Tonight on the gridiron

Published 12:00 am Friday, October 18, 2002

NANSEMOND RIVER

Opponents: Great Bridge High School

Time/Place: 7:30 p.m., Nansemond River

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Last season: The Wildcats beat the Warriors from one side of Chesapeake to the other in a 30-0 defeat.

Offensive thoughts: &uot;Nothing’s going to change for (our running game). If Great Bridge stops our other running backs, I’ll be around to pick up the slack.&uot; – Brandon Barnes, running back

Defensive line: &uot;We’re just going to keep doing our job, because nothing bad happens when we do that. I had one interception against Great Bridge last year, and I want some more now.&uot; – Joel Rivera, strong safety

Outlook: After four consecutive domineering victories, Nansemond River is the Southeastern District Cinder-ella team. But Great Bridge has always been a district powerhouse, so they should be more ready than Oscar Smith, Lakeland, and Deep Creek.

Pick: Great Bridge 30, Nansemond River 28

LAKELAND

Opponents: Hickory High School

Time/Place: 7:30 p.m., Lakeland

Last season: The Cavalier offense sputtered in a 13-0 loss to the Hawks in Hickory’s Homecoming Game.

Offensive thoughts: &uot;If you can’t score, you don’t win. We haven’t been executing and keeping with our blocks. Homecoming isn’t a big deal; it’s just another game.&uot; – Chris Kernan, offensive tackle

Defensive line: &uot;Our plan is to turn this season around and get some momentum for next season. This has been a battle all year, sometimes it’s like we’re losing our enthusiasm.&uot; – Charles Manley, defensive guard

Outlook: As I’ve written for the past three weeks, the Cavaliers have to win to salvage a respectable season. But as if their 0-3 start wasn’t incentive enough, they’re playing their Homecoming Game against a team they haven’t beaten for three season. The missing puzzle piece is their offense.

Pick: Hickory 14, Lakeland 10

NANSEMOND-

SUFFOLK ACADEMY

Opponents: Greenbrier Christian Academy

Time/Place: 7:30 p.m., Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

Last season: The NSA defense picked off five interceptions in a 27-7 victory.

Offensive thoughts: &uot;We need to pass more, because they won’t be expecting it. We’ll win if we play like we can.&uot; – Ronald Ricks, running back

Defensive line: &uot;I feel we’ll be okay on defense, but we need to be able to mix up our offensive plays. Our offense has been stale the past few weeks.&uot; – Ryan Moring, linebacker

Outlook: Moring said it all; the Saints need to get their offense rolling if they’re going to make it far in the TCIS. The offense has accumulated only seven points in the past two weeks, so Ricks, Ryan Johnson and the NSA offensive line need to kick things up a notch.

Pick: Nansemond-Suffolk 20, Greenbrier Christian 14.