Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 2, 1995 TAG: 9509060039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The best way to sum up Cave Spring's football opener with Northside was S.O.S.
That doesn't stand for help, though both offenses probably will need some to compete in their respective district races. It stands for Same Old Story as the Knights beat the Vikings 7-6 Friday in a game that was very similar to last year's result.
It was the same combination that produced another one-point victory for the Knights. Jeff Lang fired a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Frantz for Cave Spring's only score just as they hooked up on an extra-point conversion a year ago in the final seconds of a 14-13 victory.
``In this case,'' said Cave Spring coach Steve Spangler, ``it was the real play. A year ago, the only ones who knew they were going to pass [for the extra point] were Jeff and Jimmy. Everyone else thought it would be a kick.''
``Jimmy was the primary receiver. Everyone was rolling that way and he got behind the defense. I saw one defender behind him and didn't know if he'd score,'' said Lang.
``The defender was on my right, so I cut it left. I never thought this pass would be the difference like last year because I figured we'd score again or they'd score once,'' said Frantz.
After the touchdown pass, it was place-kicker Jud Poulter who converted the actual winning point for a 7-0 lead.
The Vikings had trouble moving the ball and that conversion appeared to be of no consequence. Then Northside quarterback Mike Dillon passed to Scott Booth behind the Knights' defense.
It appeared Booth might score an 80-yard touchdown, but Pat Connelly overhauled him at the Cave Spring 16. It was a temporary reprieve. Five plays later Northside's Mike Bullock scored from the 5.
The Vikings lined up to kick the tying point with 5:59 left, but an illegal substitution by Cave Spring moved the ball half the distance to the goal. Northside opted to go for two points, but Donnie Leininger, running in the center of the line, met most of the Knights' defense.
``If I had it to do over again, I might have had him run off-tackle,'' said Jim Hickam, Northside's coach. ``But at that distance, we had our biggest linemen where he ran.''
Hickam said he went for the victory because, ``I just felt the time was right. They had had two tough scrimmages the week before and if we go a point up, it might have been psychological for us and we could take control of the game.''
``They were getting movement on the line, and in that kind of game you go for the win,'' Spangler said. ``Our kids hunkered down and fired off the ball.''
Northside got one more chance, forcing a punt and taking over on its 30. The Vikings threw four incomplete passes and the Knights killed the clock.
``I told Steve it was our turn to win a one-point game,'' Hickam said. ``I told the kids I really hate to lose, but when I feel everyone did everything they could to help us win, which they did, there``s nothing that can be done.''
by CNB