THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 20, 1994 TAG: 9411200240
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Green Run came in with the big-play reputation, but Indian River left with that notoriety.
The Braves bullied the Stallions throughout in posting a 30-9 victory Saturday night in a Division 6 Eastern Region semifinal game at Princess Anne High.
Sophomore quarterback James Boyd ran 14 times for 112 yards, including touchdown runs of 62 and 20 yards.
Meanwhile, Green Run quarterback Glenwood Ferebee had his worst night of the season, connecting on only six of 26 pass attempts and giving up three interceptions, equaling his regular-season total.
The Braves (8-3) will meet Beach District-champion Kempsville (10-1) Friday at Kellam High at 8 p.m. in the region final.
``They hadn't played anybody,'' Boyd said of the Stallions. ``Everybody knows there are five built-in wins in the Beach District. The Southeastern's a tough district. If Oscar Smith (1-9) played in the Beach, they'd be a .500 team.''
The Braves collected 323 yards rushing, with 243 of those yards coming on five plays.
Indian River's propensity for the big play started early. Green Run's David Abbott buried a 45-yard punt at the Indian River 2 midway through the opening quarter. But Braves tailback Sam Hardy went 37 yards around the right side and Mike Joyner followed that with a quick trap up the middle for 48 yards.
Three plays later, Quenta McLean scored on a 2-yard run.
The Stallions cut Indian River's lead to 7-6 early in the second quarter when Ferebee hit Plaxico Burress for an 89-yard touchdown strike. But Chad Stackpole pulled his extra point attempt.
The one-point deficit was short-lived as Boyd went 62 yards around right end on the Braves' next play from scrimmage to increase the Indian River lead to 14-6.
Boyd picked up 109 of his 112 yards rushing on five similar shotgun sweeps.
``We put that in five weeks ago,'' Boyd said. ``One block usually gets me what I need.''
The teams traded field goals - a 22-yarder by Sophan Pith and a 36-yarder by Stackpole - as Indian River took a 17-9 lead into the half.
Ferebee was picked off by Indian River's Sam Hardy with just over a minute left in the half and when the Stallions failed to move the ball on their opening drive of the second half, frustrations began to mount.
After a 45-yard punt by Jeremy Bridges pinned Green Run at its own 3, Braves cornerback Milton Hall intercepted Ferebee again.
``Glenwood had some opportunities to do some things out there tonight,'' Green Run coach Cadillac Harris said. ``But I guess our receivers didn't run the routes they were supposed to run or catch the passes they were supposed to.''
Although the Stallions threw for 202 yards, Indian River coach Bob Parker was thrilled with his defensive unit's effort.
``We usually come in wanting to take away the run and make a team pass, but that's what Green Run does best,'' Parker said. ``We still took away the run and we didn't allow him (Ferebee) to set up back there in the pocket.''
Well-timed blitzes by McLean had Ferebee scrambling and throwing on the run a dozen times.
Still, the Stallions looked like they were going to get a chance to even matters in the fourth quarter when the Braves faced third-and-20 from inside their own 5. But Joyner broke his second big run of the night, a 76-yarder, and three plays later Boyd went 20 yards around left end as the Braves took a 23-9 lead with 2:46 left.
The capper came when Anthony Cason intercepted Ferebee on fourth-and-15 from the Indian River 43 and returned it 77 yards for a touchdown with 1:53 remaining.
When Indian River's top running back, Shawndell Joyner, quit the team three weeks ago, the Braves had to revamp their rushing attack. But Boyd, Hardy, Mike Joyner and McLean look like a winning combination now.
``Mike Joyner's just a sophomore,'' Parker said. ``He's an up-and-comer. And we've discovered that McLean can run and when you're 6-3 and 220 like he is . . . it didn't dawn on me to use him like we are now. Poor coaching I guess.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
L. TODD SPENCER
Indian River's Sam Hardy, left, intercepts a pass intended for
Plaxico Burress to help the Braves take out Green Run.
by CNB