THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 21, 1996 TAG: 9609210568
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 56 lines
It's not often that a preseason favorite finds itself in a must-win situation in the middle of September.
But that was the predicament facing ninth-ranked Kempsville entering Friday night's Beach District showdown with No. 7 Ocean Lakes,and the Chiefs responded by pounding out a 28-14 victory.
``If we don't win this one we're in a lot of trouble in the district,'' Kempsville coach John Bowles said after the game.
Trouble still lurks for a team that completed only one pass and gave up touchdown plays of 96 and 42 yards. But at the least the sirens have been silenced for a week.
The Chiefs can thank their reliable ground game, which chewed up 315 yards, and a stepped-up defensive effort that held Ocean Lakes to minus-12 yards in the fourth quarter for that.
The victory moved Kempsville (2-1, 1-1) into a tie for third place with Ocean Lakes (2-1, 1-1), one game behind First Colonial (3-0, 2-0) and Tallwood (3-0, 2-0).
Kempsville grabbed control with a 12-play, 56-yard touchdown drive that made it 21-14 with 4:13 left in the third quarter. The Chiefs were 4 for 4 on third downs during the drive that featured their only completion.
Facing third-and-27 from their own 27, Matt Lemn hit Eric Garrett on a deep crossing route for a 27-yard gain. A 15-yard clipping penalty against Ocean lakes was tacked on, giving the Chiefs a first down at the Dolphins' 31.
``That was the big play of the game,'' Ocean Lakes coach Jim Prince said.
Alex Lleces (23 carries for 148 yards) picked up six yards on the next play. Zeb Clark (26-166) then took it from there, carrying seven straight times before finally crashing in from the 1.
Ocean Lakes responded by driving to a first down at the Kempsville 22. But after being tackle twice behind the line and two incompletions, the Dolphins turned the ball over on downs.
Ocean Lakes had one last chance in the fourth quarter after forcing Kempsville to punt. Jermaine Lauzon's 19-yard return gave the Dolphins a first down at the Kempsville 48 with 9:19 left.
But the Chiefs' defense again forced Ocean Lakes backward. The Dolphins faked a punt on fourth down, but Rashad Lilly's pass for Lauzon was broken up by James Johnson.
``I didn't want to give them the ball back,'' Prince said. ``But it turned out to be a bad play.''
Kemspville took over at midfield, and on first down Clark raced 45 yards to the 5. Lleces then bulled over left tackle for the final score.
``We just wanted to win, that's all there was,'' Lleces said. We're taking it one play and one game at a time. Me and Zeb couldn't have done it without the offensive line.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER/
Roger Gordon of Kempsville wraps up Ocean Lakes' Christopher Sutton
during the Chiefs' win. by CNB