Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 31, 1993 TAG: 9310310183
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-14 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOHN MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium
For one thing, the Pioneers didn't explore anything. They stayed in town and celebrated homecoming.
The Indians were the aggressors, straying 100 miles to the east and invading foreign territory.
The battle's momentum shifted wildly from side to side, and the opponents shook hands at the end.
This just was not your stereotypical western, even if there was plenty of drama and suspense.
Heritage edged Blacksburg 16-15 in a non-district football game Friday night at City Stadium. The Pioneers went up by 13 points, then had to come from behind to win. They overcame a two-point deficit midway through the fourth period on a 27-yard field goal by Dustin Lewis.
"I'm happy our kids didn't fall down and die after they got behind in the third quarter," said Fred Stanbery, the Heritage coach. "And I'm daggone happy to be 6-2."
Stanbery, in his third year as head coach of the Pioneers, posted marks of 2-8 and 5-6 in his first two seasons.
Blacksburg coach David Crist also was pleased with his team's effort.
"I thought our kids played as hard as they could possibly play," Crist said. "If the game had required one more play, I'm not sure our team would have had anything left to give."
Heritage is a Group AAA school, the classification with the largest enrollment in the state, and Blacksburg plays in Group AA.
The Indians (4-5) saw a gallant effort fell short at the end. Quarterback Greg Shockley completed 16 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, cleverly mixing his play selection and rallying Blacksburg from a 13-point deficit to a 15-13 lead.
After Heritage regained the advantage, the Shockley-led Blacksburg offense had two shots to score in the final five minutes. A missed field-goal attempt ended the first drive, and the Indians ran out of downs on the second.
Shockley's passing throughout the game was vital to the Indians as the bigger Heritage defenders limited Blacksburg to 17 yards rushing.
The Pioneers' bruising ground game racked up 303 yards, led by the trio of Jevon Scott (102 yards on 15 carries), Mandell Haskins (88 yards on 14 carries) and Andre Austin (79 yards on nine carries).
But while Heritage mounted several ball-control drives, fumbles and penalties kept the Pioneers from dominating. Heritage lost two fumbles and was penalized 10 times for 83 yards.
Both of Blacksburg's touchdowns came on deflected passes.
In the first half, Heritage used a diversified running attack and a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jared Hesse to Marlon Tanner to open a 13-0 lead. The touchdown pass was Hesse's only completion.
Blacksburg, stifled on its first three possessions, stayed in the game because of a 70-yard drive fueled by Shockley's passing and two critical Heritage penalties.
The Indians scored two seconds before halftime on a 2-yard toss from Shockley to Todd Perdue. The receiver, who had six catches in the game, grabbed the touchdown pass on his knees in the end zone after the ball was deflected by a Heritage lineman.
by CNB