THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 5, 1996 TAG: 9610050255
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 45 lines
The Salem football team finally got the numbers right in a 34-24 victory over First Colonial in a matchup of Beach District hopefuls.
Against Tallwood two weeks ago, Salem had the better offensive numbers, but lost in overtime. Last week against Kellam, the Sun Devils were outplayed, but won.
Friday, it all came together in correct fashion - with Salem (3-2 overall, 3-1 district) getting better numbers all around.
The Sun Devils amassed 333 yards total offense to 266 for First Colonial (3-2, 2-2).
Frank Long provided what proved to be the game-winning touchdown on a 71-yard pass play from Lawrence Williams with 7:06 left in the game. Williams threw to a wide-open Long, who had to wait for the ball that had gotten caught in a stiff breeze, at midfield. Long turned and broke away from Patriots defender Mustafa Cook before dashing down the right sideline.
``I was just thinking that you can't do anything without the ball,'' Long said of waiting for the lob to arrive. ``I just wanted to catch the ball, run as hard as I could and thank God for whatever happened.
``I gave him a good stiff arm and was gone.''
Kevin Miller added a 19-yard field goal with 29 seconds left for the final margin.
While Long's catch was decisive, a disastrous First Colonial third quarter was the difference.
``That's us,'' Patriots coach Frank Webster said. ``We've been doing that all year.''
Salem took the opening kickoff 20 yards to the Sun Devils' 40, but a Patriots personal foul was tacked on. The Patriots later committed a late hit before Roscoe Coles scored on an 8-yard reverse.
First Colonial then fumbled the ensuing kickoff at the 18, where Quez Smith picked it up and dashed in for a touchdown and a 17-10 lead.
The Patriots' Lamar King fumbled on his team's first play of the next possession, with Salem's Matt Seaton recovering at the First Colonial 35. Williams scored six plays later when he turned a busted pass play into a 7-yard scoring run and a 24-10 Salem lead.
But First Colonial tied the score four seconds into the final period on an 8-yard run by Lamar King. Quarterback Dorman Miner had scored earlier on a 1-yard dive. by CNB