Hide Article Text (OCR)
Pamlico quarterback Ontra Burley, 1, splits Southwest Onslow’s Ryan Forrest, 62, and Curtis Hough, 21, on a first-half run.’Cane defense stuffs StallionsPamlico advances to state semifinals with 15-0 victoryBy Todd Taylor Sports ReporterBAYBORO — The much-anticipated rematch between Pamlico and Southwest Onslow turned out to be ■quite a defensive straggle.And there might not be another 1A team in the state better prepared for a defensive contest than the Hurricanes.The Pamlico defense limited the Stallions to just 106 total yards and forced four turnovers — recording its third straight shutout of the pfay-offs — in a 15-0 victory Friday at Pamlico High.The win propels Pamlico (12-1) into die state semifinals for the first time in school history and leaves the Hurricanes just one game away from the state 1A title game in Chapel Hill.“I was expecting a defensive struggle,” Pamlico coach Ernie Humphries said. ‘‘Anytime you play somebody twice, they know whatyou want to do, and you know what they want to do. The defense has the advantage.”Indeed, the Hurricane offense didn’t have much more success than the Stallions, gaining just 131 yards on the night. But Pamlico did get a critical 54-yard touchdown pass from Ontra Burley to Jeremy Forbes late in the third quarter.But it was the Pamlico defense, which has allowed just 4.8 points per game this season, which drew raves from Southwest Onslow coach Phil Padgett.“The biggest difference between us and them is their defense is so quick,” Padgett said. “We played as hard as we can play, but you have to credit Pamlico. They were the better team.”Southwest Onslow (10-3) came into the game hoping to counter the Hurricanes’ tremendous team speed on defense with misdirection plays, screen passes and reverses. Not much seemed to work against Pamlico.“We ran some misdirection plays, but they recover so 'dam quick,” Padgett said. “We blocked the plays well, and they would have worked against most teams, but Pamlico wastoo fast.”The first points of the game came — fittingly enough — on a safety. Attempting to punt from their own 29, the Stallions snapped the ball over the head of punter James Farrington, who wisely kicked the loose ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety.After forcing a Pamlico punt, the Stallions turned 'the ball right back over to Pamlico with a fumble at 'their own 21-yard line. But the Hurricanes were denied the touchdown on valiant goal-line stand by Southwest Onslow.Two plays later, the Stallions fumbled again, this time at their own 1. The Hurricanes did not squander the opportunity this time, and took an 8-0 lead on John Gibbs’ 1-yard plunge.That score held up through most of the third quarter, until the Hurricane defense put Pamlico in business again, as James Davis intercepted Larry Pollack’s pass at the Hurricane 46.On the very next play, Pamlico went for it all and got it. Forbes appeared to be well-covered, but Burley’s pass was in the perfect spot, and Forbes outmuscled the defensive back for the ball.“We usually don’t throw a pass more than 10 or 20 yards,” Burley said. “But our coaches saw that their defensive backs were coming up to stop the ran, so we went for it.”The Stallions responded by moving the ball into Hurricane territory three times in the fourth quarter, but came away empty all three times. Two of those drives were snuffed on sacks by 5-foot-9, 169-pound defensive end Delmus Willis.“Delmus played great,”Humphries said. “If you look at the size of Delmus, you don’t know how he gets it done. But nobody plays with more heart or more desire.”But even Humphries said he was surprised that the Hurricanes haven’t allowed a point in three playoff games and last four overall. It’s a trend he hopes will continue when the Hurricanes take on North Edgecombe at 7:30 p.m. Friday at North Edgecombe.“Obviously we’re very pleasantly surprised to get three straight shutouts,” he said. “But the way (assistant coach) Sam Spencer has these guys playing on defense, they think they can shut out anybody.”
Newspaper Details
Sun Journal
New Bern, North Carolina, US
Sun, Nov 27, 1994
Page 17
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 01 Mar 2025
Other Publications Near New Bern, North Carolina
Newbern Weekly Progress
Newbern Progress
National Savings Bank
New Bern Our Living and Our Dead
New Bern Sun Journal
