ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 26, 1996 TAG: 9610280147
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KEITH POMPEY STAFF WRITER
William Fleming looked nothing like the football team that hobbled out of Pulaski County last week.
Playing with several key players banged up, the Colonels got embarrassed 39-14. Afterward, many thought the showdown with a struggling Cave Spring team would go down to the wire.
But Fleming had other plans for its homecoming.
A healthy Colonels team crushed the Knights 37-14 in a Roanoke Valley District game Friday night at Victory Stadium.
"We had all of our top horses back," said George Miller, Fleming's coach. "So we came out a played Fleming football."
The Colonels (3-5 overall, 1-1 district) held the Knights to 17 yards rushing and sacked quarterback Corey Paxton seven times. Meanwhile, Fleming's offense compiled 357 yards.
"We are finally playing Colonel football," said Richard Wilson, a wide receiver and defensive back. "And it couldn't have came at a better time. We wanted our seniors to go out with a bang playing in our final homecoming. And winning this game has turned our season around. We are playing with confidence."
Wilson should know about confidence. The 5-foot-9, 155-pound senior was unstoppable, catching six passes for 87 yards and scoring two touchdowns, one a 45-yard fumble recovery.
He wasn't the only Colonel to shine. Running back Lee Suggs rushed for a game-high 124 yards and two touchdowns.
Fleming scored on the game's opening possession. Tight end Josh Taylor's 14-yard reception from quarterback Charles Burnette capped a seven-play, 78-yard drive. On Fleming's next possession, Suggs' 4-yard rush made it 12-0 with 4:58 left in the quarter.
After forcing the Colonels to punt, the Knights (1-7, 1-2) looked headed for a comeback. But Paxton, who was 19-of-32 for 293 yards, was sacked and fumbled the ball. Wilson scooped it up and rambled 45 yards, giving Fleming an 18-0 lead with 7:27 left in the first half.
Cave Spring answered when Anthony Bailey caught a 62-yard score from Paxton. Josh Dowdy's two-point conversion run made it 18-8 with 6:41 left in the half.
Wilson's 38-yard reception made it 24-8. And Suggs clinched the victory with a 33-yard run, making it 37-14.
see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB