Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9510020129
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE: FERRUM LENGTH: Medium
When your defense forces a turnover, your offense needs to take advantage of it.
Ferrum's football team followed that instruction into the end zone and through the goal posts Saturday afternoon, whipping the Newport News Apprentice Builders 36-0 at Adams Stadium.
The Panthers converted six turnovers (three interceptions and three fumbles) into points, and smothered any ideas Newport News entertained regarding a comeback.
Now 3-2, Ferrum raised its record above .500 for the first time this year. The Panthers scored more points Saturday than they had in their previous four games combined (36-32).
The Builders, who had beaten Ferrum 20-17 in 1994 and 42-22 in 1993, are winless in five games in 1995.
Ferrum's leadership came from a new source. Substitute quarterback Josh Whitley, who replaced an injured Millard Vining in the first quarter, completed 10 of 26 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown.
Senior receiver John Poindexter made five catches for 84 yards, 38 of them coming on a fourth-and-24 ``Hail Mary'' pass that gave Ferrum a 25-0 lead.
Whitley had attempted just one pass this season prior to Saturday.
``When Millard got injured early, we went from a mobile quarterback to an immobile quarterback,'' Ferrum coach Dave Davis said. ``We had to adjust our framework.
``Whitley made some very good plays for someone who hadn't played this year. But as far as our passing so much, we didn't have much choice. Only certain plays are designed for him.''
Ferrum did not move the ball especially well, netting only 270 yards of total offense. But time and again, the Panthers defense gave Whitley the ball close to the goal line.
``Newport News gave us some [turnovers],'' Davis said. ``Of course you've got to be in the right place at the right time to come up with the ball.''
Panther cornerback Nate Daniels intercepted Newport News quarterback L.W. Vaught early in the second quarter, and raced 61 yards untouched down the sideline for Ferrum's first TD.
After the Builders received the ensuing kickoff, Vaught again was intercepted - on the first play from scrimmage - by safety Tyrone Allen. Allen was tackled at the Builders' 20-yard line.
The Panthers moved the ball just three yards before settling for a field goal by kicker David Waddell. For the second consecutive game, Waddell kicked three field goals. He has seven this year, tying the single-season school record set by Tim Mercer in 1989.
The Newport News offense was strictly one-dimensional. Tailback Jermaine Bellamy, a 5-foot-7, 187-pound senior, carried 34 times for 174 yards, but the total offense for the balance of the team was just two yards.
``Even though we knew he'd be getting the ball every time, we couldn't stop Bellamy,'' Davis said. ""He's the best back we've faced all year. But one thing I am tickled with is that we kept them out of the end zone.''
``I wasn't tired at all,'' Bellamy said, ``because I was prepared mentally. Coach [Paul Hoffman] said before the game that I would be getting the ball 40 or 50 times.''
In last week's 35-30 loss to Methodist, Bellamy had 43 rushes for 179 yards.
Davis identified Vining's injury as ``a severe contusion on the shin.''
``We hope it's not broken,'' Davis said. ``That would be the icing on the cake. Because of injuries, we're down to six offensive linemen as it is.''
see microfilm for box score
by CNB