THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 2, 1994 TAG: 9409020757
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines
The first matchup of Top-10 teams highlights a five-game schedule of South Hampton Roads' high school football action tonight.
Deep Creek, ranked third in the area, will host No. 10 Booker T. Washington at 7:30 p.m. in a game featuring two of the area's premier running backs - the Hornets' Deon Dyer and the Bookers' Michael Basnight.
For the second straight night, Chittum Field will serve as the site for a Norfolk doubleheader, with Wilson taking on Granby at 3 and Norview playing Indian River at 7:30.
In other games, Tallwood will travel to Great Bridge, Nansemond-Suffolk is at Atlantic Shores and Greenbrier Christian visits Benedictine in Richmond.
A rundown of tonight's games:
Booker T. Washington vs. Deep Creek
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Deep Creek
Last year: Did not play
Outlook: The game features the much-anticipated debut of Basnight, a 6-2, 208-pound transfer student from North Carolina who rushed for more than 3,200 yards the past two years. A lot of hype has also centered around the talent of Deep Creek, so much so that coach Jerry Carter has to wonder whether some of it has gone to the players' heads. The Hornets have been sluggish and mistake-prone in a pair of scrimmages. This could mean a lot of no-nonsense, power football, with fullbacks Dyer and Dumeka Haskett carrying much of the load.
Tallwood vs. Great Bridge
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Great Bridge
Last year: Did not play
Outlook: Great Bridge slipped last season and Tallwood improved, but both wound up at the same point - with a 2-8 record. Consequently, this shapes up as the most even match-up of the night. Success in two scrimmages has Tallwood coach Ken Barto convinced that the Lions can run by using nine different running backs behind a big offensive line. The Wildcats have had things a bit rougher in scrimmages, in part because of the quality of the opposition - Lake Taylor and Green Run. Still, the Wildcats seem to have developed a passing game, as receivers Bryan Curtis and sophomore Ryan Anderson have been two of the team's preseason standouts.
N-SA vs. Atlantic Shores
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Site: Atlantic Shores
Last year: Did not play
Outlook: Forget the fact that Atlantic Shores didn't have a varsity team last year. With their stunning 20-13 victory over Isle of Wight last week, the Seahawks showed they are indeed a dangerous team. Atlantic Shores got big plays in all areas last week - an 80-yard TD pass, 147 yards rushing from D.J. Jordan, and nine sacks on defense - and will probably be a handful for anyone on the schedule. Nansemond-Suffolk's focus on this game has been overshadowed by the death of teammate Kevin Blanchard. Blanchard died Monday evening from head injuries sustained in a car accident. Funeral services were held Thursday. It remains to be seen what impact this tragedy will have on the Saints' performance.
Indian River vs. Norview
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Chittum Field
Last year: Did not play
Outlook: The Braves lost a lot of players from the area's best offense last year, but this year's group talks confidently of having an equally formidable attack. Indeed, the Braves seem to have quality weapons at all the skill positions. It all shapes up as a tough assignment for the rebuilding Pilots, who seem to be rallying behind new coach Will Robinson. Norview will try to keep the Braves' high-powered offense off the field by running the ball behind big linemen Basley Carlisle and Dominique Edwards.
Wilson vs. Granby
Time: 3 p.m.
Site: Chittum Field
Last year: Granby won, 34-12
Outlook: For the Comets, the spotlight will finally shift from the courtroom - where linebacker Lorenzo Thompson continues to challenge the Virginia High School League's age-eligibility rule - to the football field. Thompson, 19, will not play tonight. Granby didn't throw the ball much last season, but appears to have an air game now with quarterback Alan King and receivers Roosevelt Westbrook and Desmond Thornton. This tactic could be particularly effective against the Presidents, who play a defense designed to stop the run. Wilson will fight fire with fire, throwing the ball at virtually every turn out of its run-and-shoot offense.
Greenbrier vs. Benedictine
Time: 4 p.m.
Site: Benedictine
Records: Benedictine, 1-0; Greenbrier, 0-1.
Last year: Benedictine won, 21-12
Outlook: Benedictine (4-5 last year) opened its season last week with a 21-12 victory over Huguenot Academy. Greenbrier lost to Fuqua, 22-0.
The size advantage belongs to Greenbrier, particularly on both lines. But success for the Gators today will probably hinge on how well they can stop Benedictine's speed, particularly tailback Bo Harris, the Richmond-area's third-leading rusher last season with 1,241 yards (in nine games) and 13 touchdowns. by CNB