THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509030195
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Tallwood shook off a jittery opening half to score 16 third-quarter points, and the Lions' defense held Great Bridge to just 34 yards rushing in the second half Saturday en route to a 28-16 win.
``We made a few mistakes, but we made up for them in the second half,'' said Tallwood quarterback Gilbert Harris, who completed 4of 9 passes for 65 yards. ``We knew how much we want to play 14 games this season and make it to the state final.''
``We're ahead of ourselves (compared to) last year,'' coach Ken Barto said.
Tallwood won its first six games and compiled a 7-4 record last season, including an appearance in the Division 6 playoffs.
``We made a few mistakes, but we played pretty consistently,'' Barto said.
Sophomore TaRon Anderson led the Lions offensively, scoring touchdowns of 14, 7 and 3 yards.
Both teams were making their first appearance of the season, and it showed. The Lions' first possession ended in an Anderson fumble, and the Wildcats' first drive was squelched by Amos Rawls' interception at midfield.
Rawls' grab and ensuing 20-yard return set up Tallwood's opening score, a 14-yard scramble by Anderson on third down for a 6-0 lead with 4:56 left in the first.
Great Bridge countered on its next possession. Adrian Hughes, the game's leading rusher with 100 yards on 19 carries, gave the Wildcats good field position with a 63-yard kickoff return.
The Wildcats' seven-play, 33-yard scoring drive included a Hughes conversion on fourth-and-2, and ended with Johnny Hall's 2-yard leap into the end zone. After a roughing-the-kicker penalty, Hall ran for the two-point conversion to put the Wildcats up, 8-6.
Harris gave the Lions the lead for good with 3:40 left in the first half, rambling 45 yards and escaping tacklers twice for a touchdown on a broken pass play.
``My offensive line held up real good,'' Harris said. ``They gave me plenty of time.''
With just a 12-8 lead at the half, Tallwood put the game out of reach in the third quarter on a safety and two touchdowns by Anderson.
Great Bridge quarterback Michael Cuddyer hooked up with Jason Buckley for a 73-yard touchdown with 10:35 left to play in the fourth, but the Wildcats never threatened again. by CNB