Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 23, 1995 TAG: 9509260112
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WADE KENDRICK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Patrick Henry got off to a terrific start against George Washington of Danville on Friday night, but after the opening kickoff the Patriots were no match for their Western District rivals.
After a sluggish first quarter, GW took advantage of two Patriot turnovers to score three times in less than three minutes midway in the second period en route to a 40-7 non-district win at Victory Stadium.
James Hickenbotham's 88-yard return of the opening kickoff gave PH a 7-0 lead, but after that the Patriots generated little in the way of offense against a team that had allowed a total of 75 yards rushing in three previous games.
The Patriots were somewhat more effective than that with 87 yards on the ground, but that wasn't nearly enough offense against an Eagles team that was averaging 56 points a game.
"We're not playing good football right now," Patrick Henry coach Ed Scott said. "We've got to get better. They lay the ball on the ground five times and we aren't able to come up with the ball one time. That hurts."
GW-Danville quarterback Nathan Poole completed only one pass, but the senior was superb when the Eagles switched to their option offense. Poole also intercepted two passes from his free safety position on defense.
After Keith Terry's 67-yard touchdown run tied the score at 7 with 7:15 left in the second quarter, the Patriots turned the ball over when Poole intercepted at the PH 45 and returned the ball to the 17. John Dickerson popped through the middle to score on the next play.
Patrick Henry coughed up the ball again moments later when Laconda Garland recovered a Hickenbotham fumble at the Eagles' 48. Terry, who rushed for 203 yards, scored on the next play to give the Eagles a 21-7 lead.
The Patriots had a chance to get back in the game when they drove to the Eagles' 9 late in the half. The drive stalled when Raheem Barnwell, under heavy pressure, threw a pass that Poole picked off at the 5.
``We played a good first quarter, but when they went to a unbalanced line we made a lot of mistakes," Scott said. ``Their quarterback is excellent. He's a four-year starter and he runs the show for them. Plus, they've got good backs."
GW-Danville (4-0) scored on its' first possession of the second half when Poole ran 17 yards to the PH 6 before lateraling to Terry, who took it the rest of the way.
PH (1-2) fell behind 34-7 when Garland returned another interception 39 yards late in the third quarter.
The Eagles are still without the services of their head coach, Ed Martin, who is recovering from open heart surgery. Everett Woods is handling the coaching duties in Martin's absence.
Woods received a telephone call from Martin after the game. "I don't think we can keep him out of here next week," Woods said.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB