DATE: Friday, November 21, 1997             TAG: 9711210920

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   92 lines

DEFENSE, NOT THE OFFENSE, CARRIES BRUINS FOR A CHANGE WESTERN BRANCH ALLOWED JUST 60 POINTS ALL YEAR, A SCHOOL RECORD.

The list of people responsible for Western Branch's record-setting defense this season is longer than the credits for a Hollywood movie and even includes a female star.

There is head coach Lew Johnston . . . assistants Robert Decker, Jeff Beard Norcom coach Joe Langston . . . players Omar Hurdle, Frank Lamagna, James Jarman, Avon Hodges, Lawrence Ward, Anthony Wolfe, Kenny Moseley, Roman Hurdle, Troy Outland, Jarnae Somerville, Doug Casper, Jeff Clayton, Reggie Bonney, Jeremy Cooper, Drew Delk . . . movie star Whoopi Goldberg.

Whoopi Goldberg?

``My daughter Mandy is a movie freak,'' Johnston says, ``and one night before the season we were watching ``Sister Act 2'' for probably the 13th time. There's a scene where Whoopi goes in a classroom and the kids are acting up and she starts singing a rap.

``If you want to be somebody, if you want to go somewhere, you've got to wake up and be somebody. I said to Mandy, `Run that back.' That was just what we needed.

``If we wanted to go somewhere, to win a championship, we had to wake up and pay attention. I played that scene for the team on the first day of practice, and if you sing it now they'll join in.''

That might sound silly, but an 11-0 record, the school's first Southeastern District title in 21 years and a date tonight with Kecoughtan in the Eastern Region Division 6 final is more intoxicating to Western Branch than a shot of 150 proof rum.

Until now, Bruins have always wanted to be offensive players. Western Branch annually ranks among the area's highest-scoring teams and was No. 1 this season.

But for the first time in Johnston's 13 seasons, the Bruins placed in the top five (second) in scoring defense, allowing a school-record-low 60 points. That's a 125-point improvement over 1996 and 15 points fewer than the old school record of 75 set in 1975.

``For a long time the attitude around here was that defense is something you do until you get the ball back,'' Johnston said.

The result was a suspect defense that often broke down in the big games.

``Hammer me for that,'' Johnston said. ``I used to put the best 11 players on offense, and if they were good enough, they split time on defense. Credit Sam Warren for changing that. Last year we began playing the best kids on defense, and now if someone needs a break he gets it on offense.''

It was about the same time that Johnston spent a week at Virginia Tech studying the Hokies' defense.

``We've adopted their attacking style,'' Johnston said. ``We don't sit back and read anymore. We turn our ends loose.''

It takes a certain type of player - physically and mentally - to make that work. The physical part was already in place.

``All 11 of our defensive starters run the 40 in at least 4.7 (seconds) and half of them run better than 4.5,'' Johnston said. ``Some colleges would like to have the speed we have. Of course, we don't have their size.''

That doesn't mean the Bruins are small.

Tackles Frank Lamagna (6-1, 265) and James Jarman (6-2, 245) supply the beef and are supported by inside linebackers Anthony Wolfe (6-1, 210) and Kenny Moseley (5-11, 215).

Wolfe is the leading tackler with 90 first hits, and Moseley, called ``Flash,'' is the defending state 110-meter hurdle champion.

Avon Hodges, the strong-side end, is 5-11, 225. Omar Hurdle (6-0, 185) is the attack end and has a team-leading 12 sacks.

The outside linebackers are Roman Hurdle (6-2, 195) and Lawrence Ward (6-2, 185).

The three-deep secondary features speedsters Doug Casper and Troy Outland at the corners with Jarnae Somerville and his seven interceptions at safety.

Jeff Beard joined the staff in mid-September after Warren stepped down for medical reasons. He had spent his entire career coaching against Western Branch at Indian River and Deep Creek.

``The biggest difference I saw was the team speed,'' Beard said. ``These kids are quick enough to cover up their mistakes.''

A gratifying offseason of weightlifting and agility work convinced Johnston the Bruins had the tools to be successful on defense. All that remained was establishing a mind-set.

``We challenged the players to be relentless,'' Decker said. ``That's the key word we've used all year, and they responded.''

The Bruins finished seventh in the area in total defense, giving up 172 yards per game. But only once, in a 15-12 victory over Deep Creek, did they allowed more than one touchdown in a game.

``We play our best near the goal line,'' Wolfe said.

That's part of the mind-set Decker mentioned.

``We've got the tools, and we've got the talent,'' said Reggie Bonney, a backup tackle. ``Now we've also got the want.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

NHAT MEYER/The Virginian-Pilot

Inside linebacker Anthony Wolfe, here warming up before practice,

anchors Western Branch's defense, leading the team with 90 first

hits.

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