
DATE: Friday, November 14, 1997             TAG: 9711140908

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C8   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: ROBIN BRINKLEY

                                            LENGTH:   43 lines

BOOKERS, TRUCKERS READY TO GO DESPITE SUSPENSIONS

Eastern District co-champs Churchland and Booker T. Washington meet tonight in an Eastern Region playoff semifinal at Norview that is also a rematch from the regular season.

The Truckers won the first meeting 13-6, but there will be two major differences this time.

One is Churchland will be missing six players, three starters, for academic reasons.

``We were looking forward to a good game, and our focus was getting revenge,'' Booker T. Washington coach Larry Stepney said. ``But we'd rather do it against a full team.''

The other difference will be the conditions. Chittum Field is in the worst shape of the four playoff sites.

The combination of treacherous footing and the Bookers' top-ranked run defense will make it difficult for Churchland to run the option and repeat its 145-yard rushing effort of September.

Booker T. has relied on its defense to provide good field position and the passing of quarterback Dominic Perry to put points on the board. Perry has won the past three games with late touchdown passes.

Should it rain during the game, however, the Bookers could be severely limited in their ability to move the ball.

``The team that makes the fewest mistakes and gets the best field position is probably going to win,'' Churchland coach Ken Taylor said. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

CHURCHLAND vs. BOOKER T.

Where: Chittum Field, 8 p.m.

Records: Churchland 8-2; Booker T. Washington 9-1

Key players: C - RB Chatame Ward (154-883 rushing, 12 TDs), QB

Brandon Hall (55-470 rushing; 13-49-2 259 3 TDs passing); DE Justin

Scott (15 sacks); LB Mike Allen (99 tackles, 2 INTs); BTW - QB

Dominic Perry (61-134-4 691 12 TDs passing); WR-LB Kelvin Fuller

(29-333 5 TDs); DL Ronald Lee Marcus; DL Robert Jordan; DB Pernell

Salter.

The pick: Booker T. Washington, 8-7