ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 12, 1996 TAG: 9610150032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
Patrick Henry's football team took advantage of most every opportunity Friday night. And it was a darn good thing.
That's because the Patriots didn't have many chances. They scored on 10 percent of their plays from scrimmage and hung on to stop Amherst County 26-24 in a non-district game at Victory Stadium.
The Lancers had the ball most of the night, running 71 plays from scrimmage to just 30 for PH (5-1).
However, the Patriots scored on four of their first six possessions to wipe out an early 16-0 deficit and grab a 10-point lead going to the fourth quarter.
PH's defense also took advantage of jittery Amherst County, recovering four fumbles. The biggest one came in the third quarter when defensive back Dennis Dunnaville, also PH's starting quarterback, picked up a ball on the PH 46 that Camm Jackson had dropped. Dunnaville rambled 54 yards for a touchdown to put the Patriots ahead 22-16.
``I was just in the right place at the right time,'' said Dunnaville. ``I've never scored a touchdown like that. I was thinking all the way, `I just have to score.'''
On the next Amherst County series, Carlos Kinney fumbled at the PH 27. Gouss Joseph pounced on the ball, stopping a Lancers scoring threat.
Two plays later, Shaun Akers found a hole and scampered 67 yards for a touchdown. It was never in doubt once the senior back got past the line.
``I saw a trap block through the middle and I was off,'' said Akers. ``I knew I was gone. No one could catch me.''
Akers, who also plays defense, was as dismayed as anyone when Amherst County (3-3) dominated the first quarter with two touchdowns on 1-yard runs by quarterback Dante Christian. The Lancers had drives of 50 and 75 yards, controlling the ball for 25 plays to five for PH.
``I'm thinking, `This can't happen,''' Akers said. ``They were knocking our linebackers back and going through the holes.''
Coach Ed Scott said his Patriots never hit the panic button when they were down 16-0. That helped pull them through.
``Our defense is getting better. We still have trouble controlling the big, strong teams up front. And they're a big, strong team with big, strong backs,'' Scott said.
``We never let them make big plays. You have to give yourself a chance. Finally, something good happened.''
The turnaround came late in the first half, when Christian fumbled at the Lancers' 34. PH then marched to its first score, with Boo Battle - now at quarterback - running it in from the 1.
The Patriots then recovered the kickoff at the Amherst County 46 with barely two minutes left. Battle hit Jerome Cook with a 26-yard pass and scored moments later from the 4 with 31 seconds remaining in the half. However, Battle's pass for a tying conversion failed, leaving the Patriots down 16-14 at intermission.
``We didn't deserve to win,'' said Mickey Crouch, the Amherst County coach. ``For the first time this year our offensive line did a good job, but we kept fumbling the ball.''
Even after the momentum swing, Amherst County nearly pulled out the game. The Lancers drove 33 yards after Battle's 7-yard punt following a bad snap. Kinney scored from the 2 with 4:01 left.
PH went nowhere after the kickoff and Battle prepared to punt again. ``This is the biggest play,'' Scott shouted at his team. Battle got off the kick and the ball rolled to the Lancers' 34 with 2:10 left.
However, Amherst County came driving back, reaching the PH 34. Reserve quarterback Chris Carpenter then spiked the ball to stop the clock with seconds left. However, it was fourth down, giving PH the ball and the game. see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. DON PETERSEN STAFF Shaun Akers (20) of Patrick Henryby CNBraces toward the goal line on a 67-yard touchdown run in the third
quarter as Amherst County defender Dante Christian gives chase.
color
2. DON PETERSEN STAFF Patrick Henry's Dennis Dunnaville (17) and Boo
Battle drag down Amherst County's Carlos Kinney (20) during Friday's
game at Victory Stadium. PH won the non-district matchup 26-24.