Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, November 20, 1994                   TAG: 9411210069
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CATHOLIC PUTS UP ITS BEST DEFENSE TO WIN A STATE TITLE

When the Celtics' offense sputtered Saturday at Victory Stadium, the defense didn't bend in Catholic's 13-0 victory over Broadwater Academy in the State Independent Schools Division I state title game.

The Celtics (12-0) intercepted five passes, with Tony Joyce and Kendall Selfe each getting two. Broadwater (11-2) never got past the Celtics' 42-yard line and the Vikings didn't cross midfield in the second half.

``I told our team at halftime that someone told me earlier this year the difference in our team from [1993 state champion] North Cross was that we would win the state because of our defense. It always has been the defense and what he said ended up being true,'' said Catholic coach John Cooke, who became the first coach to win both a Virginia High School League and private school state title. His 1988 Jonesville team captured the Group A Division 1 crown.

Catholic's defense gave up only three touchdowns in the final six games. Only Kenston Forest, in the season's opener, managed to score more than once against the Celtics this year.

The defense couldn't rest Saturday because Catholic's offense gained just one first down in the last two quarters. The Celtics would have been sweating it out were it not for a long pass play that set up their second score in the second quarter.

``We just missed two long pass plays or it would have been 0-0,'' Broadwater coach Bill Bynum said. ``They've got a good club, though. There's no doubt about it.''

Actually, Mark Buchy's 56-yard pass reception was the only pass Broadwater missed. Catholic's first possession and score came all on the ground in a 72-yard drive.

Joyce ran a bootleg left for 28 yards to give the Celtics a 7-0 lead, and Broadwater appeared ready to become just another victim.

But the Celtics waited until midway through the second quarter for their second and final touchdown. It was set up after Cooke told Buchy to ``run a post corner.''

Joyce saw him, and lofted a long aerial that Buchy hauled in before he was hit at the Viking 1 for a 56-yard gain. P.J. Moyer scored on the next play to give Catholic a 13-0 lead after the extra-point kick was blocked.

``It was a bootleg left. I was supposed to run it,'' Joyce said. ``I saw Mark come in and I just threw it out there for him.''

Buchy was subbing for Demond Lark, who was sidelined after finding out Friday that a knee injury suffered in last week's state semifinal game was ligament damage.

``Whenever we run that play, the quarterback looks for it,'' said Buchy, a sophomore. ``Tony's such a good runner, he usually keeps it. They've only thrown to me a couple of times [this year], but I've caught them all. I just keep my concentration.''

``Cameron Blount was playing hurt and when we run that bootleg, Cameron couldn't run it that well,'' Cooke said. ``So I sent Mark in.''

Catholic couldn't move after its second score, but neither could Broadwater. Selfe and Joyce made both of their interceptions in the second half to make sure of that.

``We expected them to run more than they pass,'' said Selfe, who was Timesland's leading tackler this year. ``We knew they couldn't run against us.''

``That's what it's been about all year - our defense,'' Joyce said. ``We went to a defense where I played [against] their split end. I just read his eyes on the pass plays.''

Catholic was plagued by second-half penalties. A 26-yard run by Joyce took some pressure off one drive in which the Celtics were backed up to their own 15. And though Catholic didn't score in the second half, it threatened.

Following Selfe's second interception, Joyce's long pass to Buchy in the end zone was picked off by Broadwater's Neil Gillis.

``It wasn't Tony's fault. I just couldn't jump as high as the other guy,'' Buchy said.

``They were tough and I can see why they reached the state championship game,'' Cooke said of the Vikings, who were the first this year to hold Catholic's offense to fewer than three touchdowns. Catholic's narrowest margin of victory this season prior to Saturday was 20 - against Massanutten (20-0) and Kenston Forest (32-12).

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