DATE: Tuesday, November 4, 1997             TAG: 9711040452

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: - ROBIN BRINKLEY

                                            LENGTH:   78 lines

FOOTBALL REPORT

Western Branch's

Johnson headed for

Virginia Tech

The trend toward early college commitments continued Monday when Western Branch wideout Emmett Johnson said he will sign with Virginia Tech.

Johnson (6-3, 180) ranks sixth in the area with 18 catches for 306 yards and 5 touchdowns. Monday's announcement followed his official recruiting visit to Blacksburg last weekend.

``They told me they need receivers real bad and that a freshman, if he's good enough, could come in and start,'' Johnson said.

Johnson, who ran a leg on Western Branch's state championship 4x100-meter relay team last spring, was swayed in part by the presence of former Bruins Shyrone Stith and Lorenzo Ferguson on the Hokies' roster.

He also had an offer from Virginia but canceled a planned visit to Charlottesville this weekend, he said.

Johnson is the fifth area player to make an oral commitment and the second with Virginia Tech. Players previously announcing commitments are Lake Taylor's Ronyell Whitaker (Virginia Tech), Norview's Eric Hines (East Carolina), Ocean Lakes' Jermaine Lauzon (Virginia) and Indian River's David Blount (Virginia).

A sneak peek at

Championship Friday

Only three days left until Championship Friday and Football Report has the inside scoop on all three big games.

BEACH DISTRICT

Kellam (7-2, 7-1) at First Colonial (6-3, 6-2). If it's close: Kellam is plus-12 in turnover differential and 5-1 in games decided by 7 points or fewer. First Colonial is the most penalized team in South Hampton Roads and has been in only two games decided by a TD or less. War of the trenches: First Colonial is 6-0 when it outrushes its opponents and Kellam is allowing an average of 142 yards per game on the ground.

EASTERN DISTRICT

Booker T. Washington (8-1, 5-1) at Lake Taylor (7-2, 5-1). The Ronyell Whitaker factor: The Titans senior leads the district in rushing and scoring, but in three games against Booker T. has been held to a total of 128 yards rushing and 1 TD. The Dominic Perry factor: The Bookers' quarterback has thrown for five TDs in the past three games. But will he be able to read the Titans' coverages and go away from Whitaker when he's on top receiver Kelvin Fuller?

SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT

Deep Creek (7-2, 6-0) at Western Branch (9-0, 6-0). The injury factor: Deep Creek's Richard Rodgers, the area's top defensive line prospect, is out with a partially torn ACL. The Hornets gave up 144 yards rushing without him last week. Western Branch's Keith Burnell, the area's leading scorer, is still hobbled by a bad ankle and could see limited action. The Bruins' rushing total has declined three weeks in a row. Third-and-long: Deep Creek ranks 25th among 26 area Group AAA teams in passing yards. The Bruins' are much more balanced. Burnell's injury has allowed QB David Johnson to showcase his skills and he leads the district in passing.

Quick hits . . .

Maury quarterback Donovon Waefler has transferred to Catholic. Waefler, a sophomore, ranks sixth in the area in passing with 579 yards and equaled his career best of 137 yards last Friday against Granby. Catholic's season ends Thursday and athletic director Tom Kilpatrick said Waefler is not expected to suit up for the Crusaders . . . The five touchdown passes Granby's Dexter Reid threw against Maury matched his career total in 18 previous games. Neither Shawn Jones, who caught three of the TD passes, or Kevin Ott, who caught two, had scored this season . . . Several area players reached career milestones last week. Lake Taylor's Whitaker moved into 7th place on the all-time rushing list with 3,431 yards, passing former Titans standout Amos Lawrence. Ocean Lakes' quarterback Walter Amos passed the 2,000-yard passing mark with 2,032 yards. Green Run quarterback Charles Wilson passed the 2,000-yard mark in total offense with 2,078 yards, 1,313 passing and 765 rushing. Several others can reach significant milestone this week. Booker T. QB Perry needs 23 passing yards to reach 2,000; Norcom RB Taron Anderson needs 101 yards to break into the all-top Top 10; First Colonial's King needs 150 yards rushing to reach 2,000.

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