Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 5, 1994 TAG: 9412080011
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWIGHT FOXX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Spartans survived a patented Cave Spring fourth-quarter rally for a 13-12 non-district football win Friday night at Cave Spring Junior High School.
The Spartans (5-4) led 13-6 and seemed to be in control going into the fourth period. But eight of Cave Spring's nine games have been decided in the final quarter, and the Knights (6-3) weren't finished.
Cave Spring quarterback Jeff Lang, as he has done so many times, rallied his team with a 13-play, 57-yard drive to start the period. He capped the drive with his second touchdown pass to running back Jason Fox on a fourth-and-two play, cutting the deficit to one with 6 minutes, 15 seconds left in the game. Lang twice converted on fourth down during the drive.
Cave Spring then decided to go for the two-point conversion and the lead. The two teams might have set a record for the most time-consuming, two-point conversion attempt in football history.
Lang appeared to give his team a 14-13 lead when he scrambled past Salem linebacker Matt Wheeling to the right corner of the end zone. But an illegal procedure call against Cave Spring nullified the score.
Lang next hit Billy Franz in the left corner of the end zone on a quick out, but that play also was called back when the Knights had an ineligible receiver downfield.
``It was rough,'' Wheeling said of the conversion tries. ``I didn't know if it was going to be good or what.''
Finally, Spartans cornerback Ricky Eubanks put an end to the conversion attempt - and ultimately preserved the victory - by knocking down Lang's pass to Franz in the left corner of the end zone.
``I just wanted to keep it out of his hands,'' Eubanks said. ``If he catches it, they take the lead. I must give the credit to the defensive line, they put the pressure on their quarterback.''
Cave Spring tried an onside kick, but Salem retained possession when the ball was muffed out of bounds by a Spartan.
However, Lang and the Knights had one more chance, but on a fourth-and-15 with 1:20 left, Salem linebacker Rusty Howell sacked Lang and Cave Spring's hopes. Lang was sacked four times and knocked down several more times.
``We've got a great [defensive] line,'' Wheeling said. ``We're strong and quick that's how we were able to get a good push [rush] all night.''
The senior linebacker led the Spartans with 101/2 tackles and was one reason why Cave Spring was held to 11 yards rushing.
Salem coach Willis White said his team's goal was to harass Lang the entire night.
``Defensively, we kept them off strides,'' White said. ``Lang's a great thrower, but it took a lot of energy out of him to run around like that.''
Lost opportunites frustrated Cave Spring coach Steve Spanger. The Knights also had a 67-yard touchdown run by Anthony Woollums called back on a clipping penalty and missed an extra-point kick and 20-yard field goal.
Salem kicker Lee Updike made two of three field goals and his only extra-point attempt.
``I wish we had all those flags back we had called against us,'' Spanger said. ``It's disappointing. We've had some thrillers this year, where we've come out on top. They made the big plays when they needed to.''
Chris Huff scored Salem's lone touchdown on a seven-yard plunge in the second quarter to give his team a 9-6 lead it would never lose.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB