THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 6, 1995 TAG: 9510060643
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DWIGHT FOXX, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Churchland turned defensive in breaking its two-game Southeastern District losing streak.
The defense came up with two huge defensive stands in the final three minutes as the No. 9 Truckers held off Oscar Smith 14-8 Thursday night at home.
Oscar Smith (2-3, 1-1) drove to the Churchland 3-yard line with less than three minutes remaining, but running back Fred Person dropped a fourth-down pass from quarterback Jamar Lewis in the end zone.
``We didn't execute offensively,'' Oscar Smith coach Bill Lyons said. ``That's been our problem all year. We're there and we didn't get it in. That hurt.''
Churchland (3-2, 3-2 Southeastern) had to punt from its end zone with 1:38 remaining, but punter David Tynch took the snap and ran out of the end zone to give Oscar Smith two points.
The strategy nearly backfired when Tiger return man Kelvin Bethea returned the ensuing kick 30 yards before stepping out at the Churchland 27-yard line.
Churchland coach Ken Taylor let quarterback Otis Jones explain why he took the safety and put the game in his defense's hand.
``I'll tell you why,'' Jones said. ``(Taylor) believes in our defense.''
Taylor added: ``And I also believe in our kickoff team.''
Oscar Smith ended a miserable night on offense when Lewis was sacked on first down and threw three straight incompletions to give Churchland the ball back with 37 seconds remaining.
Oscar Smith only ran one offensive play - a fumble recovered by Churchland - in the second quarter and was limited to 91 yards total offense, including 16 in the first half.
Churchland's touchdowns were scored by fullback Tremaine Sessoms and Jones. Oscar Smith's lone touchdown was a 91-yard fumble return by Latron Cox.
Thursday night's Booker T. Washington-Granby football game at Harbor Park was postponed because of wet field conditions. Decisions on when and where the game would be rescheduled had not been made at press time. by CNB