Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510160114
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, W.VA. LENGTH: Medium
The weather took its toll as the teams committed a total of seven turnovers, the biggest being two mishandled snaps on punts and a fumble deep inside Roanoke territory. West Virginia took advantage of the miscues to score 13 points.
The Rush was held to 94 yards total offense, and West Virginia had 179. Todd Hall accounted for 63 of West Virginia's yards on the ground.
The Roanoke defense was able to hold the powerful lightning offense in check for most of the contest. Former West Virginia University quarterback Major Harris completed two of three passes with one touchdown before he left the game in the second quarter with a bruised knee. The injury also was blamed on the weather; Harris slid into a sideline bench at the end of his only run.
Mike Johnson connected on a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 37-yarder in the third quarter.
The Rush only managed to enter Lightning territory once in the second half and was limited to four first downs.
Roanoke suffered a major loss when T.J. Jackson suffered a broken hand. The former Northside High School quarterback left the game in the fourth quarter. Roanoke also lost running back George Thompson to a pinched nerve in his neck. Offensive lineman Adam Lallande also left the game with an injury.
It was the first defeat for the Roanoke team in four contests, dating to a 17-12 loss to West Virginia in Roanoke.
With Saturday's victory, the Lightning (8-1) clinched at least a tie for the divisional title and a lock on the home-field advantage in the playoffs. The loss doesn't hurt the Rush's playoff chances; Roanoke (5-4) has locked up no worse than a fourth-place tie.
The Rush closes its home regular-season schedule with a game at 7 p.m. Oct. 21 against the Delaware Warlocks.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB