THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511190475
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Tuning up for the opening of the Mason-Dixon Football League playoffs next weekend, the Hampton Roads Sharks posted a 20-13 exhibition victory over the Petersburg Hornets Saturday at CEL Field.
Sparkling defensive play enabled the Sharks (12-1) to hold off an upset bid and provided the eventual winning touchdown.
Hampton Roads had a 14-7 lead in the third quarter when a drive stalled at the Hornets' 37. On a first-down play by Petersburg quarterback Mahlon Washington, Sharks' linebacker Reuben Rodriguez gathered in an errant pitch and the 240-pound Rodriquez rambled 34 yards for a touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, a brilliant play by wide receiver Charles Mott and a tremendous goal line stand preserved the victory.
An 81-yard touchdown pass hauled in by Hornets' wide receiver Darryl McCatty on reserve quarterback's Antonio McClan's first play trimmed the Sharks' lead to 20-13.
The Sharks were moving to build that lead in the closing quarter when Petersburg linebacker Ollie Gaiters swiped the ball from the Sharks' Maurice Harold on an end-around play at the Petersburg 9-yard line.
The 220-pound Gaiters was run down by the fleet Mott, a 5-6, 170-pounder, at the Sharks' 2-yard line.
``I didn't see anybody else going after him so I had to try,'' said Mott. ``I can't see a big guy like that outrunning me.'' Running back William Banks then was stopped on three straight plunges into the middle and Washington was pushed out of bounds at the 1 on a rollout run.
The Sharks will play either Richmond or Fredericksburg in next Saturday's 2 p.m. playoff game at CEL Field. by CNB