Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 11, 1993 TAG: 9309110228
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
For Northside, it was the same unfortunate football story when it comes to playing with Magna Vista. The Warriors whipped their hosts 33-14 on Friday night to extend their perfect streak in this series to six.
The Vikings (0-2) dominated the second half statistically, recording nine first downs to Magna Vista's four, but that domination didn't show on the scoreboard.
"Sometimes, no matter how well you play, it's hard to compensate for great talent," Northside coach Jim Hickam said.
Great talent is what the Warriors (1-0) have, and they used it to make big play after big play.
"I was pleased for the first game of the season," said Don Bateman, the Magna Vista coach. "We have players who can score from anywhere on the field if we can get them the ball."
Evan Penn, the senior tailback and linebacker, proved that with a touchdown run of 44 yards on an option pitch when all the Warriors were trying to do was run out the clock.
Penn finished with 110 yards on 15 carries to pace Magna Vista's 155-yard rushing attack. He also scored on a 9-yard run in the first quarter.
Quarterback Rodney Redd completed four of seven passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Redd, who had 97 yards total offense, showed what he could do when he eluded what appeared to be a sure sack and rifled a 7-yard touchdown pass to Leroy Valentine in the third quarter.
Redd also turned a fumble recovery into a 24-yard touchdown.
"Magna Vista has two great athletes in the tailback [Penn] and the quarterback," Hickam said.
The first half was Magna Vista big plays and Northside mistakes.
The first Vikings gaffe, an errant pitch on an option play, gave the Warriors possession on the Northside 17. Redd rolled for 7 yards on the first play, fullback Lewis Hairston plunged for 1 on the second and Penn bulled his way through three defenders into the end zone on the third.
An apparent two-point conversion was nullified by a penalty, but it wasn't a problem. Penn backed up and kicked it through to make it 7-0 with 6 minutes, 12 seconds left in the first quarter.
The second of three Vikings fumbles happened on a sack of quarterback Shane Whisnant. Magna Vista started from its 37 and seven plays later was in the end zone again.
Redd zipped a 28-yard pass to flanker Marcus Toney on a post pattern for the touchdown. A run for two points failed, and the Warriors were up 13-0 with 2:05 left before halftime.
Northside didn't manage much offense when it did hold on to the ball. Magna Vista outgained the Vikings 103-40 and held the Vikings to two first downs in the first two quarters.
Redd was 3-of-5 for 57 yards and an interception in the first half.
Still, Northside battled back in the second half, scoring both of its touchdowns. Whisnant scored on a 2-yard run for the first touchdown, and Archie Roberts bolted 17 yards for the second.
See microfilm for statistics.
by CNB