Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, November 25, 1995                   TAG: 9511290039
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SPARTANS COULD'VE QUIT BUT DIDN'T

He was at the controls last year when Amherst County scored on the game's third play in the Region III Division 4 championship game on the way to blowing out Salem.

The Spartans started slowly that night when a fumble on the third play set up the Lancers' touchdown. Moore's fumble on his team's first offensive play Friday led to a quick Amherst touchdown, making it 14-0. It looked like deja vu.

``I was thinking it would be a long game. But I knew that nobody [from Salem] would quit,'' said Moore after the Spartans had come back twice Friday only to lose 36-29 in overtime to the Lancers for the Region III Division 4 championship.

Salem hit Amherst County's defense for three touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 26-21 lead at intermission that had the crowd of nearly 7,000 in disbelief.

``The line was coming off the ball, opening large holes. That middle linebacker [Camm Jackson] was being double-teamed by our backs [Chris Huff and Rusty Howell] and by our lineman [Dan Baker and Travis Miles],'' said Moore.

At the half, Amherst County adjusted and for a time stopped the Spartans' offense. Then Salem moved the ball in the final quarter, but by that time fatigue was affecting both teams and neither squad could score.

``They made some nice adjustments,'' said Moore. ``We had to change up. We had to test them two times and figure out what they were doing. I don't think either team left anything out there. I know Salem didn't.''

Amherst County coach Mickey Crouch agreed. ``It was an emotional game. It's the biggest crowd we've played in front of and I think the emotion drained both teams,'' he said.

The ending was somewhat controversial. After Maurice Clark scored in overtime, Salem lost 5 yards on three plays and had one chance left to tie and force another overtime.

Moore faded to pass and threw to Brent Humphrey, who made contact with an Amherst County player and went down without a flag.

``I'm not going to say we'd have scored from the 15 on one play. But I sure would liked to have had another chance,'' said Moore.

Salem coach Willis White praised Amherst County as one of the best he's faced.

``You can't take anything away from them. They have some of the best athletes that I've been on the field with in years,'' said White.

``That No. 8 [Clark] is so strong and so fast. To have that kind of speed and power, he's definitely one of the best backs I've seen all year,'' added White about the Lancers senior, who scored three touchdowns and rushed for 235 yards on 16 carries.