Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 4, 1994 TAG: 9412070089
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Despite fumbling twice and going two touchdowns in arrears before running an offensive play in the Group AA Division 4 semifinal with Amherst County, the outmanned Indians wouldn't fold.
Blacksburg kept it interesting to the end against the deep, talented Lancers before falling 27-13.
``The kids from Blacksburg are well-coached and they played a great game,'' said Mickey Crouch, Amherst County's coach.
However, it will be the Lancers (13-0), the No.1 team in the state Group AA poll, who will play for their first state football championship Saturday at Spotsylvania, which defeated Nansemond River 13-10.
The Indians (6-7) ended the season with their second consecutive state semifinal loss.
Amherst County showed what it was made of when it drove 63 yards for a score after receiving the opening kickoff. The Lancers converted a third-and-14 play from their 33-yard line when halfback Larry Hunter slashed 24 yards, then scored on fourth-and-two from the Blacksburg 12 with Hunter again doing the honors. Mike Padgett hammered the extra-point kick with 7 minutes, 19 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Lancers were right back in business seconds later when Steven Hunt fumbled away Padgett's kickoff at the Indians' 23. Six snaps later, Alonzo Mathews flattened Hunt at the goal line and crashed into the end zone. Another Padgett boot and the rout many anticipated after Amherst County destroyed Salem 55-19 on Nov.25 seemed to be on.
The Lancers had another chance right away when Hunt fumbled at their 43 on the first play Blacksburg ran. Hunter raced 57 yards for an apparent score on the next play from scrimmage, but it was negated by a penalty for illegal motion in the backfield.
It was one of two Amherst County touchdowns that were called back, the other a 76-yarder by Hunter in the third quarter. The Lancers were frustrated by 11 penalties for 95 yards.
``Our players played very well in adverse conditions,'' Crouch said. ``They never lost their composure. I did several times, though.''
Blacksburg held Amherst County to force a punt, then roared right back with a 70-yard scoring march. On third down, quarterback Greg Shockley threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to flanker Jim Reemsnyder, who beat two defenders and caught the ball over his right shoulder.
Shockley completed all five of his passes for 47 yards during the drive, the big one being Reemsnyder's leaping grab for 25 yards.
Considering the Indians' sluggish start, the drive was a tremendous confidence boost for Blacksburg.
``It's just typical of the mental toughness our kids have,'' said Dave Crist, the Indians' coach. ``They never stop believing that they're going to find a way to get it done.''
Blacksburg got another break when Amherst County had a poor snap from punt formation and couldn't get off a kick. The Indians set up shop at the Lancers' 20, but went nowhere. Steve Cherry then missed to the right on a 35-yard field-goal attempt.
``We needed the points,'' said Crist, explaining why he elected to kick on fourth-and-nine. ``A first down is hard to get inside the red zone.''
Amherst County responded with a 3-yard Hunter touchdown run and went into the break with a 21-7 lead.
After that, Blacksburg really did a defensive job. The Lancers had 179 of their 310 rushing yards before halftime. Save for the second touchdown that was called back and a 87-yard scoring run by Mathews with 4:46 left, Amherst County was slowed considerably. The Lancers had only three first downs in the second half and finished with 11, four fewer than the Indians.
Blacksburg, meanwhile, was moving up and down the field without scoring. Fullback Tucker LaForce had 72 of his 100 yards rushing after halftime.
``[Amherst County's defensive backs] started to adjust to the out pattern,'' said Shockley, who completed 16 of 32 passes with one interception. ``They're so quick that they did a heck of a job getting to the ball.''
Shockley played his last game for Blacksburg, as did split end Shane Beamer (seven catches, 62 yards) and Reemsnyder (four catches, 46 yards). Shockley fired a 4-yard scoring strike to LaForce with 39 seconds left.
``It was a super effort by our players,'' Crist said. ``Absolutely super.''
by CNB