THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 14, 1996 TAG: 9609140547
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 49 lines
They're baaa-ack.
First Colonial's Patriots, chagrined by last year's 2-8 record and annoyed by predictions of another also-ran finish in '96, emphatically pronounced themselves a factor in the Beach District with Friday night's 35-14 domination of No. 4 Kempsville.
The ninth-ranked Patriots (2-0) scored the first two times they touched the ball, got a three-touchdown effort from receiver/punt returner Steve Tyler and held Chiefs star Zeb Clark to less than one-fourth of his opening-game rushing total.
``Guess who's back!'' crowed First Colonial assistant Norbie Wilson.
``Our losing days are over!'' Tyler declared.
The only Patriot unwilling to join in the hyperbole was coach Frank Webster, who attempted to bring perspective to his 253rd career victory.
``If we continue working hard, I think we're going to be a contender,'' Webster said.
The Patriots, who dropped a 34-19 decision to the Chiefs a year ago, took charge on their first snap, as running back Carlton Winston popped through a crease on the left side of his line and bolted 86 yards for a touchdown.
Three plays later, Tyler fielded Ryan Quinn's punt at his own 32, spun away from one tackler and streaked down the left sideline. Quinn appeared to have a shot at Tyler some 50 yards downfield, but Lamar King neatly picked him off and Tyler skipped away untouched to make it 14-0.
The Patriots defense made that lead stand up by doggedly pursuing the shifty Clark, who last week had a 223-yard, four-touchdown effort against Great Bridge. Friday, First Colonial held him to 50 yards on 15 carries and only one run longer than 5 yards in the first half.
With Clark bottled up, the Chiefs (1-1) responded by ramming fullback Alex Lleces between the tackles. The 6-0, 230-pound senior (14 carries, 112 yards) ripped off runs of 11, 7 and 37 yards on Kempsville's second half-opening drive, but on his fourth attempt, Patriots linebacker Robert Farraher punched the ball free and teammate Mario Colon recovered.
The Patriots then put together a 78-yard drive capped by a 36-yard touchdown pass from Dorman Miner to a wide-open Tyler.
After forcing another punt, Miner and Tyler connected again, this time on a 33-yard scoring play and the rout was officially on. ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER
First Colonial's Carlton Winston, who had an 86-yard TD run, is
stopped on this play by Jaymes Shackelford. by CNB