THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 4, 1994 TAG: 9412040210
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Deep Creek coach Jerry Carter is a master of the well-timed motivational barb.
So after Deep Creek survived a 48-42 shootout last week against Hampton, the Hornets' third shaky defensive outing in a row, Carter said pointedly that the defense would have to play better if the team was to win Saturday's Group AAA, Division 5 state semifinal against E.C. Glass.
The message didn't sink in immediately as Glass gained 205 yards and scored twice in the first half. But charged with protecting a 10-point lead, the Hornets' defense limited the Hilltoppers to 77 yards and a gift field goal in the second half of a 24-17 victory at City Stadium.
Only once did Glass penetrate the Deep Creek 40 in the second half, and that came after the Hornets' Cedrec Williams fumbled at the Deep Creek 10 with 8:33 to play.
Breon Crennell gained 4 yards on first down. Then the Hornets stiffened. Outside linebacker Kenny Manning sacked Andre Kendrick for a 6-yard loss, and on third down, defensive end Vernon Boone and middle linebacker Deon Dyer combined to to drop Kendrick for a 2-yard loss.
The Hilltoppers settled for a 32-yard field goal by Marcus Beck that made it 24-17 with 6:43 remaining.
``That was the key,'' Hornets defensive coordinator John Dukes said. ``We came out of our shell.''
Glass got the ball back once more, at its 42 with 5:22 to play.
Chris Matthews gained 3 yards on first down. Defensive end Diron Cowell stopped Kendrick for no gain on a scramble. On third down, Kendrick rolled outside the containment but threw behind wide receiver Chris Clay. That set up fourth-and-7 at the 45 with 3:59 to play.
Kendrick again rolled right and threw toward Brian Brooks at the Deep Creek 36. Kendrick's aim was true, but free safety Torrey Wilson hit Brooks just as the ball arrived, and the pass fell incomplete.
``Biggest hit I've ever made,'' Wilson said. ``I read the quarterback's eyes on that one. Coach said to watch the quick post all game, but that's the only time I did.''
Dukes said the Hornets made two adjustments in the second half.
The first was to keep the 5-foot-9 Kendrick, who came in with 2,099 yards of total offense, in the pocket.
The second was to plug the 235-pound Dyer at linebacker in place of the 185-pound George Miller and seal off the middle.
Kendrick gained 182 yards - 91 rushing and 91 passing - but he completed only 6 of 18 attempts with two interceptions, and carried the ball 18 times.
``It's not that we've got a bad defense. Western Branch, Hampton and Phoebus scored a lot on everybody,'' Carter said of the Hornets' three previous opponents. ``The George Washington coach said Glass had the best offense he's ever seen. Today we did a good job.'' by CNB