THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 4, 1994 TAG: 9412040253
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Although Indian River's Jeremy Bridges made only one catch Saturday in the Braves' 13-10 loss to George Washington-Danville in the Group AAA Division 6 state semifinals, the grab set up the tying field goal and gave Indian River a shot at its first state final.
Trailing, 10-7, in the fourth quarter, the Braves drove to the Eagles' 19 before starting to move backward. Quarterback James Boyd lost yardage on the option, and a clipping penalty drove Indian River back to the 38, where it faced second down and 29.
Boyd tried to hit Chris Edmunds with a pass over the middle, but it was broken up by Sam Levine. Levine, however, tipped the ball right to Bridges, who turned and ran for 21 yards.
That allowed Sophan Pith to tie the score at 10 with a 30-yard field goal with 7:02 left.
``The play is designed to go to either player,'' said Bridges, a first-team All-Region selection at tight end. ``I had just floated over that direction to try and get open, and I was in the right place at the right time.''
Bridges, a senior, played one of his finest games of the year on defense. In the first quarter with the Eagles inside the Indian River 15, Bridges charged from his defensive end position and dropped Chanston Rodgers in the backfield on third down, forcing GW-Danville to settle for a field goal.
In the third quarter with the Eagles at the Indian River 13, Bridges and Lance Bishop combined to sack quarterback Nathan Poole, driving GW-Danville back to the 30 and a fourth down and long.
Later in the third quarter, Bridges' pressure on Poole led to an interception by Boyd that gave the Braves the ball at the Eagles' 40.
Bridges used his 6-foot-4 height to save the Braves on special teams. In the second quarter he brought down two high snaps on punt attempts and got the kicks off despite intense pressure. Bridges also picked up a bouncing snap in the third quarter and got the kick away.
``He played a heck of a game. I don't think he came off the field once,'' said Indian River coach Bob Parker. ``He fielded one of those snaps like a shortstop, and the catch he made really kept us in the game. He's as good a tight end as there is in the state.'' by CNB