THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 18, 1995 TAG: 9511190502
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
The Green Run Stallions started strong and finished even stronger Friday night as they blitzed Kempsville, 34-7, in the Eastern Region Division 6 semifinals at Kellam and notched the school's first-ever playoff victory.
The high-powered Stallions (11-0) scored 14 points in the first and fourth quarters, more than enough to neutralize the Chiefs' ball-control tactics and set up a regional final game against Indian River Friday at Kellam.
The Braves knocked off the Stallions in the first round of last year's regional tournament.
``Revenge!'' roared Green Run's Plaxico Burress, who pranced 21 yards on a reverse for Green Run's second touchdown to help the Stallions beat the Chiefs for the second time in two weeks.
``That's what it's all about. We'd never won a playoff game before. Now we're going to keep on making history.''
The Stallions made Kempsville history Friday by containing Zeb Clark and Alex Lleces, the Chiefs' power-and-speed tandem out of the backfield, and making quarterback Fred Sanders (3 of 4, 33 yards) pay every time he dropped back to pass. The Stallions sacked Sanders five times - thrice courtesy of Green Run defensive end Corey Cason. Matt Lemm spelled Sanders in the fourth quarter. He too, was sacked.
``We had strong defense when we needed it,'' Green Run coach Elisha ``Cadillac'' Harris said. ``Defense wins championships.''
The Stallion offense, meanwhile, delivered its usual cachet of big plays. Larron Jones (8 carries, 53 yards) scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, including a 32-yard romp during which he twisted out of one tackle and bulled through another to open the game's scoring.
Burress' touchdown later in the quarter made it 14-0 - a stark contest to last week's game between the two teams when Green Run ran only one offensive play - and it appeared as though the rout was on.
Green Run dominated the fourth quarter, as quarterback Ed Cuffee ran for two touchdowns and the Stallions' defense held the Chiefs without a first down.
Cuffee led all rushers with 97 yards. He also threw for 80 on 5 of 9 passing.
Clark paced Kempsville with 68 yards rushing. Lleces added 58 on the ground. by CNB