ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 12, 1996 TAG: 9610150043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: MONETA
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
The same night that sensational running back Jarrett Ferguson reinjured a sore left ankle, Kevin Martin established that he can handle a greater offensive work load for Staunton River.
Can he ever handle it.
Martin rushed for a career high 282 yards, scored four touchdowns and threw to Ferguson for another as the Golden Eagles tied the school record for victories by routing Bedford County rival Liberty 48-12 in a Seminole District football game Friday.
So unstoppable were the host Golden Eagles that running simple up-the-middle plays, they drove 45 yards for their final touchdown, a 2-yarder by second string running back Karl Budveski with seven seconds left.
It was the first time Staunton River had beaten Liberty since 1988. It was only the third occasion the Eagles have knocked off the Minutemen since Staunton River opened in 1964.
``They beat us in every phase of the game,'' Liberty coach Mike Scharnus said. ``Offense, defense, everything.''
The bad news for Staunton River was losing Ferguson again. The swift 5-foot-9, 185-pound senior missed last week's 36-14 loss to Jefferson Forest and returned this week for the game with the other county rival. He carried for 51 yards and caught a 33-yard scoring toss from Martin on a halfback option before going down in the third quarter.
``The last two touchdowns I scored for Jarrett Ferguson and the rest of the team,'' Martin said. ``Liberty knew he was hurt and they were trying to hurt him again.''
Both backs, Martin and Ferguson, are unofficially over 1,000 yards rushing for the season.
``[Martin] stepped up tonight,'' Staunton River coach Bob Gray said. ``Actually he stepped up the last three weeks.''
Her certainly wasn't alone. The offensive line pushed the Minutemen around at will most of the night.
Liberty trailed 27-6 at intermission, but came out for the third quarter with a march that ended with a 4-yard Terrell Turner touchdown. The run for two points was stopped, but the Minutemen (4-3 overall, 2-1 in the district) had the ball right back after a Martin fumble the first play after the kickoff.
Liberty couldn't advance, though. That seemed to deflate the Minutemen.
Fumbles on their next two possessions inside their 10 set up Martin's last two touchdowns. That settled the game.
``When you get beat like this, it seems like nothing clicks,'' Scharnus said.
Staunton River is 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the district.
see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. Jarrett Ferguson (right) of Staunton River heads forby CNBthe end zone in the second quarter as Brandon Mills of Liberty tries
to catch up. color ERIC BRADY STAFF.
2. Gerry Staples (28) of Liberty looks for running room against
Staunton River ERIC BRADY STAFF