Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 10, 1994 TAG: 9409130015
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JIMMY ROBERTSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DALEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
The Highlanders used the memory of their departed teammate, Brian Thomas, who was killed in an auto accident this summer, and a big-play defense to fly past Lord Botetourt 25-6 in a non-district season opener for both teams Friday night.
Glenvar led 13-6 in the third quarter when Corey Willis intercepted a pass by Botetourt quarterback Jason Ramey while rushing him and returned it 61 yards for the touchdown. The kick failed, but Glenvar took a commanding 19-6 lead.
``I thought our defense played excellent,'' Glenvar coach Brian Hooker said. ``They went out there with something to prove and they did that. Our team speed on defense bothered them, especially in the second half'' The Glenvar defense came up big on the Cavaliers' next possession. On third-and-14, Ramey threw another interception and Ross Mitchell returned it 35 yards for the touchdown as Glenvar never looked back.
``That was the one that really broke us,'' Lord Botetourt coach Andy Ward said. "We still had a chance, but we just went flat and numb after that. When you commit that many turnovers, you lose."
The Highlander defense intercepted three passes, recovered a fumble and held Botetourt to only one first down in the second half.
"We wanted to make a statement tonight,"said Glenvar running back and linebacker Eric East. "We knew we could come in here and win and I think that everyone used the memory of Brian for that extra motivation."
Yet the Cavaliers struck first. With one minute left in the first quarter, Rocky Lark bulled in from 5 yards out to cap an eight-play, 55-yard drive.
But the rest of the first half belonged to East. On the first play of Glenvar's next possession, East took a pitch and ran 61 yards down the right sideline for the score. He finished the game with 176 yards on 22 carries - 142 of those yards in the first half.
"I just wanted to do it for Brian," East said. "He was a close friend of mine as he was to all of us and we've dedicated the season to him. This is a great way to start it."
Most of Lord Botetourt's offense came from Wesley Cox, who rushed for 75 yards on 21 carries.
by CNB