Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 2, 1993 TAG: 9310020279
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WADE KENDRICK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Vikings, scoring on every possession in the first half, completely dominated the Knights en route to a 30-0 non-district football victory.
Northside (2-2) compiled 396 yards in total offense and 21 first downs while limiting Cave Spring to 5 yards and two first downs.
"We're a stacked team, we just hadn't shown it yet," said Northside halfback Brian Powell, who rushed for 80 yards and one touchdown.
The Vikings, benefiting from a muffed kickoff return by Cave Spring, took a 13-0 lead before the Knights were able to run a play from scrimmage. From there it only got worse for Cave Spring (0-4).
"We were expecting a close game," said Shan Whisnant, Northside's quarterback. "But we got them down early and it's hard to come back from two touchdowns down."
Northside, known for its wishbone attack, had been been running the offense with an unbalanced line with little success this year. After watching Army run the wishbone with a balanced line,Hickam decided that's what the Vikings needed to do.
"We had been using three down linemen and a wide receiver on one side and one lineman and a tight end on the weak side," said tackle Jack Beason. "Putting two down linemen on each side of the ball enabled us to run better on both sides of the ball."
Whisnant's spectacular 21-yard run on a fourth-and-11 play capped the Vikings' first drive. On the ensuing kickoff Cave Spring gave the ball back to Northside when the kick bounced off a Knights player and was recovered by the Vikings. Whisnant scored six plays later from the 4 to make it 13-0.
"We're struggling all the way around," said Steve Spangler, Cave Spring's coach. "Our kids are young and they're making young mistakes. The young players are learning, but this was a setback. We got ourselves in a hole and couldn't come back."
With its new formation (nicknamed "Army") working to perfection, Northside then drove 80 yards, with Powell scoring from the 1.
Dwight Steele came up with the first of three interceptions by Northside to set up the Vikings' final touchdown, a 25-yard run by Karim Thompson.
"Tonight was the first time this year our offense and defense have been clicking at the same time," Powell said. "It's the first time we've taken the opening kickoff and scored. It pumped us up."
Said Hickam, "We made less errors tonight. We shot ourselves in the foot the first two games. We've got to pick it up from here."
Explaining the new formation, Hickham said, "We've had trouble countering back to the weak side. This balanced line allows Shane to run both sides. It also made Cave Spring balance their defensive set." \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB