Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 29, 1994 TAG: 9410310058
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NARROWS LENGTH: Medium
Narrows played it according to a well-worn textbook, lulling the Buffaloes with a punishing ground game until a couple of big plays could be sprung, then crushing the remaining opposition with defense.
``We're still hurting from the loss to Bland County [17-12 on Oct.14],'' coach Don Lowe said. ``We did not play Green Wave football. Tonight we did.''
Narrows (5-3) must continue to do just that because the entire season boils down to remaining games with Galax and Fort Chiswell. The treasure on the other side is another berth in the Division 1 Region C playoffs.
``We control our own destiny,'' Lowe said. ``We win and we're a lock.''
Narrows was far from a lock at halftime when, after significantly outplaying the Buffaloes (3-5), it enjoyed only a 12-7 lead.
The Green Wave defense laid the foundation for happier moments right after the break, but not without a false start. Brandon Hollie picked off a Dwayne Hale pass, but fumbled it back to Floyd County seconds later. But three plays later, Hollie did it again. This time, he didn't falter.
``I didn't have the ball tucked away the first time,'' he said. ``I just started to run downfield with it. The next time I knew to protect the ball and get out of bounds.''
Four Norman Perkins runs later and Narrows was in the end zone. Gary Lowery connected with Robbie Stafford for two points on a halfback option play, and Narrows had a 20-7 lead with 11 minutes, 52 seconds left in the quarter.
``As bad as we'd played in the first half, we were still in the game,'' said Winfred Beale, Floyd County's coach. ``Then we did exactly what we didn't want to do by turning the ball over to them in our own territory.''
Narrows snuffed out the subsequent Floyd County possession with no damage done, then struck swiftly again. On third-and-31 from the Green Wave 25 after a clipping penalty and a 9-yard loss on a sack, Scott Stafford bolted off-tackle to the right, broke an arm tackle, spun away and fled all the way down the sideline for the score. It was his second and last carry of the game.
``We do some different things when Scott's in at tailback,'' Lowe said.
Quarterback Bryan Pruett threw to David Turner for two points and that, for all intents, was it.
Narrows held the Buffaloes out of the end zone the rest of the way, twice sacking Hale. Narrows had 22 yards worth of sacks, two coming by Lowery, who plays tackle.
``I don't know what other kid runs the football like Lowery, then goes and plays defensive tackle,'' Lowe said.
Lowery gained 55 yards on eight carries, but Perkins paced the Green Wave's well-distributed wing T attack with 91 yards on 12 carries. A 35-yard apparent Perkins touchdown was called back because of a holding penalty in the fourth quarter.
``It was disappointing, but it worked out OK with the score the way it was,'' Perkins said. ``Our line did a terrific job blocking. They made the holes and I just ran through them.''
Floyd County, meanwhile, couldn't run a consistent offense. The Buffs hammered out 101 yards on the ground, but rushing leader Jamie Warren was held to 47 yards, 64 yards under his average. The passing game netted only 28 yards and yielded three interceptions.
As much as anything, penalties hurt. The Buffs had eight for 80 yards, 20 of those killing a promising drive in the first quarter.
Floyd County's only successful drive, a 79-yard march in the second quarter, resulted in the lone score, a 9-yard Warren sweep with 4:54 remaining in the half.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB