Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 23, 1995 TAG: 9509240005
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
The Bobcats dominated defensively and on special teams, crushing the Cougars 31-0 in a non-district game at soggy Bobcats Stadium.
Lineburg was feted after the game for his milestone victory at the school - he has 231 for his career - then asked what it meant to him.
"Longevity,'' he said.
One part is certain: The game was too long for Covington (2-1).
"We got our butts whipped in just about every facet of the game,'' Cougars coach John Woodzell said.
Radford (3-1) held the Cougars to two first downs - one in each half - and 9 yards rushing.
"This was continued from last week the way we came out here ready to play hard,'' Radford's Larnell Lewis said. "It's just going to get better.''
Radford broke open what had been a tight game by scoring 22 second-half points, 15 in the fourth quarter. Derrick Chapman took a counter play and scooted 33 yards with 6:02 left.
Mike Dunbar finished the carnage with a 27-yard scoring run straight up the middle on his only carry of the game.
Radford had 280 yards rushing with Eddie Waldron leading the way with 84 yards followed by Lewis with 71 and Chapman with 73 on only six carries.
Radford also got something out of its passing game with quarterback Tremond Hale completing a wobbly scoring toss to Jameel Hendricks with 9:51 remaining in the third quarter.
Asked if Lineburg's milestone was discussed much, Radford tackle Bubba Underwood said, "Not really. We knew it was important, but we figured if we played hard for four quarters, the outcome would be decided by itself.''
Underwood was hurting afterward with what appeared to be a bruised hip, but that was the extent of the damage to the Bobcats.
Covington, meanwhile, took a pounding, especially tailback Tom Luckett, who came in averaging nearly 80 yards per game rushing. Radford held him to 10 yards on 11 carries.
"He took a beating,'' Woodzell said. "He does every week.''
Covington is in a grueling stretch of games right now. The Cougars beat Group AA rival Alleghany last week and must play Pioneer District favorite Bath County next week.
Radford was all but impenetrable defensively in the first half, holding the Cougars to one first down and minus 9 yards rushing. The Cougars also suffered a 10-yard sack to quarterback Mike Barber by Waldron, an interception, and a blocked punt by the untouched Chapman.
The stuffed punt set up Radford's first score. The Bobcats started at the Cougars' 18, but could advance only as far as the 11. A 7-yard loss on a bad pitch from Hale to Waldron helped scuttle the drive.
Perrow then kicked a 27-yard field goal with 7:27 left before halftime.
The kicking game betrayed Covington again a short while later. A bad snap on a punt gave Radford the football on the Cougars' 21. The next play, Waldron slashed to his left, followed a good block from Chapman, and raced into the end zone. A penalty moved Perrow back five yards on the conversion and he missed it, leaving Radford with a 9-0 lead at the break.
The Bobcats had another blocked punt, this one by Lewis, in the fourth quarter.
"We haven't had that many bad snaps in the last four years combined,'' Woodzell said.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB