THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 18, 1995 TAG: 9511181756
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENNIS HUGHES, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: COURTLAND LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
William Brown rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns as Southampton dominated on the ground then held on to beat visiting Nottoway, 27-20, in a Region I, Division 3 semifinal football game Friday.
The Indians will play the Matoaca, a 40-0 victor over Bruton, in next week's region final.
Brown scored on runs of 1, 4 and 4 yards and Durane Parker returned an interception 61 yards for a touchdown to give the Indians (11-0, top-ranked in state Group AA) a 27-12 halftime lead.
But the Cougars' defense stiffened in the second half, throwing Southampton for a 3-yard loss when the Indians faced fourth down at the Nottoway 21.
The Cougars (7-4) then marched 76 yards as Handre Williams completed 4 of 5 passes for 61 yards, Jake Elder capping the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run with 8:37 remaining.
On the ensuing possession, the Indians drove to the Nottoway 38. But the Cougars' Elijah Jones recovered a fumble at the 32 with 4:07 left.
Nottoway apparently trimmed the deficit to one when Tim Watson ran for a touchdown. However, a clipping penalty nullified the score and the Cougars turned the ball over on downs after throwing incomplete on fourth down with 1:02 to go.
``I think we could've put the game away, but the fumble put pressure on us,'' said Southampton coach Littleton Parker. ``We just didn't make adjustments to their passing in the second half.''
Nottoway grabbed a 6-0 lead when Elder returned the opening kickoff 72 yards to the Indian 9 and Williams scored on a 1-yard run two plays later. by CNB