THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 20, 1994 TAG: 9411200241
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
When the fall sports season began, Kempsville's Nicole Frey hoped to be playing Saturday in the Group AAA state field hockey final.
That dream died in the Beach District tournament. But another dream, one that she never dared to reveal, came true Saturday night when Frey kicked two field goals to beat Tallwood, 6-3, in the first round of the Eastern Region Division 6 playoffs at Kellam.
Frey's game-winner, a 26-yarder from just inside the left hash mark, came with nine seconds left and would have been good from 40 yards.
``I never thought it would come to that,'' Frey said. ``I can't even describe the feeling. It's incredible.''
Kempsville's victory was its 10th in a row and second over Tallwood. The Chiefs won, 17-0, on Oct. 21.
The Chiefs (10-1) will meet Indian River (8-3) Friday at Kellam for the Division 6 championship.
Kempsville's winning drive began after linebacker Mike Hilliard recovered a fumble at the Chiefs' 25 with 3:06 remaining. Tallwood had driven from the Chiefs' 40 to a first down at the 18 on a pass interference penalty against James Woods.
But on the next play the Lions' Frances Delcarmen was hit trying to skirt the left side and the ball popped straight back.
``Somebody hit him and jarred it loose,'' Hilliard said. ``I just fell on it.''
Kempsville had only two first downs in the second half before its final drive. The Lions' pursuit took away the quick pitch and they held Mike Pishioneri to 57 yards in 17 carries.
Struggling for a way to get outside, the Chiefs twice ran a flanker reverse on the winning march. On the first time, on a second-and-10 from the 25, Trey Simkins raced 28 yards to the Tallwood 47.
The Chiefs tried a long pass on the next play and the Lions were called for interference. That moved the ball to the 32 with 2:28 left.
On third-and-nine, Simkins ran the reverse again. He eluded linebacker Alvin Wilson at the 30 and raced 15 yards to the 16.
``All season we've been overpursuing and it killed us,'' Tallwood middle linebacker John Vann said.
The Chiefs ran three more plays - including a risky halfback pass from Pishioneri to quarterback Fred Sanders that gained two yards - before calling timeout with 13 seconds left to attempt the field goal.
``I was very nervous. But everything was right on,'' Frey said of Hilliard's snap and Sanders' hold.
The closest either team came to scoring a touchdown came in the first quarter. Kempsville had a first down at the Tallwood nine, but had to settle for Frey's 20-yard field goal.
The Lions responded with a 63-yard drive that culminated in Danny McVey's 35-yard field goal with 6:48 left in the first half.
It was 3-3 at halftime, but Tallwood had outgained Kempsville, 167 yards to 92.
Tallwood's TaRon Anderson, a freshman, rushed for 85 yards in the first half. The Chiefs clamped down on him in the second half, however, and he finished with 108 yards in 21 carries.
Neither team mounted a serious scoring threat in the second half until Tallwood drove inside the Kempsville 20 only to fumble.
Both teams threw interceptions.
``It was ugly,'' Chiefs' coach John Bowles said. ``But we'll take it.'' by CNB