Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 21, 1995 TAG: 9510240025
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Spartans' Ricky Eubanks caught touchdowns from two quarterbacks - his own and Byrd's Frank English. Salem quarterback Seth Moore threw one, ran for another and intercepted a pass for another.
By the time it had finished, Salem had rumbled past William Byrd 35-3 in a key Blue Ridge District football game Friday at Spartan Stadium.
Salem (7-1 overall, 3-0 district) has control of the Blue Ridge District race and can lock up at least a tie by winning at Rockbridge County next Friday.
Byrd (6-1, 2-1) had its winning streak halted, but the Terriers are still alive for a wild-card playoff spot.
While Byrd scored first on a booming 45-yard field goal by Michael Berry, the Spartans' offense was always on the move. On defense, Salem shut down the one-two punch of English and Berry, who in the first six games had been one of Timesland's most potent combinations.
Berry made a great catch of a 28-yard pass from English on Byrd's first possession and that set up his field goal. After that drive, though, Byrd had only two more first downs, and one of those came on the final play.
``We wanted to stop Berry's pass catching and not let English out on the option where he can run and throw,'' Salem coach Willis White said.
``We came in with a stunt and put on a lot of pressure. That didn't work, so we had to go to a straight-up defense.''
Salem
FROM PAGE B1|
When Salem fell behind, the Spartans weren't that concerned. That's because Salem opened the game by moving the ball and nearly scoring before a couple of fumbles by Moore on the snap halted the drive.
``The way we moved the ball, I knew we'd score points,'' Moore said. ``I never worried about it.''
Was he concerned about his team being up for Byrd after a tough, non-district loss Oct.13 at Pulaski County?
``No way,'' said Moore, who saw his team fall to ninth in the Group AA poll, four positions behind Byrd. ``We wanted to show everyone we're a good team. Get some respect.''
Still, Salem sputtered and saw another drive aborted with a missed field-goal attempt one minute before the first quarter finished. Byrd did not lead after the first quarter, though. Eubanks picked off a pass by English and returned it 31 yards to put the Spartans ahead for good.
``We had three interceptions the first half, and you can't do that against good teams,'' said Jeff Highfill, Byrd's coach. ``On the [one by Eubanks], it looked like Michael was open, but Frank just threw it over his head.''
English threw another interception on the next series and the Spartans went 43 yards for their second touchdown. Moore hit Eubanks on a post pattern in the middle and he went right past two defenders for a 24-yard touchdown reception.
It was a tough night for English because Berry was well-defensed.
``Seth and I were doubling up on Berry,'' Eubanks said. ``We knew if we could take Frank and Michael out, they'd have no offense left.''
By halftime, Salem led 21-3 when another interception gave Salem the ball at the Byrd 44. Moore scored on a run from the 9.
In the third quarter, Chris Huff and Moore scored touchdowns 10 seconds apart. Huff scored from the 1, completing Salem's longest drive - 61 yards. On Byrd's first play from scrimmage after the kickoff, Moore picked off a pass and returned it 33 yards for the final Spartans touchdown.
``I preferred the pass. It was at a more critical time,'' Moore said of the three touchdowns in which he was involved.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB