Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 6, 1993 TAG: 9311060186
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
\ It took a little while, but Eddie Jones found his groove Friday night.
The William Fleming tailback rushed for three touchdowns and 212 yards to help the Colonels pound Franklin County 34-6 in a Roanoke Valley District football game.
Jones was held to 5 yards on his first four carries, but he had 155 to close the half, pushing him over 1,100 yards on the season.
"I just hadn't digested what they were doing," Jones said. "But the line adjusted well and we started playing well as a whole team."
The Colonels (5-4 overall, 2-1 RVD) will face Patrick Henry on Nov. 12 at Victory Stadium in what likely will determine a playoff spot in the Division 5 Northwestern Region.
"Next week is the biggest game we've ever played," said Sherley Stuart, Fleming's coach. "That's always a good, close ballgame."
Franklin County (2-7, 1-2) never really was within striking distance of the Colonels, who held a 258-133 advantage in rushing yards.
Senior tailback Stacy Helms, who finished with 133 yards on 13 carries, scored the Eagles' touchdown in the third quarter on a 3-yard run. He set up the score by running for 47 yards on a draw play on third-and-10, Franklin County's first big play without a penalty.
Both teams were penalized heavily, with the Eagles being set back 12 times for 123 yards.
"We had mental breakdowns early," said Horace Green, the Franklin County coach. "There were bright spots, but we broke down mentally."
Fleming was penalized 11 times for 82 yards, including two during Franklin County's scoring drive.
"That's the way it goes sometimes," said Stuart, whose team was penalized 16 times Oct. 30 in a victory over Cave Spring. "We got some and they got some. Some of them stopped our scoring drives . . . but right now I think we're playing pretty good football."
Fleming quarterback Al Holland Jr. helped lead the charge Friday night, completing 11 of 15 passes for 109 yards.
"Last week, I was kind of disappointed with my play," Holland said. "This week I was able to pick it up, which is something we needed going into the game against Patrick Henry."
"I want to emphasize the play of the linemen," he added. " . . . They allowed me to get to the open spots."
Holland completed four passes to senior receiver Ernest Harrington, two for touchdowns. Jones also pulled down two passes for 30 yards.
"I was pretty pleased," Jones said. "On that last TD, I was never touched."
Jones scored his final points of the night on a 6-yard run late in the second quarter.
Earlier in the period, Jones got loose for a 76-yard gain that moved the Colonels into scoring territory. But Fleming elected to try a rare field goal after its drive was stopped at the Eagles' 12-yard line. Raytoine Gray's 31-yard attempt was short. \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB