Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 28, 1995 TAG: 9510300092
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Perhaps it was the Patrick Henry Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony moments before kickoff.
Whatever the source of inspiration, Patrick Henry played its best game of the year, scoring four first-half touchdowns and blasting Franklin County 38-22 in a Roanoke Valley District game Friday night at Victory Stadium.
The Patriots improved their record to 4-4 overall, 1-1 in the district. The Eagles fell to 3-5, 1-2 and virtually eliminated themselves from any hope of winning the district title.
``This was our best effort of the year,'' Patriots coach Ed Scott said. ``We finally played some defense. It took us a while to put the pieces together this year, but we came back with intensity.''
Patriots' quarterback Naheem Barnwell, who has split time behind center with Dennis Dunnaville this season, performed exceptionally well, engineering five long scoring drives.
Patrick Henry broke several big plays during the game, including a 52-yard scoring pass from Barnwell to Roshaun Martin, a 40-yard TD run by tailback James Hickenbotham, and a 72-yard interception return for a touchdown by Drew Dickinson.
The Eagles managed three long touchdowns themselves, but it was a case of too little, too late.
Running back Henry Eggleston darted through the line for a 47-yard score in the first quarter that gave Franklin County a temporary 7-6 lead. But it took the Patriots just two minutes to march 65 yards and regain the lead.
Franklin County's second score came on a play that should qualify for ESPN's SportsCenter highlights.
Trailing 24-7 and facing a fourth-and-14 at the PH 38 with less than 20 seconds left in the half, the Eagles' Matt Maxey attempted a 55-yard field goal.
The kick was about 20 yards short, and settled inside PH's five. As both teams watched the ball die, the Patriots' T-Jay Tate inexplicably dove for the ball, and fumbled it into the end zone where Franklin County's Eric Walker recovered for a touchdown.
``We were hollering for him to get away from it, and [Tate] thought we said `Get it,''' Scott explained.
``I guess if Leon Lett of the Dallas Cowboys can do it, we can do it, too.''
Barnwell left the game in the fourth quarter because of injury, but Scott later confirmed his budding star simply suffered leg cramps.
Hickenbotham led all rushers with 128 yards on 16 carries. Brandon Smith paced the Eagles with 60 yards on 12 carries.
Franklin County back-up quarterback Jamie Tuck threw a 36-yard TD pass to Travis Kent in the game's final seconds.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
Memo: Shorter version ran in Metro edition<.