Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 19, 1994 TAG: 9411210067
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWIGHT FOXX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WOODBRIDGE LENGTH: Medium
Patrick Henry's 5-foot-7, 132-pound tailback Jamie Price raced 75 yards for a touchdown and added the two-point conversion run to break a 20-20 tie with 1 minute, 42 seconds remaining Friday night as the Patriots nipped Woodbridge 28-26 in a high school football playoff thriller at A.T. Howard Memorial Stadium.
The Patriots (8-3) will play at GW-Danville in the Northwest Region finals next Friday. GW-Danville defeated Garfield 26-14.
Even after Price's run, the outcome was very much in doubt. Woodbridge quarterback Barry Gauch, who completed 26 of 45 passes for 336 yards, connected with wideout Duane Brown from 1 yard out on the game's next-to-last play to cut his team's deficit to 28-26.
With Woodbridge needing a two-point conversion pass to send the game into overtime, Patrick Henry called a timeout to discuss defensive strategy.
Gauch tried to fake to his right and hit Duane Griffin, who caught 13 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns, back to his left. But Patrick Henry's defensive line applied great pressure on Gauch, forcing a low throw that Griffin caught at his ankles. Griffin was tackled immediately at the 7-yard line by defensive back Mark Johnson to preserve the Patriots' win.
"We thought they would throw something outside," Patrick Henry coach Ed Scott said of the conversion play. "We guessed and got it right."
Price, the Patriots' hero with 185 yards rushing on 19 carries and the decisive points, was on the sideline praying for playoff survival during Woodbridge's 11-play, 74-yard final drive.
"I was praying it would end in my favor," the senior said. "Those were the longest seconds of my life."
Price called the game-breaking run the "biggest run of my career."
"The counter was working all night," Price said. "If Coach [Scott] sees something working, he'll keep going with it. I ran track against some of the Woodbridge guys, so I knew I had to run once I got into the open field. Once I got going, it was showtime."
Defensive end Chris Combs, who led the Patriots in harassing Gauch, blocked the extra point that would have put Woodbridge ahead 21-20 with 3:42 remaining.
"I thought the blocked extra point was the biggest play of the game," Scott said.
Patrick Henry played without junior quarterback Donnie Smith, who is no longer on the team. Sophomore Dennis Dunnaville started for PH.
"He's no longer with us," Scott said. "His choice."
Patrick Henry forged a 20-7 edge after three quarters, after leading 8-7 at halftime. It controlled the ball for 10:15 in the third quarter and tallied two touchdowns.
But behind Gauch, Brown and split end Aaron Rogonzinski (eight catches for 130 yards), Woodbridge stormed back in the final period.
"They've got talent," Scott said. "When they caught the ball, they broke tackles."
The teams combined for nearly 800 yards of total offense.
"That was the highlight tape right there," said Scott.
Patrick Henry led at halftime thanks to fullback Kevin Washington. The fullback capped a five play, 77-yard drive in the first quarter when he went in untouched up the middle from 4 yards out.
The 5-foot-11, 212-pound junior also added the two-point conversion run as the Patriots led by one with 3:52 left in the opening period.
Woodbridge helped the Patriots on the drive with two penalties that led to first downs, including a 15-yard personal foul that moved the ball to its 42-yard line.
On the next play, Dunnaville connected with tight end Chris Combs on a 38-yard pass to the Woodbridge 4 that led to Washington's scoring run.
Gaunch was 11-for-22 for 153 yards in the first half and connected with wideout Griffin from 52 yards out for the game's first score seven minutes into the contest.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB