'LIKE LIGHTING' FILLING A NEED FOR SPEED RECEIVERS CHANDLER, FLOURNOY LEAD BIRMINGHAM AGAINST CRENSHAW.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Staff Writer

A little advice to fans attending Friday night's City Championship football semifinal between Birmingham and Crenshaw.

Blink at your own risk.

Doing so might mean missing another long touchdown by Birmingham's Willie Chandler or De'Von Flournoy, two of the fastest football players in the state.

Individually, Chandler and Flournoy are dangerous weapons. Working in tandem at wide receiver, they're downright scary. Neither has been caught from behind this season, and together they've scored 18 touchdowns.

``They're both like lightning,'' quarterback James Beloff said.

Chandler, a senior, and Flournoy, a sophomore, both hope to come through with big plays at home against defending section champion Crenshaw (9-3), and a victory puts Birmingham (9-3) in position to win its third City title over the past five years and fourth overall.

Chandler, who runs the 100 meters in 10.8seconds, averages 20.3 yards on 34receptions, and he's scored 11 touchdowns -- including three on kick returns when opposing teams have been daring enough to kick to him. Flournoy, a top basketball player who's playing football for the first time, averages 30.7 yards on 17 receptions with seven touchdowns, including a 75-yarder.

With opponents always wary of Birmingham's passing game -- Beloff has passed for 1,942 yards and 19 touchdowns -- the running game has flourished behind Milton Knox, who has 1,952 yards and 23 TDs.

``Those two receivers have really opened things up for me,'' Knox said. ``When it's third-and-short, you never know if we're going to run or maybe throw deep. Willie Chandler and De'Von Flournoy can make a big play any time.''

Through the first six games, Chandler scored on three kick-return touchdowns, including a 99-yarder, but he has since seen the football just three times on returns. Naturally, he's longing for more opportunities.

``It's fun returning kicks. I really look forward to it,'' Chandler said. ``Plus, we have a great blocking scheme on kick returns, and that always helps when you're trying to break one.''

Flournoy barely knew a thing about football until Knox convinced him to join the team after watching Flournoy tear it up against classmates during a campus touch-football game last semester.

``That was during lunch, and Milton just said, `Hey, you should try out,''' Flournoy said. ``It's my first time, and things are going great. Will's alittle faster than I am. I think I'm more of a possession-type receiver. But Will, he just runs by everyone.''

Flournoy, who has a 40-inch vertical leap and can easily slam dunk a basketball even though he's only 5-foot-11, averaged 14.1 points on the freshman basketball team last year. He's become so enamored with football that he plans to give up his hoop dreams so he can dedicate himself tohis newest favorite sport.

And of course, no one is happier than coach Ed Croson, who has embraced the ``speed-kills'' football philosophy.

``Chandler and Flournoy are both game-breakers, and they both have great speed,'' Croson said. ``They're smart, they're tough for their size -- and boy are they fast.''

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CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1) Milton Knox

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

(2 -- 3) Birmingham High wide receivers Willie Chandler, left, and De'Von Flournoy have helped the team reach the City Championship semifinals.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

Box:

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