DATE: Friday, October 31, 1997              TAG: 9710310856

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C8   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   39 lines

LEAN YEARS PAYING OFF FOR F. COLONIAL THOSE THRUST INTO STARTING ROLES EARLY IN CAREERS LEAD TEAM VS. OCEAN LAKES.

Necessity is not only the mother of invention but also a big reason why sophomores get thrust into the starting lineups of bad teams.

It happened at First Colonial two years ago with lineman Eric Miller and backs Lamar King, Raymond Johnson and Sokhan Om. The Patriots, hurt by the opening of Ocean Lakes the year before, went 2-8.

``We played those kids because they were the best we had,'' First Colonial coach Frank Webster said. ``There was no grand plan to get them experience so we could be good in two years.''

Maybe not, but that's what happened. First Colonial (6-2, 6-1) is tied with Kellam for the Beach District lead entering tonight's game at - where else - Ocean Lakes.

Maybe some of those Patriots should reach across the line and thank the the Dolphins for giving them the chance to play early in their careers. More likely, they'll try to pound Ocean Lakes behind the running of King and a defensive unit that has allowed more than one touchdown in a game only once.

King has rushed for more than 100 yards in four consecutive games and leads South Hampton Roads with 947 yards.

``Lamar has just been playing great,'' Webster said. ``He's going to be a great football player in college.''

Ocean Lakes (5-3, 4-3) still has an outside shot at gaining a share of the district title and a playoff berth. The Dolphins have been schizoid on defense the past month, allowing 0, 26, 0 and 21 points the past four games.

Webster is 7-1 in his career against Ocean Lakes coach Jim Prince.

Pick: First Colonial, 17-15 ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER

Lamar King has rushed for more than 100 yards in four straight games

to lead South Hampton Roads with 947 yards.

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