ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 10, 1996 TAG: 9611120033
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KEITH POMPEY STAFF WRITER
This isn't how Dave Merrick and his Roanoke Rush teammates envisioned the Southern Conference Championship of the National Minor League Football would end Saturday.
The place-kicker traveled from Pittsburgh, hoping to help Roanoke reach the NMFL Championship.
Instead, with five seconds remaining, the normally dependable Merrick missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt and the Hammond Thunder escaped with a 10-9 semifinal victory at Victory Stadium.
As a result, the Thunder (10-3) faces the winner of the Northern Conference Championship between Lockport and Central PA for the NMLF title Nov.23 in High Point, N.C.
The loss ended a nine-game winning streak for the Rush (12-2).
``It's just not fair to my teammates that I came down here to Roanoke and I couldn't make a 40-yard field goal,'' said Merrick, who kicked a 54-yarder for the University of Pittsburgh against Texas two years ago. ``It wasn't the fact that I didn't have enough leg. I can kick the ball longer than that. It was dead center. I just didn't put enough on it. And that cost us to go to the championship. I just feel bad for the rest of the team that that one kick cost us a good season.''
It wasn't just that one kick.
Although Merrick connected on a 35-yarder, he also missed a 22-yarder and an extra point.
He shouldn't take all of the blame. Other than Christiansburg's Darren Graham, Roanoke struggled offensively.
Graham, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound quarterback, finished with 200 all-purpose yards and a touchdown pass to John Miller. But his running backs were held to 30 yards.
And the Rush defense, which held the Thunder to 74 yards in the first half, couldn't stop Byron Allen and John Westbrook late in the game.
Allen, a 6-foot, 220-pound Hammond tailback, rushed for 80 of his game-high 101 yards in the second half. And Westbrook, who was held to two receptions, burned Roanoke defensive back John Redfear for the game-winning 28-yard touchdown.
``Hey, only catching two passes doesn't matter anymore,'' said the wideout. ``I was open all day. I kept complaining. But [quarterback Doug Colestran] finally got it to me when we needed it. That's all that matters.
``Now we are going to the championship, baby.''
Early on, it looked like Roanoke would play in the title game.
After forcing Hammond to punt, the Rush took a 6-0 lead. Miller's 52-yard touchdown reception from Graham capped a four-play, 73-yard drive with 1:51 left in the first quarter.
But Thunder place-kicker Chris Penton's 40-yard field goal made it 6-3 Rush late in the second quarter.
Roanoke came back and took a six-point lead as Merrick kicked a 35-yarder, ending the first half.
Hammond went ahead for good with 5:30 left in the game.
That's when Colestran, who completed only one of seven passes, hit a wide-open Westbrook for a 28-yard score. Penton's extra point made it 10-9.
After both teams failed to move the ball, the Rush had a chance to win. With less than 80 seconds left, Roanoke marched 48 yards. However, Merrick's game-winning field goal fell one foot short.
``It hurts to get to the semifinals and lose a game this close,'' said Graham. ``This is something that you work so hard for since day one of training camp. One of our goals was to make it to the championship. But Hammond is a good team and you can't take nothing away from them.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 70 linesby CNB