THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 29, 1994 TAG: 9410290355
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
In a game with playoff hopes at stake, Bayside and Tallwood both played as if their seasons were on the line.
And in the end, the upstart Tallwood Lions celebrated like they had just won a championship - taking a hard-fought 14-7 decision over the Marlins.
``This was a pressure game if ever there was one,'' Tallwood coach Ken Barto said. ``A win was critical for us making the playoffs. We felt like just making the playoffs would be a great thing. Now we feel like we can play in the playoffs.''
An Eastern Region Division 6 berth isn't yet a lock for Tallwood, but the loss by Bayside Friday likely all but ends their chances.
Tallwood and Bayside both entered the seventh game of the season with 5-1 district records, while Green Run and Kempsville entered Friday night unbeaten and remained so with lopsided victories.
With three games remaining, the region playoff picture likely will be painted with three Beach teams.
A dejected Bill King walked off the field knowing his team had probably just lost any chance.
``We beat ourselves,'' he said. ``We started playing pretty well and just fizzled.''
Actually, both teams fizzled after an action-filled first half.
After holding Bayside on its first possession, sixth-ranked Tallwood (7-1 overall and 6-1 in the Beach District) drove 46 yards in eight plays - with John Vann scoring on a 1-yard plunge behind the center. Danny McVey's kick made it 7-0.
But ninth-ranked Bayside (5-3, 5-2) started its ensuing possession with great field position at the Tallwood 22 after Roger Hazard's 64-yard kickoff return.
Chris Sherrod took an option pitch around the left side to score from four yards out six plays into the drive. Kevin Cherwa booted the tying point.
After the teams traded possessions, Tallwood started the second quarter at the Bayside 28 after Vann got into the Marlins backfield and simply stole the ball out of Sherrod's hands on an option pitch.
Lions quarterback Gilbert Harris rolled out left four plays later and hit John Joseph on a 24-yard scoring strike. McVey's second kick finished out the scoring with 5:51 left in the first half.
After several short-lived possessions in the third period, Bayside appeared to tie the game one play into the fourth quarter when Jeff Wallace lobbed a 38-yard pass to Lashawn Jones. But illegal motion nullified the score. Neither team threatened from that point. by CNB