Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 14, 1993 TAG: 9311130147
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: DALEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Strangely, however, it appeared at times that neither team wanted to win.
In a mistake-laden contest, Alleghany held off Lord Botetourt 14-12 in the season finale for both teams. The teams made several fourth-quarter blunders which kept the contest's outcome in doubt until the final gun.
The Mountaineers ended the season 7-3, the best record in Tom McIntyre's four campaigns at the Low Moor school. Botetourt finished 6-4, its first winning season since 1985.
Alleghany prevailed by virtue of an 85-yard kickoff return by David Cummings to open the second half. Cummings, who scored both Mountaineer touchdowns, led his team's ground attack with 76 yards on 22 carries. Fullback Todd Cook contributed 65 yards on 17 rushes, and salted the win away with several strong runs in the game's final minutes.
"I was real pleased with our defense," McIntyre said. "We held them when we had to."
The Cavaliers missed on two excellent opportunities to pull ahead in the final six minutes. When Alleghany punter David Dixon received a bad snap and was unable to get off a kick, Botetourt had a first-and-10 at the Mountaineers' 35. Two plays later, quarterback Chris Deweese mishandled his snap and Alleghany's Todd Wheatley recovered the ball.
Four plays and a penalty later, Dixon took another poor snap as he attempted to punt and lost the ball on his 15.
The Cavaliers moved the ball just 1 yard on three plays, and kicker Bobby Stewart missed on a 32-yard field goal attempt that could have won the game.
"We were in a position we wanted to be in," Botetourt coach Andy Ward said. "Late in the fourth quarter with the opportunity to win. I didn't hesitate to try the field goal, because 32 yards is exactly [Stewart's] range, even though he hadn't kicked one in a game this year."
Ward, in his first year as head coach of the Cavaliers, was encouraged by his team's play this season.
"We're no longer the whipping boy of the Blue Ridge District," he said. "We're here to stay."
Five turnovers marred the first half, squelching any momentum either team was able to muster. For Botetourt, Deweese was intercepted twice and running back Chad Sayers lost a fumble on an errant pitchout.
Alleghany lost two first-half fumbles as well. Cummings was the guilty party late in the first quarter, losing control of the ball after a hard hit. The Mountaineers gave up the ball the second time attempting some razzle-dazzle.
Alleghany quarterback Dixon completed a mid-field pass to Wheatley, but before he was contained, Wheatley turned and tried to lateral to a teammate. Their timing was a bit off, however, and the Cavaliers recovered the ball.
Botetourt managed but two first downs in the opening half, and except for a 59-yard touchdown pass from Deweese to flanker Kyle Sides, was limited to 17 first-half total yards.
by CNB