DATE: Thursday, October 2, 1997             TAG: 9710010147

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   71 lines

LAKELAND, NANSEMOND RIVER FIRST? WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT?

What's this? Lakeland and Nansemond River atop the Southeastern District football standings with No. 1 Western Branch and No. 6 Deep Creek?

All right. Only one district game has been played, but still . . .

Lakeland beating Great Bridge last Friday, 27-14, is not as surprising as the Cavaliers' overall 3-1 record.

But the Warriors shutting out Indian River - the defending Southeastern champion - 7-0? A team that spanked Nansemond River, 63-0, last year? Come again.

This may not just be the biggest upset of the year, it might also be one of the biggest wins in the school's eight-year history.

``I felt like a point was proven,'' said the Warriors' Lavelle Townes, who recovered an Indian River fumble. ``I knew we could do it.''

Underdogs tend to think upset. But Nansemond River (1-3 overall, 1-0 district) didn't go in solely with a wish and a prayer.

``They couldn't be in awe of Indian River,'' Nansemond River coach Jerry Varacallo said. ``Indian River was not the team it was last year.''

For one thing, leadership has been a question mark with the Braves because of the graduation of James Boyd and David Selby - The Virginian-Pilot's player of the year and runner-up, respectively.

For another, Indian River is prone to turnovers and penalties. And miscues were a factor against Nansemond River.

The Braves were penalized six times for 72 yards. They also lost a fumble and had three interceptions. One interception led to the game's only score, a 33-yard run by Vincent Davis that shifted the momentum and sent Nansemond River on its way.

``After Vince scored the touchdown, we knew it was over because our defense was not trying to let them score,'' said Vernon Woodson, a key performer on the area's ninth-ranked defense. Woodson's third-quarter interception set up Davis' scoring run.

The Warriors, who had lost 10 straight prior to the upset, go for their first two-game winning streak in two years when they travel to Oscar Smith (1-3, 0-1 district) Friday.

Lakeland, which plays at top-ranked Western Branch (4-0, 1-0) Friday, is riding a three-game win streak and ranks fifth in South Hampton Roads in scoring (22.5 points per game).

``The players on my team have surprised me,'' Lakeland coach Ed Smither said. ``I am elated with the level of play they've given me.''

After losing its whole line to graduation and a tailback to academic problems, Lakeland was expected to struggle. A season-opening loss to Woodside, 0-10 last year, didn't change those expectations. But the Cavaliers have responded.

``It seems like at the end of the first half of all our games, things are not going the way we want so we use that to pump us up,'' Lakeland's Sam Dunn said. ``After halftime, we're ready to play.''

The Cavaliers have overcome second-half deficits in two of their three wins.

In Lakeland's second game, the Cavaliers trailed Nansemond River 14-12 with less than five minutes left. However, the Warriors botched the snap on a punt that Lakeland recovered and eventually turned into a Kevin Knight touchdown for an 18-14 victory.

Two weeks later against Warwick, Lakeland scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns for a 32-18 victory.

And last week against Great Bridge, the Cavaliers trailed 14-8 in the third quarter but scored the final 19 points.

``We're not giving up,'' said Knight, who leads the Cavaliers with 460 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. ``We're staying together.''

And if for just one week, staying together has them on top. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

NR coach Jerry Varacallo

Lakeland coach Ed Smither

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