THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 18, 1995 TAG: 9511181751
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
All week Lakeland football coach Edward Smither warned his players about being overconfident going into their Region I Division 4 playoff game Friday night against York, a team the Cavaliers beat by 38 points two weeks ago.
Apparently Lakeland listened.
In the first half, Reginald Wiggins gained 200 yards on 18 carries and the Cavaliers defense held the Falcons to just one first down and 18 total yards en route to a 47-14 win at Lakeland.
The Cavaliers (8-3) advance to the second round of the Group AA playoffs for the first time since 1990 and will host the winner of today's Nansemond River-Greensville County game next week at a day and time to be announced.
``I was worried about (being overconfident),'' Smither said. ``I preached to them all week long. You can talk all you want, but you have to do it. These kids played tough and played hard.''
Lakeland looked like a team on a mission in the first half. Wiggins scored on runs of 14, 30 and 46 yards to give the Cavaliers a 21-0 lead at halftime.
``I was just trying to cut back and follow the lead man,'' said Wiggins, who finished with 223 yards on 22 carries. ``(The offensive line) opened up the holes and I just ran.''
The Cavaliers defense did the rest. Darius Bryant and Antoine Riddick recorded sacks and Diran Cowell recovered one of two York fumbles before halftime. The Falcons (5-6) failed to get past midfield and punted on all four of their first-half possessions.
``(The defense) gave us the opportunity to handle the football,'' Smither said. ``The guys up front did a good job and just wore them down.''
Lakeland quarterback Lindell Hunter provided the offense in the second half. After a York punt, the senior scored on a 45-yard run before adding a 17-yard scamper and hitting Wiggins for an 11-yard touchdown.
``Most teams focus on Reginald and that opens it up for me,'' said Hunter, who finished with 97 yards rushing on 10 carries. ``It's kind of hard to stop both of us when we get going.''
Lakeland's Travis Rawls added a 58-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, while Bryan Smiley had 96 yards on 14 carries and scored on 16- and 51-yard runs in the fourth for York. by CNB