ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 16, 1996 TAG: 9611180119
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
Making a first down against Salem's defense is getting tougher by the game.
In fact, the Spartans aren't yielding a whole lot of anything these days. They demonstrated that again Friday night in a 17-0 victory over Northside in a Division 4 Region III playoff game on the Spartans' field.
It was a good tuneup for Salem's next game, which will match the Spartans against Staunton River's dual-back attack of Jarrett Ferguson and Kevin Martin, who have left most defenses sniffing their exhaust fumes on their way to touchdowns.
Northside's John Doss has had his way with the defensive schemes of many teams, but not against Salem. The Spartans held the Vikings without a first down until midway through the third quarter, and Doss managed but 21 yards rushing for the game.
``We didn't focus on Doss. We just wanted to fill up the holes and not give them big gaps,'' said Salem linebacker Jeff Akers.
``We weren't able to operate on offense,'' said Vikings lineman Clay Kasey. ``We just made too many mental mistakes. We didn't seem to be mentally prepared.''
Doss, who scored all of Northside's points in four of 10 games, tried for a repeat when he ran twice from Salem's 2 in the fourth quarter. On the last play, he was dropped by Salem defensive back Jamie Garst for no gain.
``Their tight end didn't kick me out and I had him all the way,'' said Garst.
It was a defensive game all the way. Salem's offense-by-committee featured five players rushing for between 21 and 31 yards. It added up to a workmanlike 128 yards rushing.
Quarterback R.J. Beckwith led the rushers with 31 yards, and he passed for 77 to total 108 yards - 16 more than Northside got as a team.
The Spartans even pulled a few surprises out of their playbook. Wide receiver John Hancock ran a reverse for 21 yards and a key first down on one series. On the next one, he started to run the same play, but pulled up and threw a 27-yard pass to Ricky Eubanks. However, Salem failed to score on either drive.
``I told the kids it's a tribute to the defense when we make them reach down into their bag of tricks to come up with big plays,'' said Northside coach Jim Hickam.
``It wasn't that our offense was ineffective,'' said Salem coach Willis White. ``Northside had a great defensive game plan. They came out just like I expected. They didn't disappoint us. They showed up and played hard.''
This game was a contrast to the regular-season meeting when Salem scored early and often on the way to a 41-18 victory. This time, the Spartans had to fight for every inch, starting with a game-opening drive from the Salem 24 that resulted in a 30-yard field goal by Bret Gresham.
The Spartans had the ball for the first 9:20. On the drive, Salem converted three times on third down and once on fourth down.
The game might have been different were it not for the Vikings' first offensive possession. On fourth down, the snap sailed over punter Xavier Lee's head and the Spartans recovered at the Northside 4. Salem running back Brandon Poff produced a touchdown on the first play to make it 10-0.
The only other score came as Salem went 66 yards on its second possession in the third quarter. Beckwith passed to Akers for 20 yards and his fumble was caught by Eubanks, who took it 11 more yards for a 31-yard gain as the big play of the march. Matt Anderson scored from the 1 to make it 17-0.
``We graduate six seniors and have 40 players coming back. Of course having 40 come back doesn't mean anything if they don't work out in the off-season,'' said Hickam.
Salem has a date against Staunton River and a defense that has given up only one touchdown and a field goal in the last four games. see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. NHAT MEYER STAFF Dennis Haley of Salem leaps towardby CNBthe end zone to set up a Spartans touchdown in the third quarter of
Friday night's Group AA playoff game against Northside. color
2. NHAT MEYER STAFF Brandon Poff (35) of Salem reaches for the end
zone to score Salem's first touchdown Friday night against
Northside.