Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 14, 1995 TAG: 9510170011
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE: BUCHANAN LENGTH: Medium
For the first time in school history, the Knights knocked off Pioneer District rival Parry McCluer in a football game, winning 18-13.
James River (6-1 overall, 3-0 district) put together a long interception return for a touchdown and two time-consuming scoring drives to open up an 18-7 lead. In the end, it was the Knights' defense that preserved the victory.
The Fighting Blues (3-3, 1-1) mounted a thrilling rally in the game's waning moments, moving the ball from their own 20-yard line to the James River 16, before substitute quarterback Daniel Clark was sacked on the game's final play.
``I guess this was probably my biggest win ever,'' James River coach Doug Ross said. ``But I wouldn't want to put any more seconds back on the clock.
``You've got to give them credit because they fought back and converted on third and fourth down in the final minutes.''
In a rivalry that has been renewed annually since the early 1960s, the Knights had only been able to manage two ties. Friday's game began with typical Blues dominance.
On its first possession, Parry McCluer marched 62 yards on 12 consecutive running plays to take a 7-0 lead. After stopping the Knights on three downs, the Blues got the ball on James River's 22 when punter Brian LeFlore touched the ground with this knee attempting to scoop up a low snap.
LeFlore redeemed himself quickly, intercepting starting quarterback Donald Schley and weaving 77 yards for a score.
From early in the second quarter until late in the third, James River simply kept the ball away from Parry McCluer. The Knights scored on drives of 78 and 75 yards, respectively, eating up almost half of the game.
Shahan Burrell scored from 3 yards with :35 left in the half, capping a 17-play drive that included six first downs.
In the third period, James River received the kickoff and kept the ball for a 14-play drive. LeFlore scored on a 6-yard run, but again Burrell did most of the inside work.
The Knights failed to convert any of their extra-point conversions, and Parry McCluer was still in the game when it scored on the first play of the final quarter to move within five (18-13).
The Blues had two opportunities to move ahead. With 5:32 remaining, running back D.J. Douglas was stopped at the Knights' 40 on a fourth-and-two situation.
After James River was unable to move the ball, LeFlore punted the ball to the Blues' 20 with 3:48 left.
Schley engineered two first downs before he was injured on an incomplete pass with just over a minute to play and Clark took over.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB