DATE: Friday, October 10, 1997              TAG: 9710100881

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER  

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   42 lines

A MUST-WIN SITUATION FOR INDIAN RIVER STANDING IN THE WAY OF ITS PLAYOFF HOPES, HOWEVER, IS NO. 1 WESTERN BRANCH.

``Do we have to win? No question,'' Indian River coach Bob Parker says. ``We've put ourselves in a bad predicament.''

A loss tonight would leave the Braves (3-2, 1-1) two games behind Western Branch (5-0, 2-0) in the Southeastern District standings and almost certainly needing a wildcard to make the playoffs. It also would leave Indian River at 3-3, and no team with more than two defeats has made the Division 5 playoffs as a wildcard since Warwick in 1990.

To spring the upset, Indian River needs to contain the area's highest-scoring offense while figuring out a way to get more points from its own sputtering attack.

Western Branch is averaging 43.5 points over the past four games and 37.2 overall. Halfback Keith Burnell leads the area in rushing with 670 yards and in scoring with 94 points.

``We feel the way our offense is now, Indian River will have to play well to keep us out of the end zone,'' Bruins coach Lew Johnston said. ``But they've done that before.''

The Braves won last year 24-12 as Antwan Stukes passed for two touchdowns and ran for one. But Stukes was moved to wideout last week after a pair of inconsistent performances. Jamaine Winborne started at quarterback.

Indian River has been hurt by injuries but will have tackle David Ware and guard Nick Capolarello back on the offensive line. Also, wideout David Blount practiced this week after missing most of the past three games with a pulled hamstring and could play.

Pick: Western Branch 27, Indian River 7. The Bruins are hitting on all cylinders. ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER/File photo

Keith Burnell leads the area in rushing with 670 yards and in

scoring with 94 points. He's one reason Western Branch is No. 1.

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