
DATE: Friday, November 14, 1997             TAG: 9711140900

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C8   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: LEE TOLLIVER
                                            LENGTH:   40 lines

TALLWOOD LOOKS TO AVENGE SHUTOUT TO KECOUGHTAN

The Tallwood football team will be looking to get over the first-round hump when the Lions make their fourth-straight playoff appearance at Kellam against Kecoughtan.

They will also be looking to avenge last year's 30-0 loss to the Warriors tonight in a game in which the teams mirror each other. Both feature ball-control ground attacks and limited passing games. Tallwood tends to run straight ahead, while Kecoughtan likes to use its speed to get outside.

If the weatherman is correct about another weekend of sloppy conditions, the tide could turn in the Lions' favor.

``Last year, they were the more-experienced team, but this year we've got a good chance of winning the game,'' Tallwood coach Ken Barto said. ``This year, it's 50-50.''

Whatever the case, Warriors coach Curt Newsome expects a closer contest than last year.

``We're very similar, but they're huge up front,'' he said. ``We've been pretty good defensively, and they're ranked second (in South Hampton Roads).''

The Lions also are ranked No. 3 in the area in total offense, quietly racking up 262.2 yards and 23 points per game. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

KECOUGHTAN VS. TALLWOOD

Where: Kellam, 8 p.m.

Records: Kecoughtan 8-1; Tallwood 8-2

Key players: Kec - RB Carlton Morant (88-514 10 TDs rushing), RB

Chuck Forte (105-531 12 TDs rushing), QB Jovonn Quillen (29-76-8 467

7 TDs passing). WR Howard Dunlop (9-253 5 TDs receiving). Tall - RB

Marcus Hampton (102-615 4 TDs rushing), RB Lewis Floyd (92-524 7 TDs

rushing), RB Antoine Jenkins (74-421 4TDs rushing), RB Justin Ruffin

(41-320 1 TD rushing), QB Shermaine Reid (34-74 328 3 TDs passing),

WR Andre Walker (19-147 receiving), PK Nathan Huffman (23 XP, 1 FG).

The pick: Kecoughtan, 21-14.