DATE: Saturday, November 22, 1997           TAG: 9711220671

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: JAMES BLACK

LENGTH: 31 lines

SOUTHAMPTON FACES A VERY SIMILAR SPOTSYLVANIA

Southampton's label of big and strong with a powerful running attack is a tag Spotsylvania also wears well.

``They're big, especially up front, and they come right at you,'' Southampton coach Little Parker said of his team's opponent in today's 1:30 p.m. Region I, Division 4 final.

Spotsylvania is highly dependent on its running game, too.

The Knights, two-time Group AA state champions this decade, run a Wing-T offense, which centers around Sharron Byrd, Larry Ricks and Tony Torain. The trio combined for more than 2,300 yards and 28 touchdowns with Byrd getting 170 yards and four touchdowns in last week's 27-7 victory over Lafayette.

Defensively, the Knights have been just as stingy, allowing just 36 points during their six-game winning streak.

``We go into the game knowing Southampton can hurt you with the running attack,'' Spotsylvania coach Tim Coleman said.

The Indians have a pair of 1,000-yard rushers, Torrey Goodwyn and Pervis Binns, but the duo was stopped last week. The two backs combined for 116 yards on 31 carries - Southampton's total offense.

Defensively, though, the Indians have not budged. Southampton has only allowed seven points in the last three games and kept Smithfield from scoring with first-and-goal from the 7 with less than five minutes left in a 14-7 win last week.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu