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

DATE: SATURDAY, August 26, 1995                   TAG: 9508280070
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CATHOLIC WINS OPENER

It appeared as if this football season would be as easy as the one last year for Roanoke Catholic.

First, junior running back P.J. Moyer scored on a 64-yard touchdown run on the Celtics' third offensive play. Then junior running back Alex Dickson, on his first carry as a high school player, scored on a 28-yard run.

But that was it as Catholic had to settle for a 13-0 non-league victory over Kenston Forest in the season opener Friday at Victory Stadium.

``In the first quarter, our kids were real nervous. Some of them didn't have the right reads,'' said Kenston Forest coach Larry Clary. ``But that No.22 [Moyer] is a fine runner. He can be [trapped] on one side of the field and before you know it, he'll be on the other side of the field.''

Moyer rushed for 152 yards, but he never broke free again from the Kavaliers, who started getting their defense down pat.

The Celtics, who gave up only six touchdowns last season in winning 12 straight games on the way to a Division II state championship for Virginia Independent Schools, showed they still take pride in their defense.

With less than two minutes left, Kenston Forest freshman quarterback Jason Flippen hit Ben Bryant in the right flat and it appeared he would be free for a 46-yard touchdown. Dickson, though, overtook him at the 8 and the Celtics' defense, led by Rod Tasco and Moyer, stuffed four straight plays to preserve the shutout.

``I was about 15 yards behind him when he caught that pass, but I didn't want them to score,'' said Dickson, who didn't play football a year ago.

That was the only time Kenston Forest threatened, though the Kavaliers moved the ball on the ground early.

Catholic coach John Cooke thought it was going to be so easy after his team's fast start.

``Kenston Forest was in a different defense than I had seen them run before, but the plays were there,'' he said. ``I wondered why P.J. didn't get loose more, but there were a lot of new players out there [blocking].''

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