DATE: Friday, October 24, 1997              TAG: 9710220169

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAY LIDINGTON, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   51 lines

FIVE TEAMS SHARE EASTERN DISTRICT LEAD

That squeaking sound you hear is five football teams crammed into first place atop in the Eastern District.

Booker T. Washington, Norcom, Churchland, Lake Taylor and Norview are all tied with 3-1 district records going into this week's games, following a round of key matchups last week.

Churchland knocked off Norcom, setting up another key week of district games, beginning Friday with Booker T. versus Norcom at Churchland and Lake Taylor and Maury at Harbor Park. Churchland visits Norview Saturday.

With each passing week, the games only get more important and the pressure mounts on the teams, coaches said.

``We've already lost one,'' said Booker T. coach Larry Stepney, whose team lost to Churchland last month. ``We can't afford to lose another one.''

Though Norcom lost a one-game advantage in the district race by losing to Churchland last week, the Greyhound coaching staff will continue to lay things out for their players in a frank fashion when it comes to the district race.

``We held our own destiny,'' said Norcom coach Joe Langston. The players ``know what to expect and they know what can be beneficial.

``We were a game ahead. We had ourselves in a position where we could be in the driver's seat. We let it slip away.''

Like its competitors, Norcom has little breathing room from here to the end of the season. After tonight's game with Booker T., the Greyhounds face Lake Taylor and Norview - two of the other teams tied with 3-1 records.

``We're not giving up on anything,'' Langston said.

Also in that logjam at 3-1 in the Eastern District is Booker T. Washington, which beat Maury 14-0 last week.

With the district schedule in full swing and several teams knotted up at the top of the standings, every game now is bigger than life. Even when facing a district opponent which is struggling, like the Bookers did Friday, teams cannot afford to take it easy.

``Any time you play a city rivalry, the records are thrown out the window,'' Stepney said. ``Every game we play from now on is huge.''

The Bookers have been getting production from their running backs and offensive line. RB Kelvin Fuller caught two passes against Maury, one for a 19-yard touchdown.

``We have a good stable of running backs,'' Stepney said. ``On any given night, these guys will step up and show themselves.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by NHAT MEYER

Norcom's Dominic Joyner, 52, reaches for a fumble at the feet of

Churchland's Nehemiah Thrash, 60, during the Eastern District

matchup.

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