THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 16, 1995 TAG: 9509160428
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Churchland's top-rated defense was burned for nearly 300 yards, but the No. 8 Truckers stayed one step ahead of Great Bridge by racking up more than 500 yards of total offense in a 36-20 win over the Wildcats on Friday at Colon L. Hall Stadium.
Churchland (2-0 overall, 2-0 district) came into the game allowing only 19 yards rushing and 68 yards passing.
Great Bridge netted 132 yards on the ground against the Truckers, and Michael Cuddyer, the top-rated quarterback in South Hampton Roads, completed 13 of 34 passes for 148 yards.
``We came in with the No. 1 rated defense, but they read it well,'' Churchland coach Ken Taylor said of the Wildcats. ``They did everything they needed to do to beat our defense today.''
Great Bridge (0-3, 0-1) wasted no time exploiting the Truckers' lethargic defense, as Adrian Hughes gave his team a 6-0 lead on a 95-yard kickoff return to open the game.
Churchland countered on its first possession, taking the lead on Termaine Sessoms' 63-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage.
With the fullback trap working to perfection, Truckers quarterback Otis Jones caught Great Bridge off guard with the option, scrambling for touchdowns of 13 and 71 yards to give Churchland a 21-6 lead after the first quarter.
``They were just letting the quarterback run, and anytime they give us that we're going to take it,'' said Jones, who finished with 180 yards on 11 carries.
The Wildcats weren't just down by 15 after one quarter. They also lost starting linebacker Christian Basnight to a broken right leg midway through the first when he tried to tackle Sessoms.
Basnight was the Wildcats' starting 152-pounder in wrestling and qualified for the state tournament last year.
Although the Truckers only outscored Great Bridge by one, 15-14, over the final three quarters, they continued to chew up yardage. Fullback Orlando Morton had gains of 22 and 27 yards and David Drake opened the scoring in the third with a 66-yard touchdown.
Churchland's offense finished with 473 yards rushing on 37 carries, three kickoff returns for 23 yards, and a 21-yard punt return.
``Emotionally, we weren't up for this game like we are for a Norcom or a Western Branch,'' Jones said.
``We can't look past one team to another.''
Hughes led Great Bridge with 94 yards on 21 carries. Tight end Daniel Ross caught seven passes for 82 yards.
Basnight, who is lost to the Wildcats indefinitely, wasn't the only player injured on the night. Churchland's Aaron Bailey sprained his ankle on his only carry midway through the first quarter and sat out the rest of the game. Sessoms also sprained an ankle, carrying the ball just two times in the second half, and finished with 105 yards on seven carries. ILLUSTRATION: CHRISTOPHER REDDICK
Staff
Churchland quarterback Otis Jones slips out of the grasp of Great
Bridge defensive back Meredith Corprew during the Truckers' 36-20
win Friday. Jones finished with 180 yards rushing on 11 carries and
ran for two touchdowns.
by CNB