Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 2, 1993 TAG: 9310020272
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JIMMY ROBERTSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Many Salem High School fans lost sleep before the football season began after hearing injured tailback Marcus Parker would miss at least half the season. They may have found a cure for their insomnia in the form of Jomo Nelson.
Nelson rushed for 145 yards on 23 carries and the Salem's defense held Lord Botetourt to 25 yards rushing as the Spartans whipped the Cavaliers 37-7 in a Blue Ridge District game Friday night at Salem.
The Spartans jumped ahead early in the first quarter. Lord Botetourt had forced Salem to punt, but the Cavaliers' Tim O'Quinn fumbled the ball and Salem's Mike Murphy recovered at the Lord Botetourt 9-yard line. On the next play, Nelson ran for a touchdown, and the extra point gave the Spartans a 7-0 lead.
"Their defensive end pinched down real hard, so I broke to the outside and it was wide open," Nelson said. "We went with what was working, and the running game worked great tonight."
Salem held Lord Botetourt on its next possession and took over the ball at the Cavaliers' 34-yard line after a 13-yard punt. Five plays later, fullback Chris Huff burst two yards up the middle for the touchdown that gave the Spartans a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Huff struck again in the second quarter. After Salem forced another Cavaliers punt, the Spartans went 38 yards on 10 plays, with Huff scoring from a yard out. Huff, who finished with 73 yards rushing on 15 carries, ran six times for 23 yards on the drive.
"We have to run the football if we are going to be successful," Salem coach Willis White said. "I thought that the offense really responded well tonight."
Salem's defense responded as well. The Spartans did not give up a first down until late in the second quarter, and they held the Cavaliers to six first downs overall.
"Our defense did a great job, especially containing the run," White said. "Our defense is ahead of our offense right now."
Lord Botetourt's points came late in the second quarter. Quarterback Chris Deweese hit Barry Williams for a 30-yard touchdown pass with 36 seconds left in the half to end a 10-play, 69-yard drive. The extra point helped the Cavaliers cut Salem's lead to 24-7 at halftime.
Any momentum the Cavaliers had at halftime disappeared early in the second half. After Lord Botetourt downed a punt at the Salem 3-yard line, the Spartans drove 97 yards in 16 plays. Mike Murphy took it in from the 3-yard line for a 30-7 Salem lead.
"They whipped us up front the whole game," Lord Botetourt coach Andy Ward said. "They were well-prepared and they made the right adjustments. We just got beat by a better football team tonight." \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB