THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 24, 1994 TAG: 9409240401
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Tallwood High, which won only two games in its first two years of existence, surpassed that number in only the third week of the season Friday night with a convincing 29-10 victory over Salem High.
The ninth-ranked Lions, 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Beach District, flaunted an overwhelmingly quick defense that fenced in the Sun Devils most of the night.
Salem (1-2, 1-1) had been held to -8 yards offensively with 1:53 remaining before a 65-yard scoring drive in the closing minutes, against a combination of Tallwood first- and second-teamers, allowed the Sun Devils to finish in positive yardage and make the score respectable. Salem's Matt Moeller hauled in a 27-yard pass from Jeff Bates for the touchdown.
``That was impressive,'' said Salem coach Bill McTyre, tipping his hat to Tallwood's effort. ``They were all over us so much that half the time it looked like they had to have had 15 players on the field.''
Tallwood went with the standard 11, but defensive end Alvin Wilson and middle linebacker John Vann spent much of the evening in Salem's backfield as the Lions turned 19 of Salem's running plays into negative yardage.
When it was over, Vann said defensive coordinator Robert Jackson was the catalyst.
``Coach Jackson came over from I.C. Norcom (two seasons ago) and has been emphasizing speed and hard hitting ever since,'' Vann said. ``Alvin moved from cornerback to defensive end this year, and he's really playing what we call the neutralizer position, a lot like (Norcom all-state defensive end) David Turner did last year.''
Wilson, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound junior, was in on six tackles for losses, five of them solo.
Tallwood's stellar defensive unit, which is allowing just 149 yards per game, gave the Lions' offense excellent field position throughout.
The Lions marched 55 yards midway through the first quarter, taking a 7-0 lead on Taron Anderson's 1-yard run.
After pinning the Sun Devils deep in their own territory midway through the second quarter, the Lions took possession at the Salem 27 after a Salem punt. Two plays later, Theo Mason rambled 18 yards around right end for the touchdown and Derrick Evans ran for the two-point conversion.
A 30-yard field goal by Eddie MacDonald to start the fourth quarter got the Sun Devils on the scoreboard. But Tallwood responded with scoring runs of 7 and 6 yards by Anderson, the Lions' freshman tailback.
``Every skill person on our team has speed,'' said Tallwood coach Ken Barto. ``That is so important in high school football. Right now I'd have to say Wilson and Vann are equal to the guys I've coached and the guys I've seen around here. And Alvin was simply unbelievable.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color staff photo by Jim Walker
At right, Salem running back Reno Clay tries to shake off Tallwood
defender John Joseph. [photo appeared on page C1]
by CNB