THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 26, 1996 TAG: 9610260521
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 52 lines
The big tease was on again Friday night for sixth-ranked Tallwood.
This time the victim was No. 8 Ocean Lakes, which was playing for its playoff life.
The Dolphins picked up 17 first downs to 3 for the Lions, ran 60 plays to 30 for the Lions and led 13-0 midway through the first half.
But Tallwood, which already had won three Beach District games by four points or less, rallied behind its special teams and pulled out a 14-13 victory.
The Lions (7-1, 6-1) remained tied with Kempsville for first place while Ocean Lakes (5-3, 4-3) fell into the murky netherworld of teams scrambling for the final wildcard spot in Division 6.
The Dolphins could have pulled even with Tallwood in the standings and ahead of the Lions in the power ratings with a victory.
But they missed two field goals and an extra point. Their last drive ended when Sean Goode's 32-yard field goal attempt was short and wide to the right with 42 seconds remaining.
``Just sickening,'' said Ocean Lakes coach Jim Prince, who from the apperance of his red-faced players and staff seemed to be speaking for everyone.
Except Tallwood.
The Lions have done this so many times now they wouldn't recognize another script.
Travis Mazyck scored the winning touchdown on a 14-yard pass from Gilbert Harris on fourth-and-goal. Mike Nagelin's second extra point clinched the victory.
The TD came on the second play of the fourth quarter after Tallwood coach Ken Barto passed on a 31-yard field goal attempt - easily within Nagelin's range - that would have cut the lead to three.
``I was very confident in Gilbert and the receivers we put on the field,'' Barto said. ``I was so confident in the play I told everyone on the sideline it was going to work.''
Damion McGhee ran a post pattern and Mazyck cut underneath him to the outside. He caught the ball at the five and barely bulled into the end zone.
``I think I got in by a foot,'' he said. ``I wasn't going to let them stop me on the goal line.''
Mazyck also scored the Lions' first TD on a 75-yard kickoff return. That was the only time Tallwood crossed midfield in the first half.
``The guys in front of me made a big hole and I just did the rest,'' said Mazyck. ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER
Ocean Lakes' Jermaine Lauzon drags Tallwood's Shermane Reid for
yardage during the Lions' 14-13 comeback win Friday. by CNB