THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 27, 1994 TAG: 9411230268
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
Those who were unconvinced that George Moody could turn around the Elizabeth City State University football team in one year were mistaken.
The Vikings won four of their last six games and turned a 2-8 season in 1993 into a respectable 5-6 campaign in 1994. The Vikings demonstrated why the turnaround occurred in several games this year. The most memorable: a 27-26 win over Norfolk State and a 61-32 win over Johnson C. Smith the last week of the season.
Against the Bulldogs, ECSU scored four touchdowns in a five- minute period in the third quarter and the Vikings defense picked off seven passes.
The Vikings capitalized on Smith turnovers to open the third quarter. Leading 26-18, the Vikings began a drive at 13:19 of the third quarter when JCSU punter Carl Lyles fell on a bad snap at the 32. Eight plays later, Aaron Murchison, who eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark, scored on a seven-yard run.
On their next drive, Smith backup quarterback De'Trell Calloway was picked off by Gene Stovall who returned the ball 25 yards for a touchdown with 6:01 to play in the quarter.
On their next drive, quarterback Robert Johnson was picked off by Rico Dawson on the first play from scrimmage. Dawson ran the ball 53 yards for a touchdown to give the Vikings a 46-18 lead with 5:37 to play in the quarter.
Smith was victimized by another interception on its next drive. Stovall picked off the pass and ran it to the ECSU 46. On the next play, Murchison burst through for a 54-yard touchdown with 4:19 to go in the quarter. Wilton Evans booted the extra point to give ECSU a 53-18 lead.
``We just had the right defense at the right time,'' Moody said. ``We made them rush plays more in the second half.''
Adding to the accolades were some season-ending awards for Viking players. Barry Lipscomb, a junior defensive back who led the CIAA with seven interceptions, was picked for the All-CIAA first team.
The Vikings all had three second team picks - Damean Latta, a junior linebacker; Andrew Richardson, a senior linebacker; and James Wright, a junior center.
With Lipscomb, Latta, Wright, and Murchison back next year, ECSU has even more to build on. by CNB