THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 28, 1995 TAG: 9510280485
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By KEVIN DOEPP
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
Clarence Skinner rushed for 166 yards, had a 52-yard punt return and scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown in the third quarter as Nansemond River beat York, 13-7, Friday night at Arrowhead Stadium.
The loss cost the Falcons their share of second place in the Bay Rivers District. Nansemond River (5-3, 4-1) remains tied with Lakeland (5-3, 4-1), which defeated Bruton, for second place behind unbeaten Southampton.
Skinner excited the homecoming crowd with a spectacular punt return down the right sideline at the 9:59 mark of the second quarter, staking the Warriors to a 7-0 lead that it carried into the locker room at the half.
``I saw my lead man make a good block,'' Skinner said of his return. ``Once I saw that block I just knew that would be what I needed.''
The Warriors opened the second half with a touchdown on their first drive. Skinner had runs of 10 and 16 yards, Mike Rodgers added a big 11-yard run and Skinner capped things off with a 4-yard scoring run.
``I have got to give a lot of the credit to my setback and my fullback,'' Skinner said. ``They opened the holes for me to run and (York) couldn't stop it.''
York got on the board with 3:12 to go in the game as quarterback Tyrone Dennis tossed a screen pass to running back Bryan Smiley, who scampered 48 yards to cut the lead to 13-6.
The Warriors got the ball, were forced to punt and the Falcons got the ball with under a minute to play. Dennis launched a pass from his own 48 on fourth down that was dropped by Smiley around the 18.
``We let York hang in there with us,'' Nansemond River head coach Jerry Varacallo said.
``They are a good team and we gave them chances they needed. We were able to run Clarence because they couldn't stop him. When something works you stay with it.'' by CNB