ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 3, 1995 TAG: 9512040082
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-10 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LOW MOOR
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
THE BEARS USE ``HOME-FIELD'' advantage to advance to the Group A Division 1 championship game.
Just call it their home away from home.
For the second time in three weeks, the Bath County Chargers football team was forced to play a ``home'' playoff game at Alleghany High School.
For the third time in three weeks, Bath thrashed its opponent by at least three touchdowns.
The Chargers (11-2) used two long scoring plays in the first half, and three steady drives in the second, to dominate Appalachia 36-14 Saturday afternoon. Bath now meets Strasburg (22-13 victors over Windsor on Saturday) for the Group A Division I championship next weekend.
The game again will be played at Alleghany High School's Mountaineer Field.
Two weeks ago, snow covered the Chargers' home field in Hot Springs, and the Bath County-Holston game was moved to Low Moor.
This week, the Virginia High School League ruled that the Chargers' field was inadequate for a state semifinal game. Again, the alternative site proved sufficient for Bath's purposes.
``I've about had it with this `field business' up to here,'' said Chargers coach Steve Isaacs. ``We could block off route 220 and play our games on the highway right in front of our school [and win].
``All [regulation] football fields are 160 feet wide, and 120 yards [including end zones] long. It doesn't matter where we play. The better team is going to win.''
Bath was clearly the better team Saturday, although it was not apparent at first. The Bulldogs, who start just three seniors, held Bath to six plays from scrimmage in the first quarter, and forced two punts.
On offense, Appalachia (9-4) moved the ball well, marching from its own 21-yard line to the Chargers' 7 before sophomore quarterback Travis Turner was intercepted by Bath County cornerback K.C. Jones in the end zone.
Jones raced 103 yards down the sideline for a touchdown, stumbling momentarily when Turner dove for a desperation tackle.
``I didn't know [Jones] had that much speed,'' Isaacs said, but pointed out that Jones was named an All-Pioneer District defensive back, and that the interception was his sixth this year.
``There wasn't much to it,'' Jones said. ``The ball was there, and I never hesitated about running it out. I was waiting to get hit, and I saw [Turner] coming out of the corner of my eye.''
Less than five minutes later, Bath generated another impressive score. Facing a third-and-six from their own 24-yard line, tailback Jamie Carroll found Matt Williams behind the defense for a 76-yard touchdown pass.
At halftime, Bath had two first downs and 30 rushing yards, but led 14-8.
The Chargers pulled away after intermission, behind the hard running of fullback Ivan Franklin. Bath County defensive tackle Dennis Loan recovered an errant Turner pitchout at Appalachia's 20, and six plays later, Franklin scored the first of his three second-half touchdowns.
Isaacs thought the game turned on the fumble recovery. ``We punched it in from there, went up 21-8, and then we laid back and waited for them to come to us,'' Isaacs said.
``Our line started widening some big holes,'' said Franklin, who gained 91 of his game-high 105 rushing yards after intermission.
After the game, Isaacs encouraged his squad to savor the moment.
``Stay on the field for a little while,'' Isaacs said to his players. ``Look at the hills; look at the people.
``Because in 20 years, if you get together for a reunion, this is what you'll remember.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 72 linesby CNB