THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 10, 1994 TAG: 9409100393
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOHN GORDON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
Sophomore halfback Clarence Skinner rushed for 127 yards in 17 carries and scored a touchdown to lead Nansemond River to a 16-0 victory over crosstown rival Lakeland Friday.
It was the season opener for both teams. Although they are in the Bay Rivers District, this game did not count in district standings. It was the sixth straight win for the Warriors over host Lakeland. Nansemond River has outscored the Cavaliers 135-6 in the last six outings.
Skinner's 20-yard touchdown run with 4:01 left was the icing on the cake for Nansemond River.
He acknowledged it was his best game, but was almost nonchalant about his accomplishments.
``It was the best game I've had and I ran pretty good,'' said Skinner. ``But I had some good blocking too.''
That he did. Fullback Dejuan Gambrell and running back Chris Thomas opened some big holes for Skinner, but he took advantage of them.
Nansemond River scored on its first series. On third and 16, quarterback Leon Porter lofted a pass to Donald Turner, who took it down the left sidelines for a 71-yard touchdown with 10:39 remaining in the first quarter.
Drey Asbell kicked the extra point, but that was all of the scoring until he booted a 27-yard field goal with 5:30 left in the contest. That was the turning point of the game as far as Lakeland coach Ed Smither was concerned.
``After that field goal, we had to throw the ball and try to play catch-up.'' he said. ``We didn't play that badly on defense, but we were very poor offensively. We did absolutely nothing offensively.''
Lakeland gained only 21 yards on the ground and 20 in the air while suffering three interceptions and 60 yards in penalties. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Nansemond River's Clarence Skinner finds room in the Lakeland
defense for some of his game-high 127 yards.
by CNB