Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 30, 1995 TAG: 9509300019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Northside fans had to tire of hearing the names of those two Friday as they led the Terriers past the Vikings 17-0 in a Blue Ridge District game.
English accounted for 189 yards of total offense, passed for one touchdown and ran for another. He was involved in 32 of Byrd's first 41 offensive plays either by running or passing the ball.
Berry caught eight passes for 57 yards. He also kicked two extra points, booted a 29-yard field goal and launched a booming 51-yard punt.
All that added up to Byrd's first football victory over Northside since 1989 and only the Terriers' second success in the series since the Vikings joined the Blue Ridge District in 1988. The unbeaten Terriers, ranked ninth in the state, are off to their fastest start in years.
``The coaches call the plays and I just run them,'' said English. ``But I've never run like that.''
It was English's first effort at rushing for more than 100 yards, but it was a 30-yard pass to Berry in the first quarter that put Byrd in control. Berry made a great catch over a Vikings defender, giving the Terriers (4-0 overall, 1-0 in the district) a first down on the Northside 20.
Four plays later, English found Jonathan Hartsock for a 5-yard scoring pass. That came after English seemed to get free for a touchdown run, but fumbled at the Vikings 7, where Hartsock recovered to keep the drive going.
``We try to throw the pass high, hoping I get it or no one gets it,'' Berry said of his catch. ``I didn't think I'd get that ball. A little luck never hurt.''
Veteran Byrd coach Jeff Highfill is still low-key about his team's early success.
``We're getting better each week, but there's still a long way to go. Michael and Frank are good athletes, but I don't want to take anything away from the offensive line or the defense. We gave Northside the ball on the short end of the field a couple of times and they stopped them,'' said Highfill.
Northside coach Jim Hickam was wary of Byrd's one-two punch.
``We knew coming in about Berry and English,'' he said. ``In football, two kids can beat you by themselves if there's a supporting cast. They can make big plays.''
Byrd's first touchdown drive covered 80 yards and took 10 plays. The next one was a one-play, 66-yard scamper by English after the Terriers defense stopped Northside on the Byrd 34.
The Vikings (1-3, 0-2) almost gave Byrd more when a fumble late in the half gave Berry a chance at a 31-yard field goal on the final play of the half. But his kick went to the left.
Berry got his field goal in the second half when Byrd took over on the Vikings' 22 after Scott Boothe failed to get a punt off on fourth down and was tackled after a short gain that missed picking up a first down.
Berry connected on a 29-yarder from an angle to complete the scoring. Amazingly, it was Berry's first converted field goal of the year.
``He's hit 60-yarders in practice,'' said Highfill. ``Before tonight, he hadn't tried one under 40 yards.''
``We practiced hard on field goals this week. I feel like a burden has been lifted,'' said Berry.
Northside struggled offensively, using two quarterbacks. The Vikings' best chances came in the second half when they were stopped first at the Terriers' 18 following two long passes by quarterback Mike Dillon and then at the 19 after Kirk Likens intercepted a pass.
``Offensively, our kids improved some, but it's hard when you lose over 2,000 yards in offense [from last year]. It takes time to get on track,'' said Hickam.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB