THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 11, 1994 TAG: 9411110839
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Jerry Varacallo sees it every day.
So forgive him if he seems just a little unimpressed by the athletic abilities of his quarterback Leon Porter and tailback Donald Turner.
The duo put on another show Thursday night with a touchdown apiece to lead the Nansemond River Warriors to their seventh straight win over Bay Rivers District and neighborhood rival Lakeland, 17-6, Thursday at Arrowhead Stadium.
The win guaranteed the Warriors, ranked seventh in the area poll and No. 4 in the state Group AA poll, at least a share of the district title as well as the top seed in the playoffs and the home field for the first two games.
Nansemond River improved its record to 9-1 and 6-1, the best in the school's history, and will host Greensville next Friday night at 7:30. The Cavaliers (5-5, 4-3) will travel to York.
``We see it every day,'' Varacallo said of Porter and Turner, who has now scored six TDs in three games since replacing injured Clarence Skinner at tailback. ``They are just exceptional athletes. They say the cream always rises to the top. . . ''
The cream was a little slow in rising, as the Warriors did about everything they could to make keep victory from coming easily.
Nansemond River was penalized seven times for 70 yards in the first quarter, and for the first time in the past seven meetings between these teams, the Warriors allowed Lakeland to lead the game.
Costly penalties and a fired-up Cavalier defense stunned the Warriors when Lakeland stalled them inside the 2-yard-line and forced Drey Asbell to attempt a 28-yard field goal, which went wide.
``I think when they got down there the kids just figured they were going to score,'' Varacallo said.
On the Warriors next possession they rattled themselves with unnecessary penalties and Dwayne Myrick intercepted Porter on the Warriors 29, which the Cavaliers converted into a 2-yard TD from Lindell Hunter to take a 6-0 lead with 3:37 left in the first half.
That seemed to wake Porter and the Nansemond River offense up.
On second-and-15 from his own 46, Porter dropped back for an option play. He went right and found a host of Cavaliers waiting and opted for the left side, where he got a key block from Jamar Goodman and scooted 54 yards to the end zone.
``He's a waterbug out there,'' Varacallo said.
``I just cut against the grain and saw the open field,'' Porter said. ``I saw all the defenders to the right so I just cut back.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MICHAEL KESTNER/Staff
Nansemond River running back Donald Turner, center, is corralled by
Lakeland defenders.
by CNB