THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 8, 1994 TAG: 9410080457
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
At Southampton, a little offense goes a long way.
The opportunistic Indians turned a mere 95 yards of total offense into a 19-7 victory over mistake-prone Nansemond River in a battle of Bay Rivers District powers Friday night at Nansemond River.
Sophomore fullback William Brown scored twice from 1 yard out for the Indians, who rallied from a 7-0 deficit. The points were the first Southampton has allowed this season.
``Once they scored, we just said, `Well, there it goes. Let's just make sure they don't score again,' '' said Brown, who also played linebacker.
The Indians made good on their pledge by forcing five Warrior turnovers, including a 32-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by linebacker Durane Parker midway through the fourth quarter that put the game away.
With Southampton ahead, 12-7, Parker scooped up a lateral by Warriors' quarterback Leon Porter after the ball short-hopped a diving Donald Turner and bounced over his head.
``Once I got the ball, all I was thinking about was touchdown,'' Parker said. ``I hadn't scored one all season.''
The victory kept Southampton unbeaten at 5-0, 2-0 in the Bay Rivers. Nansemond River fell to 4-1, 1-1 in the district.
Nansemond River coach Jerry Varacallo said the Warriors blew the game in the first 12 minutes, when on two occasions they had first downs deep in Southampton territory but came away without scoring.
``The biggest mistakes we made were in the first quarter,'' Varacallo said. ``We had a chance to put the game away, but we let (Southampton) hang around.''
On the game's first possession, a 55-yard pass play from Porter to Clarence Skinner - Porter's only completion in 12 attempts - gave Nansemond River a first down at the Southampton eight. But the next three plays produced only three yards. Kicker Drey Asbell then pushed a 22-yard field-goal attempt wide right.
Two plays later, the Warriors recovered a Southampton fumble at the Indians' 19. Nansemond River gained only one more yard, however, and Asbell was short with a 35-yard field-goal attempt.
``Our offense didn't show up tonight,'' Varacallo said.
The Warriors finally got on the board in the second quarter on Skinner's 18-yard touchdown run. But Brown's first one-yard scoring run with less than a minute remaining in the half pulled the Indians to within one at the break.
``We've got a big line and big backs,'' Brown said. ``We run right at you and wear people down. I think that's what happened tonight.'' ILLUSTRATION: MICHAEL KESTNER/Staff
Southampton receiver Raymond Brown, left, stretches for the ball as
Nansemond River defender Donald Turner covers Friday night.
Southampton won, 19-7.
by CNB