THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 20, 1994 TAG: 9411200170
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Donald Turner, continuing to provide the big punch for Nansemond River, rushed for 120 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns as the Warriors thumped Greensville, 33-8, in the Group AA Region I, Division 4 semifinal at Nansemond River Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors (10-1) will host York next Saturday in the region championship at Nansemond River.
Turner, who has scored seven touchdowns in the four games since he moved into the tailback slot, also lost a 53-yard touchdown run due to a clipping penalty.
``That's my best game, I suppose,'' said Turner, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound senior. ``The way the line was blocking, I just had to look for the holes.''
Nansemond River, running its winning streak to six in a row, missed its sixth shutout when the Eagles' Bryan Kern took a first-quarter kickoff back 72 yards for a touchdown.
Greensville (4-7) briefly led at that point, 8-6, after a 2-point pass from quarterback Johnthan Wells to Maurice Hicks. But it was a short-lived lead.
Nansemond River struck again with a 65-yard scoring drive shortly before the quarter ended. Turner scampered around right end from eight yards out.
The Warriors displayed most of their offensive arsenal with Dejuan Gambrell and Michael Rodgers running for touchdowns and quarterback Leon Porter tossing a 29-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Kendall Crocker.
Rodgers gained 76 yards in nine assignments. Porter hit on 3 of 5 passes for 68 yards.
Nine Warriors piled up 287 yards rushing. Three different receivers hauled in the passes.
``That's only the second kickoff we've had returned for a touchdown against us in the last four years,'' Nansemond River coach Jerry Varacallo said.
Varacallo praised the work of Turner, who intercepted one pass in addition to his offensive efforts. ``He's the best athlete in the school, maybe the best in the district,'' said Varacallo. ``This was just a typical performance by Donald.''
Varacallo was displeased with penalties nullifying two long runs, including a touchdown, and four fumbles. Three of the fumbles were lost.
``We can't make those mistakes if we want to stay in the playoffs. The forte of this team is the big play and defense. But we must avoid mental mistakes.''
The Nansemond River coach also calls the upcoming game ``more difficult because we beat them before,'' by 15-3.
``They will come in hungry,'' he said. ``We must be prepared for that.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
L. TODD SPENCER
Nansemond River running back Donald Turner, right, powered the
Warriors' running game that piled up 287 yards.
by CNB