ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 26, 1996 TAG: 9610280137
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
MEMO: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.
When an offense executes to near perfection and a defense is staggering on almost every play, conditions are right for a lopsided football game.
That's a lesson the Blacksburg Indians learned quickly Friday in a 50-7 drubbing by the Northside Vikings.
The Northside defense held Blacksburg to just 3 yards rushing in the first half while the Vikings' offense amassed 261 yards on the ground. The disparity was more than enough to propel Northside to a 30-0 lead at halftime.
``Like I told [Blacksburg coach David] Crist, I was [as] surprised as he was with the score,'' Northside coach Jim Hickam said. ``They beat Rockbridge 40-0 last week and our game with Rockbridge went into overtime. The thing that impressed me most was how our kids rose to the challenge.''
Halfback James Taylor got things rolling for the Vikings (5-3 overall, 5-1 Blue Ridge), taking a 12-yard run straight up the middle for a score on Northside's opening possession. One minute, 27 seconds later the Vikings were on the scoreboard again, this time thanks to a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown by Northside's go-to man, Xavier Lee.
Touchdowns by the offensive and the defensive units left the special teams group itching to join in the fun. Scott Mashburn added his name to the scoring column next, returning a punt 70 yards for a score with 8:12 remaining in the half for an 18-0 Vikings lead. Mashburn found a seam up the middle and with one man to beat, punter Michael Davis, Mashburn threw a stiff arm and scooted past Davis for the score.
``We'll make no excuses,'' Crist said. ``Northside won every phase of the game, primarily blocking and tackling. This is as good as they've played this year - at least looking at the two films we've seen.''
The Vikings added two more scores in the first half, on runs of 32 and 43 yards by Taylor and John Doss, respectively. Doss finished with 143 yards on 15 carries to lead all rushers. Taylor was second on the team with 96 yards on 10 carries.
Blacksburg (3-5, 2-3) put together its most promising drive of the game to open the second half, advancing to the Northside 39-yard line. But on first-and-10, quarterback Tommy LaForce lost the handle on the snap and was sacked for a 15-yard loss. The drive ended, as most of the Indians' possessions did, with a punt.
Northside added two more scores on a 9-yard run by Doss and a 1-yard dive by Lee for a 44-0 lead before sending in the reserves.
``The other thing that was nice about this game is the kids who work so hard in practice but don't usually get much of a chance to play got in there tonight,'' Hickam said.
Blacksburg avoided a shutout with 1:35 left when reserve quarterback Phillip Hanbury, filling in for an injured LaForce, connected with wideout Scott Aden on an 8-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone. A fumble by Vikings backup quarterback Brad McCrady had set the Indians up on the 11-yard line.
McCrady atoned for his mistake as the minutes ticked off the clock, taking a snap around left end for a 52-yard touchdown with 54 seconds remaining.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON STAFF Sean Ward (left) of Northside shrugsby CNBoff Blacksburg defender Ken Showman and picks up a first down in the
second quarter.