THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 10, 1995 TAG: 9511100628
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Deep Creek rained purple thunder on Western Branch Thursday night, leaving no doubt as to which team is the best in the Southeastern District and maybe far beyond.
The Hornets (10-0, 7-0) forced four turnovers and allowed the Bruins across midfield only once in a 38-0 demolition that wrapped up their second consecutive district title and top-seeding in next week's Eastern Region Division 5 playoffs.
Western Branch coach Lew Johnston called this the biggest game in his career before the game, and to the amazement and perhaps horror of the 7,000 fans on hand, he may get to play it again.
The Bruins (8-2, 6-1) are assured of no worse than a draw for the fourth playoff spot opposite Deep Creek. That won't be determined until Saturday when Kecoughtan plays Ferguson. The Warriors need to win and have Bethel beat Tabb to tie Western Branch in the power ratings.
Phoebus (8-2) also can force a draw if Menchville beats Denbigh and Gloucester upsets Hampton.
Deep Creek, ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 21 in the USA Today Super 25, is 25-1 since November of 1993.
``We've been here before,'' Deep Creek coach Jerry Carter said. ``I think that was one of the keys.''
If there was a turning point it came on the first drive of the game. Western Branch took the opening kickoff and marched from its 12 to the Deep Creek 19. But on third-and-8, linebacker George Miller intercepted a pass over the middle and the Hornets never looked back.
``On the play before that I tipped a pass and I noticed that the tight end was trying to sneak out the back side,'' Miller said. ``They came right back with that I just reached up and snagged it.''
Deep Creek took over at the 24, by far its worst field position of the night, and marched 76 yards in 11 plays for the only points it would need. Deon Dyer burst six yards off left tackle on fourth-and-a-foot for the touchdown.
The Hornets came out in their short-yardage ``muscle'' offense with lineman Bryan Wingate lined up behind a guard and Henry Martin in front of Dyer.
``Our game plan was to pound them in the dirt,'' said Dyer, who led all rushers with 94 yards in 19 carries. ``We put our big boys up there with their big boys and went toe to toe.''
Western Branch was never the same. Sophomore Keith Burnell, filling in for injured halfback Shyrone Stith, fumbled at the 17 on the Bruins' next play from scrimmage and the rout was on. The Hornets ran five straight plays behind left tackle Brian Davis and left guard Nick Cuffee with Dyer scoring from the one.
The Bruins were staggered but still standing until Deep Creek scored twice in the final 13 seconds of the half. Teray Frost capped an 11-play, 65 yard drive with an 8-yard run to make it 20-0 with 13 seconds left.
The key play was a 36-yard completion from Arnie Powell to Frost on third-and-15 at the Bruins' 44. Frost beat three defenders to the ball.
The Bruins then fumbled the kickoff and Joe Verdi booted a 38-yard field goal as time expired bumping the margin to 24-0.
``We played like a bunch of girls,'' said Western Branch's Lorenzo Ferguson. ``Nobody came to play.''
Martin scored the final touchdown on a 3-yard run with 8:26 to play. ILLUSTRATION: JIM WALKER /The Virginian-Pilot
Deep Creek's Deon Dyer, who ran for 94 yards on 19 carries, pounds
past Western Branch.
High School Scoreboard
by CNB