Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 18, 1995 TAG: 9511200113
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Salem hauled out its battery of offensive stars and used a strong defense to decimate Martinsville 31-10 in a Region III Division 4 first-round playoff game Friday at Salem Stadium.
Chris Huff set the tone early with a 44-yard run, Seth Moore took over with his passing and Ricky Eubanks made the big plays on both sides of the ball with an interception and touchdown catch.
The Spartans (10-1) move to a second-round game for the regional title and a berth in the Group AA Division 4 semifinals at home next week against Amherst County, which beat Liberty 20-12.
Salem had 398 yards of total offense and was never in trouble against Martinsville (7-4). Defensively, Salem shut down the Bulldogs' Manti Venable, one of Timesland's top runners, who rushed 54 yards on 15 carries. Salem held Martinsville to 142 yards offense.
``They just whipped us on both sides of the ball,'' said Martinsville coach Taylor Edwards. ``They were more physical. They did a lot of things real well and they'll give anybody they play a heck of a game.''
Taylor said the result had nothing to do with his team thinking it was out of the playoffs and then having to regroup when it found out that the Bulldogs qualified.
``Salem just does so many things well. They did a heck of a job on Manti. We knew coming in that they'd mix up the offense.''
Salem dominated the first half by first running and then going to Moore's passing.
The Spartans had 194 yards rushing and Moore hit his first five passes for 72 yards.
Salem built a 17-0 lead that started with a 68-yard march after the opening kickoff. Huff's 44-yard run was the big gainer with Rusty Howell going over from the 1.
``That's a fullback trap we always use to test the other team early,'' said Salem coach Willis White of Huff's run.
``It opened up beautifully,'' said Huff. ``We had seen on film where they could be trapped. We knew we were going to run it and it came at the right time.''
On the next Spartan possession, Salem's march stalled at the Bulldog 2 and Brett Gresham hit a 28-yard field goal.
The Spartans' second touchdown was a four-play, 58-yard strike. Moore opened with a 26-yard pass to Keith Bishop and Howell ended it with a 26-yard touchdown run.
Any thoughts of an easy victory were erased three plays later. Martinsville quarterback Roger Martin threw to David Walker. Walker made a great catch by taking the ball away from Eubanks and went 63 yards to make it 17-7 at intermission.
Eubanks took over in the second half. First, he picked off a Bulldog pass on the second play that eventually led to a touchdown.
The Spartans had to punt from the Bulldog 33 and Matt Wheeling left Martinsville on its 4. The Bulldogs punted back, Eubanks grabbed the ball and sped to the Martinsville 2, setting up a touchdown run by Gussie Vaughn to make it 24-7.
On the next series, Eubanks got behind Martinsville's defense for a 27-yard touchdown pass from Moore that closed Salem's scoring and effectively ended the game.
``I told Seth their man was dropping off me. I took off and I had the ball all the way,'' said Eubank.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB