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
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.