THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 18, 1995 TAG: 9511181755
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Deep Creek recovered from a miserable first half in which it was lucky to be trailing by only a touchdown and methodically wore down Kecoughtan 20-7 Friday night in a Division 5 region playoff game at Oscar Smith.
Deon Dyer rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns and the Hornets held the Warriors to only 47 yards in the second half. The Warriors got 27 of those yards on a pass in the final minute.
The victory sets up a rematch of last year's ``Game of the Decade'' between Deep Creek (11-0) and Hampton (10-1). The Hornets, who outlasted the Crabbers 48-42 last year, meet Nov. 24 at Oscar Smith for the region title.
Hampton's only loss was to Kecoughtan in the season-opener and for more than a half Friday night it looked like that would be next week's rematch.
Kecoughtan rolled up 202 yards in the first half, but scored only seven points. A penalty that negated a 64-yard touchdown pass and a fumble at the end of 64-yard run prevented the Warriors from doing more damage.
``We had to put that behind us and get back to doing the things that got us here,'' Dyer said.
That would be big plays on defense and special teams and the meat-grinder running of Dyer.
Deep Creek created its first big break when George Miller partially blocked a punt and the Hornets took over at the Kecoughtan 34. Three runs netted only seven yards and on fourth down quarterback Arnie Powell rolled right looking to pass.
But when wideout Kendall Watson and tight end Will Raynor were covered Powell took off.
``It was wide open,'' he said. ``I got a key block from Will and just did what I had to do.''
The touchdown and Joe Verdi's extra point made it 7-7 with 3:57 left in the third quarter.
Next it was the defense's turn. Facing third-and-7 at his 28, Kecoughtan's Jermaine Marrow floated a pass over the middle that Terrence Mack picked off at the 45.
Angelo Sykes gained two yards on first down and then Dyer went to work. Running to his left behind guard Nick Cuffee and tackle tackle Brian Davis he ripped off gains of 4, 27, 7, 4 and 7 yards before scoring from the 1.
On the 27-yard run he lugged two Warriors the final six yards before they brought him down.
``That was a message,'' he said. ``We'd come too far, lost too much blood and sweat to let it end here.''
The teams traded punts before Deep Creek's defense came up big again. This time it was Daryl Huskey, who intercepted an overthrown pass near the Kecoughtan sideline and returned it 30 yards to the Warrior 16.
The Hornets' three-play drive consisted of Dyer left, Dyer left and Dyer up the middle. His 2-yard touchdown run with 1:46 left made it 20-7.
Kecoughtan took its only lead on a 24-yard pass from Marrow to Chris Watkins with 6:30 left in the first half. Huskey and Chad Sorrell were ahead of Watkins, but neither broke on the ball and he caught it in stride in the end zone.
Deep Creek was penalized four times for 50 yards in the first quarter - the Hornets once faced second-and-42, and they clearly let it rattle them.
Deep Creek coach Jerry Carter took some the blame citing a film of Kecoughtan that made the Warriors look slow.
``Our kids underestimated them and I came in at halftime and said `Well, do you believe us now?' The good thing about this game is the fact we were down and we came back.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by L. Todd Spencer
Deep Creek tight end Will Raynor reaches out for an Arnie Powell
pass during the second quarter Friday night.
by CNB