The Virginian-Pilot 
                            THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, October 8, 1996              TAG: 9610080447
SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 
                                            LENGTH:   65 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** Churchland's Chatame Ward, Jamin Elliott and Marcus Doxie each rushed for more than 100 yards this season against Nansemond River. A story Tuesday said Kempsville in 1988 was the last team to have three 100-yard rushers in the same game. Correction published Thursday, October 10, 1996, page C4. ***************************************************************** YOU'RE UP THE CREEK IF YOUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM IS NOT AS GOOD AS DEEP CREEK

Some observations on high school football at the halfway pole:

Deep Creek is the measuring stick by which all programs in South Hampton Roads are compared. No area team has come within 21 points of the Hornets since they beat Oscar Smith 28-12 last year.

The race for the Goldblatt Award is wide open. Indian River's James Boyd, the preseason favorite, has posted disappointing offensive numbers (147 yards rushing; 29.7 percent passing). However he's also the ringleader on the area's top-rated defense. Kempsville's Zeb Clark is the area rushing leader, but has fewer touchdowns and a lower per carry average than teammate Alex Lleces. Deep Creek's Arnie Powell has rushed for 5 TDs and passed for 4 on the area's No. 1 team. Norview is 2-3, which practically eliminates quarterback/defensive back James Whitley.

The Beach District is more balanced than it's been in several years, but that doesn't necessarily bode well for the playoffs. When Tallwood barely beats Kellam - no matter how much the Knights have improved - you have to consider Kecoughtan the team to beat in Division 6.

Salem's Kevin Miller may the best placekicker in the history of South Hampton Roads. He has seven field goals this season and 14 for his career midway through his junior year. He is the only kicker leading his team in scoring with 31 points.

QUIZ: Western Branch's Rashad Cook, Keith Burnell and Marvin Urquhart each rushed for more than 100 yards last week in the Bruins' 40-19 win over Lakeland. When was the last time three South Hampton Roads teammates rushed more than 100 yards in one game and who were they? Answer at bottom.

SHORT YARDAGE: Norcom remains the favorite in the Eastern District, but look out for Booker T. Washington. The emergence of tailback Demetrius Scott, who rushed for 249 yards in victories over Churchland and Granby, has taken some of the pressure off quarterback Dominic Perry. As a result Perry has passed for three TDs in the past two games after throwing for only one in the first three games. ... Deep Creek's Terrence Mack has had four long touchdowns nullified dating back to last year's region final. The latest was a 90-yard kickoff return last week against Hickory. ... Norview played without leading receivers David Martin and Joe Jordan and lost five other players throughout the course of last week's 15-7 loss to Maury. Most of those players are day-to-day, including Martin (sprained ankle). He caught eight passes in his first two games and none in the past three.

QUIZ ANSWER: Kempsville's Chris McGarity (173 yards), Kevin Fonville (120) and Randall Evans (103) each ran for more than 100 yards in a 14-0 victory over Great Bridge in 1988. The only other time it was done since The Virginian-Pilot began keeping records occurred in 1987. Bayside's Kevin Blanding (215), Bernard Campbell (143) and Ernest McNair (102) did it in a 48-27 win over Cox. by CNB