Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 6, 1993 TAG: 9311060166
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Touchdowns, that is.
After opening the game with two quarters of wide-open football that resulted in gaudy statistics but no points, the Bobcats took a more earthy approach to the game and ran Floyd County out of Bobcat Stadium by a 28-6 score Friday night.
In a game that held playoff ramifications for both teams, Radford (4-5) kept its Region IV Division 3 post-season hopes alive behind the play of running backs Larnelle Lewis and Cornell Wesley, who helped Radford to 233 yards of rushing offense.
"We've told our guys that we have to win them all if we want to go to the playoffs," said Radford coach Norm Lineburg, whose team goes to Graham next week.
The loss may have been the final blow for Floyd (6-3), which now has but a sliver of a hope to make the Region C Division 2 playoffs.
"A lot of things have to happen for us to get in," Floyd coach Winfred Beale said. "We've definitely got to beat Grayson County next week."
Lewis, a sophomore, rushed for 103 yards and three touchdowns and Wesley, a senior, gained 80 yards for the Bobcats. Quarterback Casey Underwood, who completed seven passes for 101 yards in the first half, passed once in the second half for 3 yards.
"I knew we were going to come out running it [in the second half]," said Lewis. "Me and Cornell just tried to run it as hard as we could. The line drove 'em back, and I made the cuts."
Lewis scored on a 3-yard run that capped an eight-play, tone-setting drive to begin the third quarter. Radford went ahead 14-0 on its next possession on Underwood's 20-yard bootleg scoring run with 1:47 left in the third.
Floyd County countered immediately with Jamie Warren's 45-yard run to make it 14-6. The Buffaloes still had a chance in the fourth quarter, but two fumbles inside their 10-yard line did them in.
Lewis followed the fumbles with touchdown runs of 6 and 5 yards. Underwood's third and fourth PATs accounted for the final margin.
"Inside the 10, I'm even more motivated," said Lewis. "I smell the goal-line."
In the first half, the teams frittered away scoring opportunities.
Radford had the dishonor of being the first team to blow a scoring chance. Underwood tossed a 43-yard completion to tight end Chuck Hubbard, who finished with four catches for 84 yards.
That play put the Bobcats on Floyd's 17-yard line. On the next two plays, however, Radford lost 23 yards, 18 of them on a fumble that was kicked downfield before the Bobcats recovered. Radford eventually lost the ball on downs.
After taking over possession, Floyd was even more buffaloed on its drive. Peter Bucklin slipped a tackle and ran 62 yards to Radford's 7, giving Floyd an apparent can't-miss opportunity.
The Buffaloes crossed the goal-line twice, but both scores were called back. A 6-yard run by Mike Weeks was negated because of illegal motion, and an 11-yard Monty Moran pass to Jason Pratt was called back because of an ineligible receiver downfield.
The Floyd threat died as Winky Nichols' 27-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right. Neither team put together a worthy drive the rest of the half, as Floyd accrued 69 yards of penalties. The Buffaloes were docked 110 yards on the night, Radford 88.
"We were pleased with our wide-open game [in the first half], but we made a multitude of mistakes," said Lineburg. "We felt like our big backs could allow us to control the game in the second half. They did." \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB