ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 21, 1996 TAG: 9609230124
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DALEVILLE
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
WESLEY COX runs for 309 yards in Lord Botetourt's 24-10 win over Franklin County on Friday night.
In a game when the run took center stage, Lord Botetourt senior Wesley Cox dominated the spotlight. Cox rushed for 309 yards on 28 carries as the Cavaliers dropped the Franklin County Eagles 24-10 in a non-district matchup.
The win moves Lord Botetourt to 3-0, its best record in years. The Cavaliers won just two games through all of 1995 and totaled just three victories in '94.
Cox said it's time for a change.
``I got tired of losing,'' Cox said. ``This is my senior year and now I can't believe we're 3-0. We are for real. The Cavaliers are for real baby!''
Lord Botetourt took control from the start, jumping to a 10-0 lead with less than two minutes gone in the first quarter. The first score was a safety on Franklin County's third play from scrimmage; the second was a 70-yard touchdown run by Cox.
``He makes things happen out there,'' Lord Botetourt coach Andy Ward said. ``He's so instinctive, and you can't teach that. And the funny thing is he gets stronger as the game goes along.''
That's despite the fact he dominated not only the offensive, but the defensive side of the ball. With a 10-3 lead in the closing minutes of the opening quarter, Cox chased down the Eagles' Brandon Smith at the 10-yard line, saving the tying touchdown.
Four plays later, on fourth-and-goal at the 5-yard line, Franklin County coach Horace Green decided to go for the touchdown rather than send in his kicker. This call came despite the fact Eagles place kicker Matt Maxey had booted a 44-yarder through the uprights earlier.
The Cavaliers held on fourth down, dropping Smith after a 2-yard gain.
``You play bad you get your tail beat, and that's all I have to say,'' Green said.
But Franklin County did tie the game at 10-10 midway through the second quarter, on a 10-yard run by Smith. Smith finished the game with 144 yards on 21 carries while Travis Ferguson added 20 carries for 122 yards.
Lord Botetourt regained the lead just before the half, capitalizing on a bad snap that flew over the punter's head and was recovered at the 1. Cox did the honors, taking it in for his second score of the night.
``My offensive line did a great job blocking for me all game,'' Cox said. ``And the rest just happened.''
The second half was more of the same, as Cox weaved in and out of traffic en route to his third score of the game, this one a 30-yard jaunt from scrimmage.
Quarterback Jamie Tuck's desperation throw as time expired was intercepted in the end zone. The Eagles ended with 315 yards of total offense, and were unable to score in the second half.
The Cavaliers totaled 365 yards, and said they are ready to celebrate.
``We're going to enjoy this one for a while,'' Ward said. ``But we'll go back to work Sunday and be ready to go next week.'' see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. ERIC BRADY STAFF Wesley Cox (left) follows the leadby CNBof Lord Botetourt teammate K.B. Rogers on the way to more yardage
Friday night. color
2. ERIC BRADY Staff Franklin County's Brandon Smith (left) eludes
Botetourt's Jeremy Conner and Seth Myers. (ran with story in New
River edition.) KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL