DATE: Friday, October 24, 1997              TAG: 9710220173

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   65 lines

IN DISTRICT PLAY, HORNETS HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER OFFENSE, DEFENSE COMBINE TO KEEP DEEP CREEK TIED WITH WESTERN BRANCH.

CALL OFF THE search party.

A month ago, Deep Creek and new coach David Cox sought answers following a 1-2 start. Now four wins and 160 points later, the questions have momentarily ceased.

``We gave them a challenge before the Oscar Smith game,'' said Cox, a longtime Deep Creek assistant prior to this season. ``We told them if they wanted to go to the playoffs, they had to win the district.''

The turnaround has fourth-ranked Deep Creek (5-2, 4-0) tied with top-ranked Western Branch (7-0, 4-0) for first place in the Southeastern District. However, scoring machine James Green and the area's No. 2 offense are not the only reasons for Deep Creek's reversal of fortune.

In four district games, the Hornets have given up only four touchdowns. Two of the scores came on a kickoff return and a blocked punt return.

``We're not doing anything different,'' Deep Creek defensive coordinator Jim Garrett said. ``We're just doing a better job.''

A job that has entailed a lot of fine-tuning.

Since the season-opener against Booker T. Washington, the Hornets have made seven changes on defense. Some of them resulted in players switching positions: Chris Crocker going from safety to cornerback; senior Green splitting time at linebacker and safety.

Then there are players like junior Vegas Robinson, who began the season on the bench but now starts at linebacker.

``Coach Garrett's philosophy is to put you where you can best help the team,'' senior linebacker Jasmin Copeland said.

Right now, Garrett is lining his players up in all the right places.

Two weeks ago against Nansemond River, the Hornets allowed just five first downs and 38 yards in total offense. The Warriors' only highlight was an 85-yard kick return by Vernon Woodson - the one man Deep Creek centered its defense around that game.

Last week against Lakeland, the marked man was Kevin Knight.

Knight had scored 14 touchdowns going into the game and was the area's second-leading rusher.

The Lakeland junior was limited to just eight yards on five carries before coming out late in the first half with an ankle sprain.

Collectively, the team didn't do much better. The Cavaliers were held to 74 yards with the only score coming on a 16-yard blocked punt return.

``The front four has dominated,'' Copeland said. ``The down linemen have pressured the quarterbacks to the point they haven't been able to get rid of the ball.''

Senior Richard Rodgers and junior John Phipps have been at the center of the mayhem. Rodgers leads the team with 52 tackles and five sacks. He had a 22-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown against Hickory. In the same game, Phipps had three fumble recoveries.

With three district games remaining against Great Bridge, Indian River and Western Branch, the Hornets might need the same defensive effort in order to reach the playoffs.

``We just have to keep coming out with the same intensity and keep coming after people,'' Rodgers said.

And if they don't, the search party will reconvene. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON

Lakeland's Kevin Knight, the area's second-leading rusher, was

knocked out of the game by Deep Creek's Jasmine Copeland and

company.

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