THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 4, 1995 TAG: 9511040499
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Excuse Green Run's defense for being, well, defensive when it comes to a lack of publicity.
The Stallions' top-rated offense has owned the headlines all season, but the defense has been pretty good, too. Green Run entered Friday night's showdown with Tallwood ranked third in total defense and second in points allowed among 23 Group AAA teams in South Hampton Roads.
Of course, one the teams ahead of Green Run in both categories was Tallwood.
No longer.
The unbeaten Stallions forced five turnovers and made four sacks in a 28-7 victory over the Lions that clinched the Beach District championship and the top seed in the Division 6 playoffs.
Green Run has now allowed 67 points, one fewer than Tallwood and Booker T. Washington.
The second-ranked Stallions (9-0, 8-0) turned three turnovers into touchdowns, including an 85-yard interception return by Lanier Washington with only 26 seconds left.
Third-ranked Tallwood (7-2, 6-2) dropped into a tie for second place with Kempsville, but can assure itself a spot in the playoffs by beating First Colonial next week.
``We knew we had to step it up on defense,'' Green Run tackle Troy Smith said. ``That's where championships are won.''
Tallwood dominated time of possession in the second half after being held to three first downs and 51 yards in the first half. But every time the Lions moved inside the 30 the Stallions came up with a big play.
The first time it was consecutive sacks by linebacker Corey Cason and strong safety Plaxico Burress after Tallwood had reached the 14.
Tallwood came right back and moved to a first down at the Green Run 13. But on fourth-2 at the 5, Smith stacked up Derrick Daniels one yard shy of the first down to preserve a 14-7 lead.
``I just rumbled over my guy and made a big play,'' Smith said.
Tallwood again threatened on its next possession. But on second-and-4 at the Green Run 25 Gilbert Harris underthrew Alvin Wilson in the end zone and Burress intercepted at the 5.
The Stallions proceeded to march 95 yards in 10 plays for the decisive touchdown. The key play was a 15-yard grabbing the facemask penalty on an incomplete pass.
Instead of facing fourth-and-7 at the Tallwood 49, the Stallions got a first down at the 34. Six plays later Larry Jordan burst 26 yards on a trap for the touchdown that made it 20-7.
``Daryl Cherry made the block that sprung me,'' said Jordan, who doubles as an inside linebacker and had two interceptions.
``I really felt like we needed to score there because if they had tied it we weren't physically ready for overtime.''
Jordan wasn't speaking for Washington. He looked fresh as today's clean laundry on his interception return. He also caught five passes for 103 yards, including a 64-yard strike for a touchdown that gave Green Run the lead for good.
``It was just a deep fade (pattern),'' Washington said. ``They were talking a lot of stuff, but there are no defensive backs around here that can stop me or Plax.''
Green Run broke on top 6-0 on Eddie Cuffee's 11-yard run midway through the first quarter. Burress' extra point attempt was blocked. Burress handled the kicking for the second straight week in place of Jermaine Maull, who has a pulled groin.
Maull's absence figured in Green Run's decision to go for a touchdown from the Tallwood 4 on the last play of the first half. Cuffee's pass to Washington was incomplete.
Harris scored Tallwood's only touchdown on a 3-yard run. It was set up by Travis Mazyck's 80-yard interception return to the Green Run 4. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK, The Virginian-Pilot
Tallwood's John Joseph is swarmed by Green Run defenders. The
Stallions turned three turnovers into TDs.
by CNB