

NO, THE WALLS can't talk in the Isle of Wight Academy locker room. But that still doesn't mean you don't need to watch what you say when you're behind them.

See, those walls are awfully thin. And when football teams that try to fire themselves up by talking trash about the undersized home team, the Chargers can hear every word.

Two weeks ago, for example, Atlantic Shores' Seahawks couldn't contain their overconfidence after sizing up the Chargers and unknowingly fired their opponents up with boastful pre-game locker room talk.

``This win is in the pocket,'' one Seahawk proclaimed.

Guess there must have been a big 'ol hole in that pocket, for the Seahawks got torched, 34-8, and became just another speed bump on the Chargers' surprising cruise to one of the best starts in school history.

Isle of Wight is currently ranked second in the state private school poll, its highest ranking ever. And the Chargers will take a 5-0 record into into Friday night's game against Tidewater Academy. The last time the Chargers got out so fast, assistant coach Monroe Wells was an all-conference guard and linebacker on an Isle of Wight team that won its first 10 in 1984.

``I thought maybe next year we might do something like this,'' tight end/safety Michael Teague said. ``But I honestly didn't think we'd be this good this year.''

The Chargers' opponents don't believe it, either. And why should they? Isle of Wight has just 17 varsity players, two seniors and one player, 210-pound junior lineman J.V. Oliver, that weighs over 200 pounds.

But if the Chargers are too small to succeed, no one's gotten this across to the players.

``We're used to it,'' 189-pound defensive tackle Justin Harrington said. ``I don't think anybody ever lines up against a 300-pounder and says, `Naw, I can't take this guy.' ''

Still, head coach Dale Chapman rarely puts his Chargers in this position, opting instead for trap plays, angle blocking and playing gaps to counter his team's lack of size.

``A lot of people have sore knees after they play us because of the way we cut block,'' Charger lineman Chris Spady said.

The Chargers also benefit from extensive experience playing together. Several of the players have been teammates since Pop Warner ball at age seven. Harrington considers himself a newcomer - he's only been at Isle of Wight five years.

``We never recruit,'' Harrington said. ``Everybody on the team has been here awhile.''

Indeed, most of the players are veterans of a junior varsity program that has gone 17-1 over the past three years.

Although the Chargers are heavy favorites to continue their winning ways against Tidewater Academy, the schedule toughens considerably the following week when they play state top-ranked Fuqua. Games against Brunswick Academy and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy should also be challenging.

And then there's the state playoffs, an eight-team tournament the Chargers will almost certainly qualify for for the third straight year.

Quantico has eliminated Isle of Wight in the first round the past two years

``But you know, to tell the truth, with this group, I wouldn't mind playing 'em again this year,'' Wells said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER

Four anchors in the Isle of Wight Academy defense are, from left,

Van Williams, Griffin Williams, William Doggett and Chris Spady. The

Chargers are 4-0 this season and have outscored their opponents

136-16.

Graphic

TWO-WAY CHARGERS

[For a complete copy, please see microfilm.]

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