DATE: Friday, September 19, 1997            TAG: 9709190879

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER  

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   44 lines

BOOKERS VS. BRAVES SHOULD BE AN INTERDISTRICT DELIGHTNO. 2 INDIAN RIVER GAINS 445 YARDS PER GAME; NO. 3 BOOKER T. WASHINGTON GIVES UP ABOUT 400 FEWER.

You don't have to be a geometry student to know all of the angles on tonight's Booker T. Washington-Indian River football game.

Start with The Virginian-Pilot rankings. The Braves are No. 2 in South Hampton Roads and the Fighting Bookers are No. 3.

Should top-ranked Western Branch stumble against No. 7 Churchland tonight, the Booker T.-Indian River winner should ascend to No. 1.

Cut to the statistics. The Bookers (2-0) are No. 1 in total defense and scoring defense, allowing only 52 yards and 3 points per contest. The Braves (2-0) are No. 1 in total offense with an average of 445 yards per game.

``Booker T. is a great defensive team,'' Braves coach Bob Parker says. ``You can't fool them.''

Examine the intangibles, such as district pride. Indian River represents the Southeastern District, which has dominated Southside football for most of the past 10 years.

Booker T. Washington represents the resurgent Eastern District, whose 10-8 record against outside competition is the best in South Hampton Roads.

Check out the key matchups. Can the Braves block Bookers noseguard Ron Marcus, the most disruptive force under 200 pounds in the region?

Can the Bookers contain Braves quarterback Antwan Stukes, whose ability to slip tackles and make big plays requires incredible discipline on defense?

``He sees the field well,'' Bookers coach Larry Stepney says. ``You've got to put a shoulder pad on him.''

Ultimately, ask which team is playing the best? Indian River has been called for 145 yards in penalties and committed eight turnovers while Booker T. has been flagged for 82 yards and turned the ball over just twice.

Pick: Booker T. Washington 16, Indian River 14. The Bookers simply are playing better. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

NHAT MEYER/The Virginian-Pilot

Indian River's elusive quarterback Antwan Stukes will face Booker

T.'s top-ranked defense, but will it be disciplined enough to keep

him in check?

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