THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 28, 1996 TAG: 9609280531
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 62 lines
As an avid outdoorsman, Tallwood coach Ken Barto prefers being the hunter to the hunted.
But after fourth-ranked Tallwood took apart No. 3 First Colonial 46-14 Friday night, Barto and the Lions suddenly find themselves playing a new role.
Tallwood (4-0, 3-0) holds undisputed possession of first place in the Beach District for the first time in its four-year history.
``You know I don't like that,'' Barto said.
Maybe not in September, he doesn't. But the way the Lions preyed on the Patriots - dominating every facet and every matchup - it's not hard to imagine them still residing alone in November.
Tallwood used superb special teams play to win the battle of field position.
The defense, seeking to regain its form of last year when it led the area in fewest yards allowed, forced five turnovers.
And the offense, without TaRon Anderson, is now a big tent. Seven Lions scored touchdowns and seven caught passes.
Travis Mazyck set the tone when he returned the opening kickoff 38 yards to the First Colonial 45; the Lions started 11 of their 12 offensive possessions in Patriots territory.
Lewis Floyd capped the first drive with a 4-yard touchdown run, Ronnie Clark returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0 after one quarter and then the Patriots began fumbling.
Still in the first quarter, Tallwood linebacker Joe Kerr recovered a fumble at the First Colonial 36. Three consecutive penalties pushed the Losn back to their own 36, but one first down Mazyck raced 34 yards on a double reverse.
Marques Hampton capped that drive with a 6-yard run and Mike Nagelin's extra point made it 21-0 with 9:12 left in the first half.
Another fumble recovery, this time by Mazyck, gave Tallwood a first down at the First Colonial 39. Five plays later Gilbert Harris hit tight end Tharrin Harold with a 3-yard touchdown pass and it was 27-0 at halftime.
First Colonial had just 46 yards total and never penetrated its own 40 in the first half.
The Lions' only letdown came on the first series of the second half. First Colonial's Lamar King, who led all rushers with 129 yards in 11 carries, burst 47 yards up the middle and Dorman Miner hit Steve Tyler with completions of 22 and 7 yards, the latter for a touchdown.
Any hopes of a comeback were short-lived, however. Two plays later Mazyck burst 69 yards around right end to make it 34-7.
``It was wide open and I just took it and put it down their throat,'' said Mazyck, who led the Lions with 109 yards in only four carries. ``I wanted to let them know we were going to keep doing it.''
The Patriots got the message. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by HUY NGYUEN\The Virginian-Pilot
Tallwood's Travis Mazyck eludes a pack of First Colonial defenders
early in the game.
Color photo by HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot
First Colonial linebacker Josh Culley, right, can't get a handle
Tallwood running back Marques Hampton, whose end-zone flop made it
21-0. by CNB