Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 14, 1995 TAG: 9510150013
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JAMES C. BLACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
Every time the Knights scored, Franklin County responded. The problem is, Cave Spring didn't have an answer for every Eagle score. And more to the point, the Knights didn't have a solution for Travis Kent.
The junior running back scored on two runs, a kickoff return and a reception, and rushed for 150 yards. The result was a 35-30 Franklin County homecoming victory over previously unbeaten Roanoke Valley District foe Cave Spring.
The Knights (5-1 overall, 0-1 in the district) scored touchdowns on their opening possessions of each half. But both times, the Eagles (2-5, 1-1) responded with touchdowns of their own.
In the first half, Franklin County's Gray Hodges only had two pass attempts, but they were both completions to Kent for a total of 60 yards. Cave Spring quarterback Jeff Lang also threw for 60 yards in the first half but on 4 of 9 passing.
On Cave Spring's opening possession of the second half, Lang didn't find an open receiver so he raced to the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was denied and Cave Spring held a 19-14 lead.
But the lead only stood for 13 seconds.
On the ensuing kickoff, Kent caught the ball at the 5-yard line and didn't stop until he reached Cave Spring's end zone. That put Franklin County back in the lead 21-19.
But Cave Spring would not let the score hold.
Travis Copper followed Kent's feat with an 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown of his own. And this time, Cave Spring made the two-point conversion for a 27-21 lead.
But Kent was not finished. He fielded the kickoff deep in Eagle territory, fought through several tackles and only had one Cave Spring player in his way. Kent didn't make it through the final tackler and was stopped at his team's 49-yard line.
So how did Kent respond to the tackle?
On first down, he fought off a couple of tackles and went down the sideline for a 51-yard touchdown. His team was ahead 28-27.
In the fourth quarter, Cave Spring regained the lead 30-28 on a 29-yard field goal by Judd Poulter.
Kent rallied his team again.
On the first play of Franklin County's next possession, Kent broke for another big run. This time, he cut left, broke a couple of tackles and went right for 80 yards and the game's final tally.
Jason Fox had 19 carries for 133 yards and one touchdown.
NOTE: Please see micorfilm for scores.
by CNB