DATE: Wednesday, October 29, 1997           TAG: 9710290524

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 
                                            LENGTH:   47 lines

8-0 HAMPTON INVESTIGATED OVER PLAYER'S ELIGIBILITY FORFEITS COULD FORCE CRABBERS TO MISS PLAYOFFS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1976.

Hampton's nationally ranked high school football team, riding a 35-game winning streak, is under investigation by the Peninsula District for allegedly using an ineligible player.

If the district finds wrongdoing and orders Hampton to forfeit games, it could mean that All-America quarterback Ronald Curry, considered one of the top high school players in the country, has played his last high school football game. Curry has a separated shoulder and was expected to miss the Crabbers' lone remaining regular-season game and return in time for the playoffs.

Hampton, the two-time defending state Division 5 champion, is 8-0 this season and ranked No. 6 in the USA Today Super 25. The alleged ineligible player, whose name was not released, is believed to have appeared in all of Hampton's games except the opener against Kecoughtan.

A Peninsula District committee reportedly will meet Friday to discuss the situation and perhaps make a ruling. Bethel principal David Pearson, the district chairman, did not return phone calls.

Should the district rule against Hampton, the Crabbers likely would appeal to the Virginia High School League. The VHSL's only penalty for using an ineligible player is forfeiture of all games in which the ineligible player appeared.

Should Hampton have to forfeit more than two games, it's possible that the Crabbers would miss the Eastern Region playoffs for the first time since 1976.

``It's a witch hunt,'' Hampton coach Mike Smith said. ``I'm an honest person and I've worked hard for what I've done. I don't make the eligibility list, but I don't play anyone unless the principal has checked it out thoroughly.''

Hampton principal Michael Canty did not return a phone call.

The player in question transferred to Hampton either late last winter or early last spring from another Hampton high school, according to a district source who asked to remain anonymous. Because the player had no corresponding change of address, VHSL rules required that he sit out one semester.

Hampton officials reportedly thought they could satisfy that requirement by not allowing the student to play sports last spring. But the rules require that a student transfer within the first 15 days of a semester for that semester to count.

The district source said Hampton is now arguing that the player's family has a lease in the Hampton zone.

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