Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 18, 1993 TAG: 9309180262
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JIMMY ROBERTSON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
\ In a game two of Timesland's better rushing offenses expected to dominate, a defense controlled the line of scrimmage and an unlikely fullback gained most of the rushing yards Friday night.
William Byrd used a tenacious defense to hold Glenvar to 32 yards rushing, and Michael Poindexter rushed for 143 yards as the Terriers defeated the Highlanders 32-7 in a non-district game in Vinton.
"Our defense is the strongest part of our team," said Jeff Highfill, William Byrd's head coach. "We've really got some great kids on that side of the ball."
The Terriers' offense took control in the second half. Leading 13-7, William Byrd forced a Glenvar punt on the Highlanders' first possession and took control at its 23.
Jason Criss capped a 17-play, eight-minute drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, but the main ball carrier was Poindexter, who rushed six times for 43 yards during the drive. Poindexter's 23-yard run set up the touchdown that put the Terriers up 19-7.
"I usually get 10 or 12 carries a game," said Poindexter, who rushed 17 times. "I got more carries tonight and was more able to get into the flow of the game."
Glenvar's offense, which has sputtered in recent weeks, did not fare any better on its next possession. Quarterback Joey Taylor, making his first varsity start, fumbled, and the Terriers' Mike Hutton recovered at the Glenvar 35-yard line.
Four plays later, Matt Bryant, who completed six of 11 passes for 101 yards, found Poindexter in the flat for a 9-yard touchdown pass. The kick failed, but Byrd led 25-7.
"We started Taylor because we wanted to change things up," said Glenvar coach Brian Hooker. "He did not play bad. We simply could not handle them up front."
The Terriers' defense held Glenvar's top rushing tailback, Eric East, to 1 yard on seven carries. Chad Wallace led the Highlanders with 34 yards on 12 carries.
"We worked hard all week in practice at containing the run outside," Highfill said. "We wanted to funnel everything back inside to Poindexter and our defensive linemen."
The Terriers jumped on Glenvar early in the first quarter. After forcing a Highlanders punt, the Terriers took over at their 26. A 12-play, 74-yard drive culminated in Poindexter's 2-yard touchdown run.
Byrd finished with 260 yards rushing on 43 carries.
Glenvar's only score in the game came late in the second quarter. The Highlanders had possession at their 35 when Taylor, who completed five of 10 passes for 102 yards, hit Josh Harth on a 62-yard pass play to the Byrd 3-yard line. Two plays later, Wallace took it in for the touchdown.
\ see microfilm for box score
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB