THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 28, 1995 TAG: 9510280461
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Western Branch demonstrated last week's upset loss to Lake Taylor was a fluke - and not the prelude to a late-season fade - by thumping third-ranked Indian River, 21-0, Friday night.
The shutout victory was the Bruins' first in 28 games and kept them tied with Deep Creek for first place in the Southeastern District.
Western Branch (7-1, 5-0) played nearly a flawless first half in taking a 14-0 lead and then spent the rest of the night neatly turning aside Indian River threats. Five times in the second half the Braves (6-2, 3-2) moved inside the Bruin 40.
But Indian River, which has scored only two touchdowns in its last 11 quarters, suffered repeated mental and physical breakdowns and the Bruins made them pay.
Western Branch forced five turnovers, including interceptions by Robert Holley, Darren Walton and Lorenzo Ferguson on the Braves' final three possessions.
Two of those interceptions came with Indian River quarterback James Boyd on the sideline nursing a pulled right hamstring. He returned for the Braves' last possession.
``We had the best practices this week in the last five weeks,'' Bruins defensive tackle Jason Hess said. ``We were all mad because we lost last week. We just came out and did what we needed to do.''
That would be dominate both lines of scrimmages.
The Bruins ran 29 plays to Indian River's 16 in the first half and outgained the Braves, 165 yards to 73. More telling, Indian River managed only 14 yards rushing.
The Bruins took the opening kickoff swept 74 yards in eight plays for the only touchdown they would need. Daryl Walton, who threw two costly interceptions against Lake Taylor, was 2 for 2 for 51 yards on the drive, including a 33-yard swing pass to Ferguson for the score.
The Bruins' second scoring drive started at the 40 and belonged to halfback Shyrone Stith. He carried seven times for 45 yards and scored standing up from the 1.
Stith has been nursing a sore calf for several week and was limping in the fourth quarter. But it didn't stop him from carrying 23 times for 129 yards. He also had a 56-yard touchdown run called back by illegal motion.
``We had to come out and show people we're still here,'' Stith said. ``Two weeks from now we'll be in the playoffs.''
If there was a decisive moment in the game it came on the next drive. Indian River went to the shotgun drove from its 25 to a first down at the Western Branch 13. A fumbled exchange produced no gain on first down and on third-and-8 Boyd's pass to a wide open Sam Hardy in the end zone was batted down.
On fourth down Boyd kept the ball on the option and was stopped a yard short of the first down.
``If we score there I think we've got some momentum,'' Indian River coach Bob Parker said.
That never happened. Early in the third quarter Indian River appeared to have a first down at the Western Branch, but a clipping penalty wiped out the gain and killed the drive.
The Braves drove the Bruins 14 early in the fourth quarter only to have Boyd get hurt and freshman Antwan Stukes come in at quarterback. Hardy's halfback pass was intercepted by Holley in the end zone.
Indian River still had a chance when a short punt gave it the ball at the Bruins 25 with 5:40 left. But on second down Stukes' pass for Lance Bishop was picked off by Darren Walton.
Western Branch struck once more after a fumbled punt gave the Bruins the ball at the Indian River 34. Stith covered the last 10 yards for the touchdown and Daniel Dussia added his third extra point to make it 21-0 with 1:58 left. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Western Branch's Shyrone Stith, left, waits for blockers J.D. Smith
and Harold Humphrey, right, while Indian River's Lance Bishop holds
his ground. Stith scored twice in the Bruins' 21-0 win.
by CNB