THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 30, 1996 TAG: 9608300751
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 48 lines
Bigger, stronger and luckier. That was the story line of First Colonial's 10-7 upset of No. 10 Maury Thursday night in the season opener for both teams.
First Colonial frequently was manhandled on the line last year when it suffered its first losing season in school history. But against Maury, which boasts one of the strongest lines in the area, the Patriots rushed for 221 yards while holding the ball for nearly 29 minutes.
None of that might have mattered, however, if Maury hadn't been called for a late hit on First Colonial's winning drive late in the fourth quarter. The Patriots faced second-and-15 at their 49 when quarterback Dorman Miner stepped out of bounds on a scramble but kept running after the whistle. He was hit hard about five yards upfield and the resulting 15-yard penalty gave First Colonial a first down at the Commodores' 35.
After Lamar King lost three yards on first down, Miner made a reverse pivot, faked up the middle and hit Steve Tyler breaking toward the flag for a 35-yard gain to the 3.
Two plays later Olds plowed up the middle for a touchdown and Tyler Henry tacked on the extra point that made it 10-7 with 2:49 remaining.
Olds was the Patriots' workhorse with 93 yards rushing in 16 carries.
But no one was happier when he broke the plane of the end zone than Miner, who had been off target all night and helped kill a promising drive in the third quarter when he was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Miner said he felt like he had to make a big play on the winning drive.
``Not just for me, but for the guys,'' he said. ``I had Steve open three times before and missed him three times.''
Tyler set up the final drive with a 19-yard return of Mike Glover's 42-yard punt. He limped off with a cramp after the tackle, but missed only one play.
``I called it,'' he said of his catch that set up the TD. ``The corner pattern was open all night.''
That was partly because Maury had to respect the run.
If anyone was expected to dominate on the ground it was Maury. The Commodores rushed for 164 yards. But they crossed midfield only twice, the last time on their TD drive in the second quarter.
Six runs moved the ball to the First Colonial 27 where Bobby Jordan dropped back and hit a streaking Dwayne Lancaster for the touchdown. ILLUSTRATION: LAWRENCE JACKSON
The Virginian-Pilot
Dione Olds of First Colonial pulls a Maury defender with him for
extra yardage. The Patriots rushed for 221 yards. by CNB