Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 31, 1993 TAG: 9311010354
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FERRUM LENGTH: Medium
But it provided the perfect atmosphere for the player with the spookiest name on the roster to become the hero.
Leon Gholson returned a blocked field-goal attempt 92 yards in the third quarter to help lift the Panthers to an 8-7 victory over Mansfield on Saturday before a rain-soaked crowd of 1,200.
It was victory No. 241 for Norton, who likely will end his 34-year career at Ferrum on Nov. 6 at rival Emory & Henry.
"I got kind of emotional right before we went on the field," Norton said. "But right now I would say I'm just so happy for [the players]. What a great game and a great way to go out."
Mansfield (2-6), an NCAA Division II team, scored on its opening drive of the game, when running back Jeff Benoit broke through the middle from 4 yards.
The defenses then took over.
Freshman linebacker Chris Denhoff made 20 tackles - nine solo - for the Panthers (5-3). Denhoff's total was five shy of the Ferrum record for tackles in a game held by assistant coach David Harper.
"I just wanted to do something for Coach Norton," Denhoff said. "The incentive to send him out on a winning note was in our minds all day. Me and Jim [Kitts] said in the huddle, `We've got to go out and close those holes.' "
Kitts, a senior linebacker, finished with seven tackles. Sophomore Kevin Slough, a former Franklin County High School standout, added 13.
"The defense just put the clamps on them and we seemed to get stronger as the game went on," Norton said. "In the second half, our offense was able to move the ball enough to get some first downs - not many, but enough to run the clock down."
Late in the third quarter, Ferrum stopped the Mountaineers three times at the Panthers' 4-yard line, setting up a 21-yard field-goal attempt. But Billy Godfrey's kick was blocked and scooped up by Gholson, a senior defensive back, who broke down the right sideline to make it 7-6, Mansfield.
"The line got a good push," Gholson said. "The ball hit one of their linemen in the back and bounced off one of the defensive linemen. I just got a lucky bounce and was off to the races."
"I was praying for Leon," said Norton, who promptly sent his Panthers out to attempt a two-point conversion.
"There was no question in my mind to go for two, because I thought we may never get back down there on that field," Norton said. "It was not a good field for finesse football out there today. Besides that, they were more physical than we were."
Quarterback Millard Vining connected with running back Larry Basham at the right corner of the end zone, causing an eruption on the sideline by mud-caked Panthers.
It was one of seven completions for Vining, who finished with 46 yards passing.
The Mountaineers' Bryan Woodworth connected on 19 of 35 passes for 279 yards. Woodworth was filling in for injured starter Gary Gaetano.
"The passing team is at an advantage on a wet field because you can't cover people," Norton said. "I thought they threw the ball very well. I thought they're kids made some great catches. But our defense responded when they had to."
Ferrum will turn its attention to Emory & Henry, which has been ranked this season in the Division III South Region poll. Norton said, however, that even with a victory over the Wasps, Ferrum could be denied a postseason playoff berth.
"If we end the season next week with a victory over Emory & Henry, we would finish the season unbeaten in Division III, and yet might be replaced by a team that has lost two games to Division III teams," Norton said. "That would be a real crime if it happens, but I'd like to think that we still have a chance." \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB