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

DATE: SATURDAY, September 16, 1995                   TAG: 9509180065
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE: LEXINGTON                                 LENGTH: Medium

NORTHSIDE CAN'T CRACK THE GOAL LINE

Anyone looking for a sign as to the outcome of Friday night's Northside- Rockbridge County football game should have taken notes during the extended halftime show.

Northside's band took the field, put on a respectable performance, and in one routine, marched down the yardage stripes.

But then Northside yielded to Rockbridge County's band. And when time was up, the Wildcat musicians were in control, holding a slight edge.

The second half of football was a carbon copy of the musical entertainment.

Rockbridge downed Northside 7-0 in a Blue Ridge District defensive contest. The Wildcats are 3-0 (1-0 in district play) for the first time in their four-year school history; Northside fell to 1-2, 0-1.

Rockbridge has not allowed any points since the first half of its opening game with Covington.

Wildcat quarterback Greg Stubblefield scored Friday's only touchdown on a two-yard keeper on fourth-and-goal midway through the final period. The touchdown was set up by long passes from Stubblefield to Chad Brown and Matt Staton, respectively.

``I thought tonight's game featured two good defenses,'' Rockbridge County coach Jamie Talbott said. ``And on our scoring drive, we put together some pass plays.''

Rockbridge held the Vikings to 88 yards of total offense. Northside QB Mike Dillon was unable to complete a pass in 11 attempts, although several of his throws somehow escaped open receivers' grasps.

``We put on a decent pass rush,'' Talbott said, ``and our secondary did an adequate job.''

Northside contained the Wildcat offense for most of the game as well. Stubblefield was intercepted by Viking linebacker Kirk Likens on the game's opening drive, and Rockbridge mustered only 32 yards of total offense in the first half.

But Northside, behind the running of workhorse halfback John Doss, began to move the ball after halftime. The Vikings picked up consecutive first downs, advancing to the Wildcat 20 before fumbling the ball away.

After trading punts, Rockbridge got the ball on Northside's 40. On the opening play of the fourth quarter, Stubblefield found Brown for an apparent 41-yard touchdown pass, but Staton was penalized for blocking downfield below the waist.

The infraction put the ball on Northside's 26. Two plays later, Staton atoned for his gaffe, making a reception at the 3-yard line. After three unsuccessful attempts, Rockbridge scored on Stubblefield's run.

\ see microfilm for box score

Keywords:
FOOTBALL