THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 1, 1994 TAG: 9410010437
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
After six straight losses to First Colonial, Green Run's Stallions were out to shake the so-called monkey from their backs Friday night.
But this was not your average primate.
``Six losses was far too many to call it a monkey,'' said Green Run coach Cadillac Harris, who hadn't beaten First Colonial as a head coach. ``This was a gorilla.''
The second-ranked Stallions caged the gorilla this time, shutting down the Patriots in the second half on the way to a 21-9 victory that left the Green Run 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the Beach District.
The outcome was in stark contrast to last year's 54-25 First Colonial victory, in which the Patriots scored 40 unanswered second-half points.
And the manner in which Green Run bolted to a 14-0 lead was a contrast to their usual playing style.
The Stallions have feasted this year on the big plays of quarterback Glenwood Ferebee, wideout Plaxico Burress and tailback Cedric Warren.
This time they unleashed unheralded bulldog fullback Larry Jordan. Running behind the Stallions' massive front line, Jordan gobbled up 66 yards on six carries on Green Run's first two possessions, scoring on runs of 21 and 1 yard. Jordan finished with 97 yards on 13 attempts.
``I figured everyone would look at the stats and be thinking we'd throw it all over the place,'' Harris said. ``So I challenged my offensive line. I told them this was their chance to show their stuff.''
The Patriots (1-3, 0-3) cut the lead to 14-9 midway through the second quarter on a 1-yard run by Marcus Wilcox and a 30-yard field goal by Jesse Harris. But a late first-half rally by the Patriots ended when Warren jumped high to intercept a Scott Cristy pass down the right sideline. Unfortunately, Warren landed awkwardly, with the tip of the ball jabbing him in the groin.
``I was glad I had the halftime to recover,'' said Warren, who finished with 87 yards on 15 carries.
In the second half, Green Run's defense didn't allow the Patriots beyond the Stallions 48 and three big plays by Burress led the Stallions to their final touchdown.
Burress intercepted a Cristy pass over the middle near the end of the third quarter, returning it 65 yards for an apparent touchdown. But a clipping penalty negated the return.
Nonetheless, the 6-foot-5, 200-pound Burress had a 28-yard run on a reverse on third-and-11 from the First Colonial 44 during the ensuing drive, then capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown reception from Ferebee with 10:12 remaining. by CNB