THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511190525
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
In six regular season wins this year, the Nansemond River football team counted on its defense to come up big while the offense sputtered.
Nothing changed Saturday afternoon in a Region I Division 4 playoff game, as the Warriors held Greensville County to four first downs and forced four turnovers in a 19-0 shutout at Nansemond River.
The Warriors (7-4) will face crosstown rival Lakeland for the third time this season next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Lakeland in the Group AA Region I final.
``We try to put our best 11 on defense and every game we rely on them,'' Nansemond River coach Jerry Varacallo said. ``You've got to have offense to put points on the board, but defense is the name of the game in the playoffs.''
The Warriors showed that early on. Nansemond River forced an Eagles punt after three plays on the game's opening drive then, after a Warriors punt, stopped Daniel Wiggins on a fourth-and-5 near midfield.
Four plays later LaShawn Pugh grabbed Johnta Knight's tipped pass for a 22-yard touchdown to put Nansemond River up 7-0 following Drey Asbell's point-after.
On the ensuing kickoff the Warriors' Lamont Perry jumped on a fumble at the Greensville County 29. But on Nansemond River's first play Jaton Turner intercepted Knight's pass, giving the Eagles the ball on their own 1.
Chris Thomas busted through the Greensville County line on the next play to tackle Jones Mantel for a safety, putting the Warriors up 9-0.
The Warriors continued to play tough defense in the second half. Greensville County (6-5) ran only three plays in each of its four drives, without getting a first down. Perry intercepted a pass and Raymond Wiggins recovered a fumble for Nansemond River in the fourth quarter.
``When the offense struggles it lights a match under us and gets us going,'' Thomas said. ``This is the best defensive game we've had all year.''
Windsor 36 Rappahannock 14
WINDSOR - Wayne Briggs ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the second half as the Dukes broke open a close game to win Division 1, Region A semifinal.
Windsor (9-2) will visit Surry, an 8-6 winner over Charles City, for the region title Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Briggs finished with 197 yards rushing and three touchdowns for Windsor, which led 7-6 at the half despite failing to convert several opportunities into scores, including when Rappahannock fumbled the opening kickoff.
Northampton 51 King William 20
EASTVILLE - Sam Ames ran for 159 yards and five touchdowns as the Yellow Jackets won a Division 2, Region A semifinal.
Northampton (10-1) will host Northumberland, a 26-14 winner over Sussex Central, in the region final Friday at 7:30 p.m. by CNB