High School Football:
Eastern Saves Best For Last Against Pemberton

Friday, September 24, 1999

By Greg Alvord
SJSports Staff Writer

On a full moon night at Eastern, the Pemberton Hornets played like the "Werewolves of London" for three and a half quarters before succumbing to the top ranked Eastern Vikings. The final score was 25-14 in favor of Eastern, but don't let the score fool you. For forty minutes in this game, the Hornets gave the Vikings all that they could handle plus some. Pemberton played the highly ranked Vikings as if they were powered by the energy of the full moon. Just like those crazies, who extract extraordinary powers come Luna time, the Hornets played like Lon Chaney Jr. possessed.

The ball began with both defenses playing fired up. On this crisp autumn night, the crack of heavy hitting could be heard echoing throughout the stands, as if a snap of a bullwhip was being used. Eastern corner Ted Goyins planted many a pop to inspire his mates. After swapping field positions, the Vikings took the ball on their own twenty-yard line. Facing a third and twenty-one, Eastern quarterback Darryl Scott dropped back and laced a beautiful spiral down the middle to halfback Adam Taliaferro, who made a Fred Belitnakauff catch in double coverage. After a few Ed Carter plunges (Carter was unsung hero on this night with his hard powering, Ron Dayne-like inside running), Taliaferro raced in from 30-yards out in Barry Sanders-like fashion to make the score 6-0. A blocked extra point seemed to add life to the Hornets. On the next possession, the Hornets marched down field. Sparked by the swift running of Dieontea Stewart, Pemberton drove to the Eastern eight-yard line. On third down, Anthony Mathews hit a slanting Dominic Ortiz-Brown for the score. A big PAT pushed Pemberton up by the score of 7-6. The half ended this way before a somewhat stunned, packed house.

Eastern opened the second half by shooting themselves with a silver bullet in the foot. A botched exchange caused a fumble (the Vikings third turnover of the night) where David Chambliss recovered. A fired up Hornet club marched right down field and scored to take a 14-6 advantage. A Kellen Winslow one-handed catch, followed by a bull dozing run by Gary Sutton, completed the touchdown pass play in grand fashion. A newly inspired Eastern club, with their backs to the wall, marched right back to score. Running the option that would make Tom Osborne of Nebraska fame proud, quarterback Darryl Scott dazzled the crowd with some spectacular runs. Taliaferro punched it in again to pull Eastern to 14-12. Another defensive play by the Hornets defense prevented a two-point conversion and inspired their team.

As the final quarter began, excitement was running wild. Both teams exchanged punts as time slowly ticked away. Eastern received the ball on their own thirty and promptly marched down the field. The Vikings' offensive line opened up huge holes led by Justin Glenn, Justin Barton, Gregg Wrenn, Mike Davidowich and Nick Mourtos. This unit took the game by the neck and delivered a game notching DDT. Carter and Taliaferro picked up huge Godzilla-like chunks of yards before Omar Miles scored to make the score 18-14 for Eastern's first lead. Pemberton was not done yet. Anthony Mathews took the ensuing kickoff 80-yards in spectacular fashion to the Vikings' ten-yard line. Many a jaw could be heard falling as the Hornets tried to punch it in. On forth down, Eastern dramatically held the wolfish Hornets. Taliaferro punched in the final touchdown with seconds left to make the final score 25-14 in favor of Eastern in the highly entertaining, full moon classic.