Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 25, 1993 TAG: 9309250213
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE ASHLEY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMS & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
As goal-line stands go, it wasn't the stuff of song and legend. It was enough, however, to propel Northside to a 7-6 non-district victory over Blacksburg on Friday night.
The Vikings' first-quarter stand may well have been the difference in the defensive struggle. Neither offense mustered 200 yards on the night, and first downs and points were given out as grudgingly as an old dog gives up his favorite spot in the shade.
Blacksburg (1-3) was left to ponder the what-ifs. What if the Indians had scored after their first-period first-and-goal at the Northside 9-yard line? Actually, it appeared they had. On fourth-and-1, fullback Nick Burroughs burrowed his head and shoulders across the goal line before a Vikings horde, led by Jeff Painter, Jack Beason and John Huffman, repelled him. Officials ruled the ball hadn't broken the plane.
"I'm sure the officials made a good call," Blacksburg coach Dave Crist said. "It's my fault for not taking a field goal there. It was a very poor decision not to put points on the board."
The Indians did keep Northside (1-2) in a deep field-position hole throughout a scoreless first quarter, but when the Vikings got their first break, they capitalized. Blacksburg's Tony Wheeler made a 16-yard punt return, but was hit hard and fumbled at the Northside 39. Chris McLain came up with the ball, and the Vikings, who had gained a total of 13 yards on their first two possessions, began a nine-play, 61-yard march.
Nimble quarterback Shane Whisnant was the catalyst, scooting around left end for a 28-yard gain and connecting with Brian Powell on a 22-yard completion on a key third-down play. On fourth-and-goal at the 1, McLain crashed in for the touchdown and a 7-0 Vikings lead with 5 minutes, 26 seconds to play before halftime.
That would be about it for the Vikings' offense, at least until a final drive ate up the last six minutes and accounted for Northside's only four first downs of the second half.
"We're making mistakes offensively that teams with less experience make," Northside coach Jim Hickam said. "We took a step in the right direction tonight. This was a must win for us because we have aspirations of being a much better football team."
Derrick Hollins came up with two interceptions to make the Vikings a little better - one to end the first half at midfield and another on the Vikings' 2 midway through the third quarter.
Blacksburg finally scored with 6:18 remaining on Greg Shockley's 2-yard lob to the corner to Jay Safford. An illegal-procedure penalty, one of 14 on both teams on the night, moved the ball back 5 yards on the extra-point attempt. That proved fatal as Shockley shanked the kick and left it short.
Northside took the ensuing kickoff with 6:12 remaining and played keep-away. The Vikings hadn't exactly set the world on fire offensively, but with the game on the line, Whisnant and Co. were up to the task. He hit Jay Stafford on successive third downs to move the chains, including a wobbly 21-yarder as he was leveled by Wheeler as he released the ball. \
see microfilm for box score
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB