THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 11, 1994 TAG: 9411110818
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
Showing the kind of moxie that wins championships, Green Run went for a game-winning two-point conversion with 59 seconds remaining in their showdown with rival Kempsville.
But the Chiefs answered with some moxie of their own.
Kempsville, coming on an all-out blitz, chased Green Run quarterback Glenwood Ferebee out of bounds before he could get off a pass as the Chiefs held off a furious rally in the closing minutes to beat the Stallions, 21-20, and win the Beach District championship Thursday night at Kempsville High.
``If someone would have told me at the beginning of the season that the district championship would come down to one team going for two in the final game of the regular season with only seconds remaining, I'd have told them they couldn't draw it up any better,'' Kempsville coach John Bowles said.
The victory gives Kempsville (9-1 overall, 9-0 in the district) the top seed in the four-team Division 6 Eastern Region playoffs. Green Run (9-1, 8-1) earns the second seed. Their opponents will be determined by the outcome of tonight's Bethel-Tabb game.
Indian River is assured a bid.
Tallwood is in as the No. 4 seed if Bethel loses. If Bethel wins, the seedings for Indian River and Bethel will be decided by power points in as-yet-undecided games.
If the playoff picture seems down-to-the-wire, then it greatly resembles Kempsville's victory.
The Chiefs, who entered as the area's third-ranked team, dominated the first half as tailback Mike Pishioneri ran 23 times for 116 yards, including touchdown runs of 1 and 2 yards. Pishioneri finished the regular season as the area's leading scorer with 22 touchdowns.
The Chiefs gambled twice on fourth down to keep their opening scoring drive alive.
The Chiefs outgained Green Run, 155-29, in the first half and would have had a shutout going were it not for Cedric Warren's 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Kempsville increased its lead to 21-7 by marching 60 yards on 13 plays as quarterback Fred Sanders went in from 5 yards out on a bootleg around right end. Again, the Chiefs kept the drive alive with a fourth-down conversion, but this one was controversial.
On fourth-and-4 from the Green Run 14, Sanders tried to hit Marcus Garrett over the middle. Safety Plaxico Burress was called for interference after reaching over Garrett to bat away the pass.
With first down at the Stallions 7, the Chiefs scored two plays later.
Green Run's offense finally put it together in the fourth quarter as Ferebee and fullback Larry Jordan keyed a 46-yard, 10-play drive that ended on a 21-yard play-action pass to freshman tight end Ben Root, cutting Kempsville's lead to 21-14 with 6:53 remaining.
Green Run got the ball back in Kempsville territory a minute later when Kenyan Mullen and Antonyio Artis stripped Kempsville fullback Alex Lleces at the Chiefs 34.
Then it was Kempsville's turn for a big defensive play. Three plays later, Ferebee found Burress on a crossing pattern and James Woods and Garrett sandwiched Burress, with Woods recovering the fumble with four minutes left at the Kempsville 15.
Green Run's defense, however, held on three plays and the Chiefs were forced to punt. The Stallions took over with 1:47 remaining at Kempsville's 39. Three plays later, Ferebee hit Root again on a 21-yard touchdown pass, this time firing as he was being chased out of bounds. Root went high between two defenders to make the grab. It was Ferebee's area-leading 19th touchdown pass of the season.
After calling timeout, the Stallions went for the two-point conversion, but Ferebee never had a chance as Chiefs middle linebacker Mike Hilliard came on a blitz and Hilliard, Chip Faulkner and Donald Scott chased Ferebee out of bounds.
Pishioneri ran 38 times for 172 yards and has had some career nights against Green Run. In his two previous years against the Stallions, Pishioneri ran for 196 and 142 yards.
``Is this my most memorable game? Yes. Is it my best? Against this defense I'd have to say yes,'' Pishioneri said. ``I don't know what it is. I've been playing against a lot of those guys since city league. I guess I just get up for them.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/Staff
Kempsville's Mike Pishioneri, who finished with 116 yards rushing on
23 carries, picks up yardage as he follows teammate Trey Simpkins as
Green Run's Larry Jordan gives chase.
by CNB