THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 20, 1995 TAG: 9510200657
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Ronyell Whitaker returned two interceptions for touchdowns and a punt for another score as Lake Taylor shocked third-ranked and previously unbeaten Western Branch 22-14 Thursday night at Harbor Park.
Whitaker, a 5-foot-8, 160-pound sophomore, rushed for 135 yards on the night - and had over 100 with nine minutes remaining in the second quarter. In addition, he caught his team's only completed pass and ran in a two-point conversion.
``God gave him a lot of talents and he used them all tonight,'' Lake Taylor coach Bert Harrell said.
The Titans (3-5) were without starting quarterback Mario Elliott, who Harrell said is no longer on the team. Harrell would not elaborate.
The Bruins (6-1) came in ranked third in the area in total offense (331.3 yards per game), but managed only 194 total yards Thursday.
``They knew were we 2-5, so they came out and took us lightly,'' Whitaker said.
Western Branch QB Daryl Walton (6 of 14, 84 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs) was sacked four times, three by Titans defensive end Dennis Mitchell.
Whitaker's interception returns were for 18 and 77 yards and gave the Titans a 16-0 halftime lead.
Western Branch got a 13-yard touchdown pass from Walton to his brother Darren with 5:01 left and got the ball with 2:25 left, but Darnell Whitaker scooped up a Daryl Walton fumble three plays later and the Titans ran out the clock. by CNB