THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 29, 1996 TAG: 9609290245
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 46 lines
The Hampton Roads Sharks played the first half of Saturday's matchup with Richmond like they were having afternoon tea.
The second half was more like watching starved lumberjacks go at a greasy spoon all-you-can-eat buffet.
And after devouring the Ravens in a 28-2 victory, the Sharks are ready for a second helping.
They'll get the chance when Hampton Roads travels to Fredericksburg Saturday in a battle of Mason-Dixon Football League unbeatens. The Generals were the only team to beat Hampton Roads last year.
The Sharks weren't sure just how things changed in the second half, they're just glad they finally developed an appetite.
``We decided at halftime that everything was even and it was a new ballgame,'' offensive lineman Richard Cobb said. ``Our 7-0 lead wasn't going to kick it. We couldn't expect the defense to carry the game like they always do.
``I really feel like we're in sync now and it couldn't come at a better time than just in time for Fredericksburg.''
Hampton Road dominated first-half play - amassing 102 yards of total offense to 76 for Richmond - but could punch in only Corey Kennedy's 36-yard touchdown pass to Brian Darden.
But Cobb and offensive line teammates Carlos Cooke, Steve Cobb, James Remsey and Billy Brown changed all that in the second by dominating the line of scrimmage.
``We just decided to come together as a unit,'' said wide receiver Darden, who finished the game with four catches for 109 yards.
Kevin Vines put Hampton Roads (6-0 in the league and overall) 14-0 when he capped a 77-yard, 11-play drive with a 9-yard left sweep.
The Sharks went up 21-0 with four seconds left in the third quarter when Kennedy hit Brown from one yard out.
Richmond finally got on the board when Tom Edwards grabbed a bad punt snap and ran out of his own end zone four minutes into the fourth quarter.
Mike Nettles made up for it when he went in from one out 10 minutes later. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MIKE HEFFNER/THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Sharks quarterback Corey Kennedy unloads a pass as Richmond's Dion
Foxx, left and Stan Clanton haul him down. by CNB