Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 16, 1995 TAG: 9509170015
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Last year when Salem started 0-3 in football, everyone thought the Spartans were finally hitting a down cycle.
So what are they going to think now that Salem, which still won the Group AA Blue Ridge District title last fall, has reversed the 1994 numbers and gone 3-0?
The Spartans completed the revenge cycle Friday at Victory Stadium by sweeping past Group AAA Patrick Henry 21-13 in front of more than 7,000 fans. The Patriots converted two Salem fumbles for a pair of first-quarter touchdowns. Then the Spartans dominated the last 39 minutes.
``I think this means we're a little better than last year,'' said Salem coach Willis White. ``The most gratifying thing of the whole night is that we spotted them 13 points and came right back.''
PH coach Ed Scott's assessment was very brief. ``They just whipped us. Salem was more physical and wanted it more than we did. They were better prepared. We were outcoached and outplayed.''
The Spartans moved on the ground and through the air, but it was the short pass that proved to be the undoing of PH. Salem quarterback Seth Moore picked the Patriots' defense to pieces for 127 yards, completing 10 of 19 passes.
``Their corners were playing 10-15 yards back and we were open underneath all night,'' said Moore, who hadn't put up any impressive totals in the Spartans' first two victories.
``We hadn't needed passing the first two weeks because our line did such a great job. But we'll just take what other teams give us.''
Before Salem could blink, PH had used its quickness for two long touchdown runs. After the first fumble that Kevin Washington recovered, PH quarterback Raheem Barnwell went untouched for 54 yards.
Another fumble three plays later, recovered by the Patriots' Donnie Smith, was followed by Roshaun Martin's run through the Spartan defense for 51 yards and a 13-0 lead. Those two would not escape again thanks to a Salem defense that was sparked by defensive end Jeff Akers.
``Hey, that Barnwell just takes it, sprints with it and you're in trouble,'' said White. ``We rotated some in our secondary, but we didn't make any other adjustments.''
By intermission, Salem had a 14-13 lead. The Spartans drove 60 yards, all on the ground, with Chris Huff going over from the 1 late in the opening period to trim PH's lead to 13-7.
Just before the half, a 14-yard PH punt to the Patriot 28 set up Salem's second touchdown. Huff went over from the 1 after Gussie Vaughn's 19-yard run to make it 14-13 at intermission.
In the second half, Scott searched in vain for an offense. At one time, he used three quarterbacks - Barnwell, Dennis Dunnaville and Smith - on three consecutive plays.
For the game, Barnwell tried three passes and had two intercepted while Smith, who started at quarterback much of last fall, threw three incompletions.
``We just had to dare them to pass,'' said White about a gamble taken to stop PH's running.
Despite the passing problems, the Patriots (1-1) were never out of the game. Moore took Salem on a 52-yard scoring march in the third quarter as he started throwing passes to Ricky Eubanks, who made four catches on the drive including a 7-yard touchdown to make it 21-13.
PH, though, was one still a long run away by Barnwell or Martin from having a chance to tie. The final chance came with 2:54 left and the Patriots pinned back at their 17. Martin scampered for 10 yards and Barnwell for 13, but the drive died and Salem ran out the clock.
There was one phase of the game that neither team mastered - holding on to the football. Each team committed four turnovers.
``We came out our first game [against R.E. Lee] and played a flawless game,'' said White. ``Last week at Blacksburg, we turned the ball over four times. We can't keep doing this. It's either a lack of concentration or just being too tight.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB