Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 5, 1993 TAG: 9312050151
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B14 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: RURAL RETREAT LENGTH: Medium
That was the rhetorical question a water-logged Rural Retreat football team was asking itself Saturday after losing to undefeated Appalachia 36-13 in a Group A Division 1 state semifinal game.
The Bulldogs (13-0) capitalized on several Rural Retreat turnovers on muddy Indian Field, and they used three long touchdowns by running back Sean Poole to advance to next week's title game.
Appalachia will seek its second consecutive state championship and third in five years Saturday when it faces Middlesex, a 28-14 winner Saturday over Luray.
"We played alright," Appalachia coach Tom Turner said. "I was satisfied. Rural Retreat's a good football team, and they got some bad breaks."
At first, it appeared the Indians (9-4) were on the verge of a major upset, jumping ahead 7-0. They dominated the first quarter, holding Appalachia to six offensive plays that netted just five yards.
After forcing punts, Rural Retreat put together two drives, one of which produced a Chris Bass to Jason Childers 5-yard touchdown pass, and the other which ended on an Appalachia interception at the 2-yard line.
But the Bulldogs unleashed their potent attack, which scores an average of more than 40 points per game, in the second period. Operating out of a no-huddle offense, Appalachia drove 59 yards and 69 yards in four- and five-play drives, respectively.
Poole scored both touchdowns from near mid-field. The first came on a wide-open 50-yard pass play when Rural Retreat blew a defensive assignment, and the second came when Indian defensive back W.K. Smith slipped as he attempted to tackle Poole.
Turnovers devastated Rural Retreat in the second half. Three times (on two fumbles and an interception) the Indians lost the ball on the first play of a series.
"Appalchia hits you from all angles," Rural Retreat coach Dean Rhea said. "I thought we came out ready, and I think we did a heckuva job against the best [Group A] team in the state."
Rhea noted that late in the third quarter, Appalachia was leading 14-7 and facing fourth and goal on Rural Retreat's 2. The officials stopped the game and insisted that Indians defensive lineman Shane Cassell leave the game because his forearm was bleeding. The Bulldogs scored on the next play.
"I know that's the rule," Rhea said, "but on a fourth-and goal in a state semifinal, they took out my all-district [Hogoheegee] lineman . . .
"And Appalachia went right there for the touchdown - which was smart on their part."
Rural Retreat closed to 22-13 with 9:06 left, but again Appalachia responded with a short, explosive march. Poole capped off another four-play drive with a 39-yard touchdown scamper, making the score 28-13.
After the Bulldogs' defensive end Eric Coffey recovered Chip Vernon's fumble, Appalachia scored again in four plays. This time quarterback Larry Huff kept his balance on a keeper and went 23 yards for the game's icer.
Perhaps the worst news for Appalachia was that Jason Evans, a two-way starter for the Bulldogs, was ejected from the playoffs for unsportsmanlike conduct when he stepped on the chest of a Rural Retreat defender after Poole scored his third touchdown.
"We're going to appeal it," Turner said. "We'll see what happens.'
Poole finished the game with 130 rushing yards on 15 carries and also caught two passes for 60 yards.
The Indians, who completed their eighth consecutive winning season under Rhea, were led by running back Kevin Burton's 55 yards on the ground. Rusty Crigger caught four passes for 44 yards. \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB