Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 28, 1995 TAG: 9510300093
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES C. BLACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But after intermission, the passing game was gone, too.
Salem held the Wildcats to 25 total yards and dominated the clock in the second half. The result was a 21-14 Spartan road victory in Blue Ridge District play.
Salem (7-1 overall, 4-0 district) clinched a tie for its second consecutive district championship and sixth in seven years. The Wildcats (5-3, 2-2) are winless in four Blue Ridge District games against Salem.
``That's big,'' Salem quarterback and defensive back Seth Moore said. ``Winning the Blue Ridge District is one of our goals.''
But before the Spartans could celebrate winning another banner, they had to stop a Rockbridge team that took the lead twice in the first half.
The Spartans ran 12 consecutive times on the opening possession of the second half before Moore hit wide receiver Ricky Eubanks for a 10-yard touchdown reception and the game's final tally.
On two second-half drives, the Spartans gained 97 yards on 21 plays and ran 10 minutes off the clock. Sandwiched between those two Salem drives was a four-play possession by the Wildcats.
``The whole ballgame came down to controlling the line of scrimmage,'' Rockbridge coach Jamie Talbott said. ``[Salem] did a good job of controlling the ball in the second half.
``We didn't have the time to throw the ball in the second half.''
Rockbridge County quarterback Greg Stubblefield was 11-of-18 passing for 164 yards with one touchdown and one interception. However, 142 of his yards came in the first half. The Wildcats had only seven yards rushing for the game.
``In the first half, their only offense was two pass plays,'' Salem coach Willis White said. ``We stopped their run cold
``In the second half, we took their passing game away, and after that, they were in trouble.''
Rockbridge's final offensive play was a pass by Stubblefield that was intercepted by Eubanks in Salem territory.
The Salem defense was fresh and well-rested because of the Spartans' running game.
Rusty Howell (95), Gussie Vaughn (93) and Chris Huff (53) combined for 241 yards, 127 coming after intermission.
``We planned to use four or five different running backs,'' White said. ``We wanted to wear them down.''
The Wildcats' two scores came on a 16-yard reception to John McCoy from Stubblefield for the game's first score and a 68-yard reception to Matt Staton.
The Spartans responded to both scores with 1-yard runs by Huff.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB