ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 15, 1996 TAG: 9609170037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: FERRUM
SOURCE: KEITH POMPEY STAFF WRITER
Dave Davis' facial expression told the frustrations of having a young team.
The Ferrum College football coach saw his team dominate Saturday's game against Clinch Valley. But because of key mistakes by his rookie players, the Highland Cavaliers escaped with a 17-14 victory at Adams Stadium.
``I am very disappointed with this loss,'' Davis said. ``It really came down to about four plays. We gave up a blocked field goal. Someone blew his coverage on a screen play. We had a touchdown called back on a holding penalty. We missed the tackle on Clinch Valley's last touchdown. And every one of those mistakes was by a young player.''
All-in-all, the Cavaliers (2-0) scored 10 points off Ferrum turnovers.
Greg Thomas' performance didn't help, either. The 5-foot- 8, 198-pound Clinch Valley tailback rushed for a game-high 123 yards and a touchdown.
Ferrum (0-2), meanwhile, lost more than the game.
Quarterback Josh Whitley, 6-0 as a starter last year, separated his right (throwing) shoulder and could be lost for the entire season.
However, Whitley was a non-factor before his injury, completing only 3-of-7 passes for 21 yards and an interception.
The interception led to Jay Withrow's 31-yard field goal, giving Clinch Valley an early 3-0 lead.
After both teams failed to move the ball on their next series, Brian Beck spearheaded another Cavaliers score. The freshman linebacker blocked Richard Harr's 30-yard field-goal attempt.
Soon after that, fullback Ralph Carter capped a seven-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown. Withrow's extra point gave Clinch Valley a 10-0 lead with 9:42 left in the first half.
In the third quarter, Thomas scampered 54 yards, giving the Cavaliers a 17-0 lead.
The Panthers answered in the fourth quarter when reserve quarterback Brith Osinkosky hit tight end Mike Souma for a 16-yard score. Harr's extra point made it 17-7 Clinch Valley.
Four minutes later, Ferrum wideout Gene Crouch made an apparent touchdown reception. However, it was called back because of a holding penalty.
Then on the next play, Osinkosky, who was 12-of-27 for 140 yards, was intercepted by Lewis Johnson at the 1-yard line.
After forcing the Cavaliers to punt, the Panthers scored the final touchdown of the game. Fullback Colby Allen went from 1-yard out and Harr's extra point made it 17-14 with 1:18 left.
Ferrum failed to recover an onside kick and Clinch Valley ran out the clock.
``This loss is frustrating because we had them,'' said Souma, formerly of William Fleming. ``But we came up empty so many times.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 58 linesby CNB