Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508150013
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES C. BLACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
This was the first game of the National Minor League Football season, but Roanoke Rush quarterback Fred Lassiter had as much pressure on his shoulders as he could handle against the Central Pennsylvania Piranha.
The Rush was facing fourth-and-13 from Central Pennsylvania's 45-yard line with about 2:00 left in the game and needed at least a field goal to win.
Lassiter hit Bo Campbell for a completion close to the first-down marker. But the spot was about half a football short of a first down, and Central Pennsylvania ran out the clock as the Rush fell to the Piranha 14-12 before an estimated crowd of 4,000 at Victory Stadium.
After playing its first two games at home - Saturday against the Piranha and Aug.5 in an exhibition vs. the Carolina Stars - the Rush plays its first road game Aug.19 at the (Washington) D.C. Stonewalls.
Trailing 14-6 early in the fourth period Saturday, Lassiter scrambled for 8 yards and jumped into the end zone with 6:47 to cut Roanoke's deficit to two points.
Needing a two-point conversion for the tie, the Rush tried a running play with Ranall White and got into the end zone. However, the Rush was penalized for having 12 men on the field and was unable to convert after the penalty.
The Piranha scored the game's first touchdown on a 56-yard pass play from Andy Berault to Jesse Humphrey. Humphrey outjumped Roanoke defender Robert Majors at the 15-yard line, then easily made his way into the end zone.
Central Pennsylvania threatened to take a 14-0 lead in the second quarter before Majors made a play to redeem himself.
Majors picked off a pass by Berault at the Rush 8 and raced 92 yards for the touchdown. However, Frank Fitzgerald missed the extra-point kick.
Roanoke punter Robbie Colley, who averaged 44 yards per kick against Carolina and had a 54-yard boot in the second quarter, had a net punt of 8 yards in the third quarter that helped set up the winning touchdown for Central Pennsylvania.
``He had a little rush on him and the ball took a bad bounce,'' said Denie Marie, the Rush's coach.
The Piranha started at the Roanoke 24 and moved the ball to the 10 after a 3-yard gain by Desi Washington and a 10-yard penalty on Rush defensive back Anthony Merchant. The Piranha then scored the game-winner on a 3-yard touchdown run.
Former Virginia Tech Hokie and newly signed defensive tackle Jerome Preston made his presence felt for Roanoke. Preston sacked Berault for a 4-yard loss in the first quarter and again for a 7-yard loss in the third quarter. He also made a tackle for a 7-yard loss in the second quarter.
The problem with Roanoke's kicking game was not solved. Dustin Fonder, midfielder for the Roanoke RiverDawgs of the U.S. Interregional Soccer League, missed two first-half field-goal attempts in the exhibition victory over Carolina.
Roanoke decided to go with Fitzgerald, a former wide receiver and kicker at Salem High School. However, Fitzgerald missed a 26-yard field-goal attempt in the first quarter and the extra-point try on Majors' touchdown in the third quarter.
There wasn't much Marie could say after the game, but, ``We need to improve on the kicking.''
Lassiter finished with 147 yards on 11-for-22 passing, and Berault was 11-of-22 for 162 yards.
by CNB