THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510150194
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
James Rogers saw the need.
With Hampton Roads playing poorly in a heated rivalry against Peninsula, Rogers took the initiative - stepping up his play and igniting the Sharks enough to pull out a 21-9 victory in front of a crowd of 2,466 at CEL Field.
Down 9-7 halfway through the third period, Rogers woke up the Sharks' offense with a 14-yard dash around the right side to give Hampton Roads its first lead since late in the first period. He added the two-point conversion on a sprint around left end.
``James is a competitor and he stepped up on his own,'' coach Red Stickney said. ``He knew we had to have something happen. We put in a power formation and that really enabled him to get some running room.
``When he's running well, it seems to get things going.''
Rogers provided a little insurance with 1:54 left in the game after it appeared he was stopped on a fourth-and-goal from the Peninsula 6. But the former Princess Anne standout pushed forward just enough to stick the ball in the end zone for the score.
``I really felt like I had to do something in the second half,'' said Rogers, who ran for 79 of his game-high 134 yards in the second half. ``I just felt like. . . . if I do it and the rest of the offense sees it, everybody steps up and we come out a winner.''
Rogers had opened the scoring on the second play of the game, sprinting 41 yards past the right tackle. Mike Morris gave Hampton Roads (7-1 in the Mason-Dixon League, 9-1 overall) a 7-0 lead with his point-after kick.
But the Sharks failed to keep the momentum alive, instead letting the Poseidons (3-4, 5-4) take charge and gain a 9-7 lead on a 31-yard field goal by Paul Saunders and a 3-yard run by Rowland Jordan.
From there until Rogers' second score, the game became an ugly mix of penalties and bad play.
``No, it wasn't pretty,'' Stickney said. ``I don't know what it is about when these two teams play. We always struggle and start late and I think both teams try a little too hard because it's such a big rivalry.''
Peninsula was penalized 14 times for 128 yards, while the Sharks were flagged nine times for 80 yards. Between the two teams, 10 other penalties were declined. At at the end of the game, each team had a player ejected for fighting.
``It's a rival thing,'' Rogers said. ``There are some old Peninsula players on our team and some old Sharks on their team, and it's like. . . . a real feud sometimes.
``Everybody plays a little reckless.''
Sharks quarterback Devonne Brown - starting his second game - continued to play well, throwing for 131 yards. Peninsula quarterback Derrell Williams had an equally impressive evening, throwing for 163 yards. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
PAUL AIKEN/The Virginian-Pilot
Peninsula's Leroy Mask tries to trip up Hampton Roads' Charles Mott
during the Sharks' 21-9 victory over the Poseidons.
by CNB