THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 28, 1996 TAG: 9609280555
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 33 lines
No matter how fast Kempsville ran, Bayside stayed with the pace.
But the Chiefs were ahead at the tape to squeeze out a 20-14 victory that kept them in the thick of the Beach District race.
``Bayside just wouldn't quit,'' Kempsville coach John Bowles said. ``This one could have gone either way.''
No. 7 Kempsville (3-1 overall and 2-1 in the Beach) amassed 277 total yards offense to 144 for Bayside, but the Marlins always managed to stay within striking distance. Bayside (0-3, 0-3) actually had a chance to win at the end when the Marlins took possession away from Kempsville late in the fourth quarter.
Kempsville was in the midst of a drive started with 6:37 left that started after a bad Bayside onside kick and 15-yard Marlins penalty. But four plays into the drive, Alex Lleces slipped on a handoff from Matt Lemn and his helmet knocked the ball loose. Blas Ossont recovered on his team's 18 with 4:40 left.
``I thought, `oh man' ,'' said Lleces who led all rushers with 140 yards on 19 carries and touchdown runs of 6 and 19 yards. ``I was just hoping it didn't cause us to lose.
``And our defense really pulled it through.''
Kempsville shut down the drive when Quchee Collins intercepted a Bayside pass on the Chiefs' 20 with under 30 seconds left.
Bayside scored twice on screen passes from Larry Chapman to Phillips Potts - one from 11 out that tied the score at halftime and one from 10 out that closed the gap to 20-14.
Kempsville got 96 rushing yards from Zeb Clark. by CNB