Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 6, 1993 TAG: 9311060184
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WADE KENDRICK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Nelson's four touchdowns and 124 yards rushing were more than enough to carry the Spartans to a 39-6 non-district football win over the winless Knights.
Salem (7-2 overall, 3-1 Blue Ridge District) jumped to a 6-0 lead on Nelson's first touchdown - a 4-yard run early in the first quarter.
But Cave Spring, which has struggled offensively all season, bounced right back when Anthony Woollums took a pitchout at the Knights 39 and raced 59 yards before being dragged down at the Spartans 2. Adam Boitnott plunged over from there to tie it at 6-6. The Knights' chance to take the lead faded when the conversion kick failed.
After one drive stalled later in the quarter when a Cave Spring lineman tipped a pass that was intercepted by O.J. Beane, the Spartans got on the scoreboard just before the period ended on a 51-yard run by Nelson.
"It's pretty easy to run when the line is opening holes and making blocks like they were," Nelson said.
Nelson, who also plays right outside linebacker, was quick to add that he was partly to blame for Woollums' long run.
"We [the linebackers] were supposed to slide when he went in motion and none of us slid over," said Nelson. "We made an adjustment after that and started sliding when they went in motion."
"Jomo's done a great job for us" Salem coach Willis White said. "He runs like a real trooper."
Cave Spring (0-9, 0-3 Roanoke Valley District) gave Salem great field position in the second quarter when it was forced to punt from its 4 after losing 14 yards in three plays.
The Knights punted to their 31, but a late hit moved the ball to the 16.
Quarterback Kevin Feazell passed 10 yards to Matt Hyatt, and Feazell scored two plays later from the 5 when he faked to Marcus Parker up the middle and then rolled right, catching Cave Spring napping.
"We played a fairly solid football game on both sides of the ball," White said.
Any hopes the Knights had in the second half were quickly dashed when Mike Murphy intercepted a pass on the second play of the third quarter at the Spartans' 46.
Feazell ran for 10 yards and then passed 31 yards to Hyatt to set up Nelson's 5-yard touchdown run to give Salem a 25-6 lead.
"I think that interception took the momentum out of them," said Murphy, who intercepted another pass late in the game. "Coach said they would be tough because they had nothing to lose. They played us hard, especially in the first half."
Salem can clinch a playoff berth next Friday when the Spartans close the regular season at home against Northside. A win over the Vikings would give Salem a share of the Blue Ridge District title with Rockbridge County. The Spartans would get the automatic playoff berth because they would have more points under the VHSL scoring system.
"If we beat Northside we go to the playoffs. If we lose we may or may not go," White said. \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB