ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 14, 1996 TAG: 9609170027
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BUCHANAN
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
LORD BOTETOURT beat county rival James River 35-7 in a 2 1/2-hour game.
The 1996 ``Battle of Botetourt County'' football game will be long remembered by both teams - and not just because of the turnovers and penalties that extended the contest for more than two-and-a-half hours Friday night.
For Lord Botetourt senior running back Wesley Cox, the memories of 213 rushing yards and two touchdowns will be lasting.
For James River coach Doug Ross, his team's nine fumbles will be difficult to forget.
Cox's running game and a stingy Botetourt defense led the Cavaliers to a 35-7 non-district victory.
The score could have been much more one-sided. Botetourt failed to convert a first-quarter field goal opportunity; an apparent long touchdown run from Cox in the second half was nullified because of a penalty; and on two other occasions the Cavs moved the ball inside the opponents' 10-yard line without scoring.
``Our offense moved the ball really well,'' said Botetourt coach Andy Ward, who saw his team improve its record to 2-0. ``Our line played well and our backs ran real hard.''
Cox averaged 7.6 yards per carry on 28 rushes, but he also received ample support from his backfield mates. Eight other Cavaliers combined to rush for 179 yards, including sophomores Allen Dalton (11 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown) and Paul Craft (five rushes for 50 yards).
Even junior lineman Erick Poindexter, who weighs 315 pounds, carried the ball once for the Cavaliers. He gained three yards.
James River was unable to stop its bigger opponent, giving up 234 yards on the ground in the second half alone.
``This is a big rivalry,'' said Ross, whose team dropped to 0-3. ``Botetourt is one team we really want to beat, but they're obviously very strong this year.''
Their first offensive series set the tone for the Knights. A clipping penalty, a mishandled snap, and a quarterback sack put James River on its own 11 facing third-and-32.
``We have a gag rule [regarding discussing officials],'' said Ross, ``but on the first play [from scrimmage], our tailback got called for a clip on a sweep. Now figure that one out.''
Botetourt encountered some exchange problems of its own in the second half, fumbling four times and losing the ball on three of them. ``We're still a little bit away,'' Ward said.
James River got a strong effort from running back Brian LeFlore. The senior rushed for 91 yards, and caught two passes for 26 more. The team's total offense for the game was just 138 yards.
Ross also complimented the play of his quarterback, junior Jimmy Thompson, who was substituting for injured starter Travis Blankenship. Thompson scored the Knights' touchdown, scampering 26 yards on a broken play.
Thompson completed just four of his 16 passing attempts, but several of them came on obvious passing situations.
Senior Jeremy Conner caught three passes and scored a touchdown for Botetourt.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 linesby CNB