THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 29, 1994 TAG: 9410290335
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
They're ``partying at the Creek'' once again, while at Norcom, the party's just about over.
Top-ranked Deep Creek, buoyed by near-flawless second-half execution, overpowered the third-ranked Greyhounds, 21-3, Friday night before an estimated 6,000 fans at Frank D. Lawrence Stadium.
The victory clinched at least a tie for the Southeastern District title for the Hornets (8-0, 5-0 in the league) and kept them on track for the top seed in the Division 5 playoffs.
Barring a miracle, there won't be any postseason action for the defending Division 5 state champion Greyhounds (6-2, 5-2), who needed a victory to have a playoff shot.
The Hornets scored all of their points Friday in the second half to erase a 3-0 Norcom halftime lead.
``We made some mistakes in the first half,'' said Hornets defensive back George Miller said. ``But then we came out and showed them how Deep Creek really plays football.''
Deon Dyer, a 6-0, 235-pound junior, ran for 120 yards and all three Hornet touchdowns in a devastating display of power running against a team which takes pride in shutting down opposing backs.
``It's been a long time since someone's run the ball down our throats like that,'' Norcom coach Joe Langston said.
Ninety-seven of Dyer's yards came in second half, when Deep Creek's strategy of spreading out Norcom's 10-man front had taken full effect. The Hornets used the passing of Arnie Powell (10 for 17, 144 yards) and the outside running of Cedric Williams to loosen up the Greyhounds, then turned Dyer loose for a succession of up-the-middle and off-tackle bursts.
``I don't want to sound cocky, but it worked pretty much the way we envisioned,'' Deep Creek coach Jerry Carter said.
Deep Creek's second-half precision forced the Greyhounds to play catchup, and Norcom came up short. Three Norcom quarterbacks combined to complete just 6 of 24 passing attempts, with three interceptions.
Ironically, the power-based, ball-control attack Deep Creek used so effectively is precisely what fueled Norcom early in the game. The Greyhounds took the opening kickoff and used aggressive running by Rudy Howard and Mike Ricks to move from their own 29 to the Deep Creek nine. When the drive stalled, Maceo Thomas booted a 25-yard field goal.
But Norcom failed to capitalize on several other scoring opportunities. The Greyhounds started three drives deep inside Deep Creek territory, only to have the combination of their own inefficiency and a few dazzling Hornet defensive plays keep them from converting.
``We squandered a few opportunities and I think that may have changed our emotional state,'' Langston said.
In the second half, the Hornets set the tone by opening up with a crisp 75-yard drive which ended when Dyer bulled in from four yards out over left tackle.
The Hornets drove 71 yards on their next possession, with Dyer finishing it off with a five-yard scoring run.
A 36-yard return of an interception by George Miller set Dyer up for his final score, a two-yard run in the fourth quarter. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by Bill Tiernan
Rudolph Howard of Norcom just misses catching a pass from
quarterback Roderick Richardson in a loss to Deep Creek before an
estimated 6,000 at Lawrence Stadium
Photo
Deon Dyer
by CNB