THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9510010206
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
The Hampton Roads Sharks barely had time to enjoy the No. 4 national ranking the American Football Association bestowed upon them Thursday.
In front of a record crowd of nearly 8,000 Saturday at the Center for Effective Learning Field, the Sharks were stunned 28-20 by Fredericksburg - a team that entered the contest with a 3-1 record and no top 20 ranking.
``(The Sharks') No. 4 ranking meant a lot,'' Generals coach Jamie King said with tears in his eyes. ``To beat the No. 4 team in the country on their home field in front of a crowd like this, well . . . it's just amazing.''
The Sharks (7-1 overall, 5-1 in the Mason-Dixon Football League) struggled to find a way to stop a Fredericksburg attack that finished with a 17-9 advantage in first downs.
Even so, the Sharks somehow managed to stay in the contest and had a chance to tie it with four minutes left.
After Charles Mott returned a punt 56 yards - thanks in part to a crushing block by Rodney Baylor - to make it 21-20, placekicker Mike Morris missed just barely wide right.
On the ensuing possession, the Generals (4-1, 4-1) marched 44 yards in just four plays with Eric Bates going 7 yards for the final score.
Former Washington Redskins placekicker Mark Moseley - playing in his second Generals game - was 2 for 2 on extra points and hit field goals of 28 and 20 yards.
The Sharks were again led by running back James Rogers, who caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Johnson in the first quarter and ran 1 yard for another in the second. by CNB