Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 19, 1994 TAG: 9411210062
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Spartans had more firepower than Stanley and that enabled them to ease past the Cougars 28-6 to move into next week's championship game at unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Amherst County .
The Spartans (7-4) will travel to the Lancers' field for a Friday game as they try to take back the Region III championship after a one-year absence from the title game.
Stanley, who averaged more than 200 yards rushing per game this season, lived up to expectations by rumbling for 196 yards. The Spartans fired back with Mike Murphy's 169 yards on the ground and Seth Moore's 96 through the air.
``He's [Stanley] tough and I'm going to tell him that,'' said Salem assistant coach Billy Miles, who doesn't give out accolades lightly.
``You had a heck of a year and you'll be back,'' Salem coach Willis White told Patrick County players as they huddled on the field after the loss.
The Spartans took control early, scoring on their first two possessions. They also stopped Stanley early, though he just kept coming.
When Patrick County (8-3) mounted a drive in the third quarter, Salem had control of the game with a 21-0 lead. Murphy, who scored the Spartans' third touchdown on a third-and-goal from the 5, scampered in from the 23 with 7:42 left for the game's final touchdown to end any lingering suspense that Stanley might ignite a miracle rally.
``It was a draw play that we ran [in a 26-7 victory] against Northside last week,'' said Murphy of his second touchdown.
Of the first one, which enabled Salem not to have to go for a field goal, Murphy said, ``I followed Chris Male through a hole. He pancaked a guy and I just went over the top of him.''
Salem marched 73 yards for its first touchdown. The Spartans never had to pass and Chris Huff crashed in from the 2.
After a fake punt near midfield in which Stanley lost eight yards, the Spartans went 47 yards. Moore hit Matt Hyatt on an 8-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0.
At the half, Stanley had only 69 yards rushing. Salem scored on the opening possession of the second half, going 82 yards with Murphy running for 38 and Moore hitting the Salem back on a 22-yard pass as the big plays.
Then Patrick County responded with a 68-yard drive. It was mostly Stanley, but the touchdown came on a 7-yard pass from Christian Batcheller to Ray Hylton.
``I thought we bottled [Stanley] up pretty well, but then we lost Matt Wheeling, our middle linebacker, with a shoulder injury in the third quarter. We had to make a couple of switches and we were caught in transition. But those things happen,'' said White.
Patrick County's touchdown was too late to get the Cougars going in what was the first football playoff game in the school's history.
``The key to the game were the opening two drives,'' said Patrick County coach Addison Kendrick. ``They rammed it down our throats. If we had moved the ball on offense, it might have been different.''
``We never gave up. My line gave me some holes. I ran through them, but I didn't finish them. Salem, though, is a good team,'' said Stanley.
Sophomore defensive end Jeff Akers thought Salem did a creditable job stopping Stanley. ``We were trying to get to him before he broke loose. He's a great athlete and we had to fill the holes and cut down the gaps,'' Akers said.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB