THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 18, 1996 TAG: 9608180207
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 50 lines
They say the best offense is a good defense. The Hampton Roads Sharks proved as much Saturday night in an unconventional manner en route to a 21-12 victory over the Washington Panthers in a Mason-Dixon Football League opener for both teams at Kempsville High.
When coach Billy O'Brien resigned last week, Dr. T.J. Morgan took over and inserted a power-I offense he had played during his Kempsville High days.
But his team only got to practice the new set for a few hours last week and it showed through the first two quarters Saturday.
Finding his team down 6-0 in a defensive struggle, Morgan searched for an offensive combination that would work.
So facing a fourth down and about a foot to go with just over two minutes left in the first half, Morgan sent in Daryl Nimmo, normally a defensive lineman, to block for Odell Joyner, a linebacker. Joyner bashed his way for a 4-yard gain and a first down that breathed life into the Sharks offense.
Four plays later, Corey Kennedy hit Brian Darden with a 43-yard touchdown pass and Paul Saunders kicked the extra point to give the Sharks a 7-6 lead.
``I was thinking too much and decided to just coach on instinct,'' Morgan said. ``We just started calling plays and things finally settled down.''
Thanks largely to the one-two punch of Joyner and Nimmo. Joyner finished the game as the Sharks' leading rusher with 23 yards on seven carries and picked up a pair of first downs. Meanwhile, Nimmo was dishing out some crushing blocks for his defensive teammate.
``This was unexpected,'' Joyner said. ``We hadn't practiced it at all and T.J. made a good call on instinct. Daryl has blocked before and I think he likes it. I know I like running behind him.
``I think you'll see that combination a little more in short situations.''
The combination also provided a great decoy for the Sharks' final touchdown, with Nimmo and Joyner set in the backfield with Kevin Vines. On third-and-goal from the Washington 8 midway through the final quarter, the Panthers keyed on Joyner while Vines scooted to the touchdown.
Kennedy and Darden had connected for the Sharks second touchdown on a 28-yard toss with two minutes left in the third quarter.
Washington took the lead 22 minutes into the contest when linebacker Mike Gillespie stole a pass out of the hands of Tony Ringgold and dashed 32 yards for the score.
The Panthers added another touchdown with 1:46 left in the game when backup quarterback Kenny Wallace hit Tony Harris from 44 yards out. ILLUSTRATION: MIKE HEFFNER/ VP photo
Hampton Roads receiver Brian Darden points back to QB Corey Kennedy
after scoring the Sharks' first touchdown on a 43-yard pass. by CNB