THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 26, 1994 TAG: 9411260185
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C01 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Indian River quarterback James Boyd converted two fourth-down attempts in the last two minutes to keep the ball out of Kempsville's hands and seal a 20-17 victory in the Eastern Region Division 6 championship game at Kellam High Friday night.
With the Chiefs aching for one last chance at victory, Boyd converted a fourth-and-1 on a quarterback sneak, then a fourth-and-5 on a bootleg to run out the clock.
The Braves (9-3) will host Northwest Region champion G.W. Danville (10-2), a 42-14 winner over Patrick Henry-Roanoke, next Saturday in a state semifinal game, site and time to be announced.
The Braves charged to a 20-10 halftime lead, largely on the theatrics of Boyd, then let their defense do the rest.
Boyd connected with Anthony Cason on a 56-yard touchdown pass, scored on a 73-yard option run and fed Mike Joyner on a delayed option pitchout that turned into a 22-yard scoring run.
The Braves' offense, however, stalled in the second half and Indian River found out that at least one Beach District team was not a pushover.
Boyd had said after a 30-9 victory over Green Run last week that the Beach District was inferior to the Southeastern District, statements that had Braves coach Bob Parker on edge throughout the week.
``All that BS from Boyd was just that,'' Parker said. ``I can understand why Kempsville won the Beach. That's a good team.''
Kempsville took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a 29-yard field goal by Nicole Frey and led, 10-6, when Fred Sanders answered Boyd's scoring pass with one of his own, connecting with Marcus Garrett on an 82-yard bomb.
Then Boyd, who finished with 156 yards rushing on 14 attempts, broke his big run of the night.
``It was just a straight option,'' said Boyd, a sophomore who took over this season for all-state quarterback Tony Morrison. ``And the middle was wide open. I had just one guy to beat and he wasn't going to catch me.''
Indian River's final points of the half were set up when the Chiefs were forced to punt from their own end zone after Sanders was sacked at the 8 and the Chiefs were assessed a personal foul.
Cason returned Corey Niepraschk's punt 15 yards to the Kempsville 28, and three plays later Boyd ran the option to the right, appeared to be stopped at the line of scrimmage, but pitched to Joyner on the wing. Joyner rambled in for a 20-10 lead with 6:28 left in the half.
Kempsville had two good chances to score before the end of the half. But one drive ended when Milton Hall intercepted a Sanders pass intended for James Woods at the Indian River 17. Then with time expiring in the half, Cason picked off a Hail Mary pass as Sanders threw to the right corner of the end zone, where three Chiefs receivers waited.
Kempsville came out in the second half and again was stopped inside the Indian River 20, this time giving up their first possession on downs at the Braves 18.
On their following possession, the Chiefs marched to Indian River's 13, but Frey's 30-yard field goal attempt was short and wide right.
The Chiefs (10-2) finally found the end zone again at the start of the fourth quarter when Sanders hit Garrett on a post pattern for a 21-yard scoring toss to close to within 20-17.
But on Indian River's next possession, Boyd went wild once again. He rambled 23 yards on a quarterback draw, then 18 more yards on a keeper around right end to reach Kempsville's 29. Sam Hardy then went 11 yards for a third consecutive first down, but the Chiefs stiffened and Indian River gave up the ball on downs.
``I caught myself late in the third and realized I hadn't let Boyd run in the second half,'' Parker said.
The Chiefs would wallow in terrible field position from that point.
Kempsville was unable to move the ball on their next possession and was forced to punt, but three plays later Brett Stuhlman picked off a Boyd pass and returned it 15 yards to the Kempsville 38.
On second down, however, Sanders slipped trying to avoid a rush and fell down for a 12-yard loss.
Two plays later the Chiefs tried a fake punt, with Mike Pishioneri going 11 yards around right end, but he came up 8 yards shy of the first down with 2:39 left. It was the last time the Chiefs would have the ball.
``I thought we had a great second half,'' Kempsville coach John Bowles said. ``I thought this might be our year.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Indian River's Anthony Cason splits a trio of Kempsville defenders -
from left, Jason Dodd, Justin Jones and Alex Lleces.
by CNB