Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 26, 1994 TAG: 9411280057
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NARUNA LENGTH: Medium
Using a defense that flattened the Bengals at every turn and a speedy, talented offense, the Generals marched over Bassett 30-0 in the Group AA Division III Region III championship football game.
The victory marks the first regional championship for William Campbell (10-2), which hadn't qualified for the playoffs since 1984.
Bassett (7-5) was aiming to extend its most successful season since 1989, when the Bengals were led by current Virginia Tech quarterback Maurice DeShazo.
Bassett could have used DeShazo on Friday, but he might not have been much help.
William Campbell held the Bengals to 107 yards total offense. Bassett crossed midfield twice, including its final possession of the game.
``We just got beaten by a better team tonight.'' said Jim Hall, Bassett's coach, who has 12 sophomores on a team that surprised many in the Piedmont District by making the playoffs.
``We didn't play up to our capabilities, either. We made a lot of mistakes, a lot of mental mistakes.
``Even if we had played like we're capable of playing, they probably would have beaten us.''
That's because the Generals' double-wing wing T offense was running on all cylinders. William Campbell rip-sawed the Bassett defense for 269 yards on the ground, 107 of those by Marco Pannell and 100 by fullback William Brown. Brown had a 5-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and he capped the scoring with a 40-yard return after intercepting a Corie Manns pass 29 seconds later.
That may have completed the rout, but the game appeared to be over when the Generals took a 16-0 halftime lead.
The Bengals managed only 49 offensive yards in the first half - 50 rushing and minus-1 passing. Bassett had three first downs in the first two quarters and didn't cross midfield until Campbell's Sharron Braxton fumbled a punt on the Generals' 45-yard line just before halftime.
``Our defense has played well all year,'' said Kevin Saunders, Campbell's second-year coach, who took over a program that went 2-8 in 1992. ``We didn't allow any team 200 yards all year except one (Liberty). Our team speed on defense is exceptional.''
The Generals scored on their first possession, after forcing Bassett to punt. Pannell scampered 48 yards on a power sweep to the Bengals' 16. Three running plays produced a first down and Robbie Mason scored from 2 yards.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB