THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 26, 1995 TAG: 9511260200
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Few coaches change quarterbacks during the playoffs of their own volition. But Nansemond River's Jerry Varacallo did it Saturday and it paid off in two long touchdown plays and a third consecutive Region I, Division 4 championship for the Warriors.
Freshman Vernon Woodson made his first start at quarterback a memorable one by leading Nansemond River to a 14-10 victory over archrival Lakeland. Woodson threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to tight end LaShawn Pugh and broke a sneak 44 yards for another score.
``I found out Monday I was going to start and I felt good about it,'' Woodson said.
Nansemond River (8-4) will play host to Region II champion Sherando next Saturday at 1:30. Sherando advanced with a 23-9 victory Saturday over Park View-Sterling.
Woodson's touchdown plays came on consecutive possessions in the second quarter and put run-oriented Lakeland in the awkward position of having to come from behind.
The Cavaliers (8-4) roared in on a seven-game winning streak during which they had averaged 43.1 points per game. Lakeland also had beaten Nansemond River twice, including a 34-20 thumping two weeks ago.
Varacallo and his defensive coordinator Dan O'Leary studied only film of Lakeland's two wins over Nansemond River in forming their game plan.
What they came up with was an adjustment on the defensive line, moving the ends wider and pinching the tackles to take away the off-tackle plays, especially the traps.
It couldn't have worked better. Lakeland gained only 135 yards, 109 on the ground.
Reginald Wiggins, who rushed for 223 yards last week against York, was held to 66 yards on 21 carries.
Forced to the air in the fourth quarter, Lakeland's Lindell Hunter was intercepted by Maurice Fofana and Johnta Knight.
Lakeland's last stab at victory came after stopping the Warriors a foot shy of a first down on fourth-and-4. The Cavaliers took over at their own 31 with 2:15 to play.
But Lakeland coach Ed Smither gambled by putting Hunter in the shotgun and having him throw deep into the wind. The ball held up long enough for Knight to make the interception at the Nansemond River 31 and the Warriors were able to run out the clock.
``We practice those plays for that situation,'' Smither said. ``It's unfortunate it turned out the way it did.''
Lakeland struck first on a 31-yard field goal by Coran Newton with 1:09 left in the first quarter.
Then Woodson went to work. A 25-yard scramble gave the Warriors a first down at the Lakeland 24, but a fumble on the next play squelched that drive.
The Warriors forced Lakeland to punt and on the first play from his 48 Woodson rolled right, avoided two tacklers and hit Pugh with the touchdown pass.
Drew Asbell's extra point put Nansemond River in front 7-3.
Lakeland went three plays and out on its next possession and Nansemond River took over at its 40. On third-and-5 at the Lakeland 44 Nansemond River's center, Antwan Wheeler, told Woodson the Cavaliers were leaving the middle open on defense.
When the Warriors came to the line Woodson gave the signal for a sneak, and he broke it over the left side. Safety Travis Rawls missed a tackle at the 31 and Woodson raced the rest of the way untouched. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MOTOYA NAKAMURA/The Virginian-Pilot
Nansemond River's defense brings down Lakeland's Reginald Wiggins in
the third period.
by CNB