DATE: Thursday, October 16, 1997            TAG: 9710160748

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   49 lines

FRIENDSHIPS STOP ON THE FIELD SATURDAY

It wasn't his intention, but in recalling a phone conversation he had last week with Hampton's Tony Morrison, Lydell Finley hit upon the essence of the Norfolk State-Hampton football rivalry.

``Tony and I played together since rec ball,'' the Norfolk State defensive back said. ``We're on the same team at Indian River. We'll always be friends.

``Except when we put the pads on Saturday. Then the friendship stops.''

It is these kinds of matchups that infuse the passion into the annual ``Battle of the Bay'' affairs. Hampton's Charles Jackson and Norfolk State's William Black once shared the same backfield at Maury. Spartans defensive back Robert Weaver, formerly of Great Bridge, used to pick off Pirate star Jay Clarke's passes when Clarke was calling signals at Manor.

And two years ago, Hampton's Hugh Hunter sacked Norfolk State quarterback Aaron Sparrow on first-and-goal at the Pirates 2 with nine seconds remaining to preserve a 23-18 Hampton victory. Hunter and Sparrow were teammates at Wilson High.

``Two friends, going at each other on the final play, those are the emotions that go into this game,'' Hampton coach Joe Taylor said.

Good thing, too, because for the third straight year, conference positioning won't be a factor. Hampton left the Spartans' former conference, the CIAA, three years ago. Norfolk State joined Hampton in the MEAC this season, but since the Spartans do not play a full conference schedule - their games do not count toward the MEAC standings. The Pirates will maintain their 3-0 league mark regardless of what happens Saturday.

But area bragging rights won't be Hampton's lone motivating factor against the Spartans. The Pirates will be looking to preserve their five-game winning streak while maintaining momentum for next week's showdown with fellow MEAC unbeaten South Carolina State.

Then there's the matter of last year's ``Battle of the Bay,'' a 14-7 Norfolk State victory and the Spartans' first over Hampton under coach Darnell Moore.

The Spartans have struggled to a 2-4 record in their initial MEAC campaign, something Taylor experienced last year and predicted for Norfolk State back in August.

``He said, `Last year, I took a whipping. This year, it's your turn,' '' Moore said. ``I said, `Joe, you're lying.' Evidently he knew something I didn't.''

But the Spartans say the frustrations they've endured are nothing another satisfying spanking of the Pirates can't cure.

``How big would it be?'' Finley said. ``How big was last year? The final game, their house. ... Another win would be very big. Very big.''

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