ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 1, 1996 TAG: 9612020122
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: TAZEWELL
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
The sophomore running back scored from the 7-yard line on the second play of overtime Saturday to give Salem a 7-0 victory over Grundy at a rain-soaked Tazewell High School field.
``It was the biggest hole I saw all day,'' said Anderson. ``It was a power play off tackle that we had run before. It just opened up on this one.''
After Anderson's touchdown, Grundy had its shot. David Scammell ran to the 1 on the first play. On second down, Anderson cut him for a loss. On third down, a bad snap went past quarterback Jason Copenhaver and Salem's Jamie Garst recovered to end the game.
The victory sends Salem to the Group AA Division 4 championship game next Saturday against Sherando, which crushed York 42-12. The site of the game will be finalized Monday, but it appears the contest will be played at Victory Stadium in Roanoke.
Anderson's touchdown ended a smash-mouth game typical of Southwestern Virginia that was perfectly suitable for the abominable weather conditions. A driving rain and a field that was sloppy up the middle with huge puddles along the sidelines made passing a real adventure.
In past years, Salem has succumbed to football road games played in far Southwest Virginia. Either injuries or bad conditions have taken the Spartans out of games. This time, Salem (11-2) proved to be the strongest team as it wore down the previously unbeaten Golden Wave (12-1).
``This bunch didn't care where they played. They just wanted to play,'' said Salem coach Willis White.
As the day wore on, it was apparent neither team would do much passing. Grundy was at a disadvantage with only Scammell running the ball, while Salem had a committee of ball carriers.
Grundy had the best opportunity to score in the first half when a Golden Wave punt hit a Salem player running down the field. Grundy recovered at the Spartans 23 and quickly picked up a first down at the 11.
Then Scammell appeared to have a big run to the 2, but a holding penalty nullified the gain and stopped Grundy's momentum. The drive ended when Chris Stuart picked off a fourth-down pass by Copenhaver and returned it to the Wave 48.
``The quarterback tried to get out of the pocket,'' Stuart said. ``I chased him and he threw it up for grabs.''
Copenhaver, who passed for more than 1,000 yards during the season, had a miserable day. He was sacked three times, with Seth Williams getting him twice. Scammell couldn't run as the Spartans' defense dominated the game.
In the second half, Salem's kicking game, behind Bret Gresham, kept giving the Spartans solid field position.
The Spartans had two great scoring chances in the fourth quarter. Salem drove from Grundy's 42 for a first down at the 6 as the third period ended. A penalty and three plays resulted in 5 lost yards, but Gresham's 30-yard field-goal attempt was wide left.
Two series later, Salem got the ball on the Grundy 24 after John Hancock returned a short punt 21 yards. Anderson picked up a first down on a third-down run, but on the next play he fumbled and Grundy's B.D. Robertson recovered with 2:55 left.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN\Staff. 1. Chris Stuart looks for runningby CNBroom, which often was lacking Saturday in Salem's 7-0 overtime
victory over Grundy. Stuart made a big interception to stop a Grundy
drive in the first half. color. 2. Jamie Garst (5) of Salem recovers
a Grundy tumble in overtime to prreserve the Spartans' victory (Ran
only in New River edition).