RHINOS FOOTBALL SCORES/HIGHLIGHTS
LAST WEEKS GAMES: OVERALL : 17 - 17 (4)SEASONS / 2008 6 - 2
RHINOS 14 - PIRATES 13
SOMETHING TO PROVE was the theme of Saturday's contest between the hometown Rhinos and the vistiting Norfolk Pirates. Was the gritty performance at the 2008 Jamboree a tell tale sign as the tide in the division was shifting? Or were the defending division champs wading in the shallows ready to make the big splash. Riding the wave of an early 7 - 0 lead,the Pirates defense quickly found themselves in rough waters when the Va. Beach offense stormed back to knot the game at 7 - 7 with a 68 yard drive and Qb Andre Conyers sneak up the middle. Having given up another score in the 3rd quarter and trailing 13 - 7 behind a blocked point after attempt, the Rhinos O-line once again had the chance to shine,but a mental breakdown on protection stalled a go ahead scoring drive. Needing the Va. Beach defense to rise up,a timely forced 4th quarter Norfolk Qb fumble out of the endzone for the touchback gave the Rhinos the ball with 2:12 on the game clock. Eighty yards seperated the Rhinos from proving the Jam' was no life preserver. Powered by excellent blocking from o-line members: Rondrick Smith,Alex Cash,Rob Webb,Anthony Peterson and Cliff Sanderlin,Rhinos backs chewed up yardage to set up the Qb bootleg for the winning score 14 - 13. Roll (tide) RHINOS! Ed.
RHINOS 7 - FALCONS 0
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE TEAM FROM CAROLINA,that makes for a tough time against Va. Beach! From the onset,the Falcons appeared to be in awe at how well the Rhinos traveled (30 deep),but quickly refocused by withstanding every scoring opportunity Va. Beach had. (Seven) to be exact...slightly missed FG,TD reception called back,stopped inches short at the Goaline,under thrown TD pass,missed RB blocking assignments on fourth and goal and two INT's inside the redzone. The lone Rhinos score came on an 11yd scramble by Qb Andre Conyers. However, on the play Conyers suffered a neck injury, was evaluated and sat out the remainder of the 4th quarter. Defensively, Va. Beach was stellar behind the combined efforts of NG Jonathen Rossell and LB Eugene Davis,helping the "grey attack" record their first shutout of the season! Ed.
RHINOS 25 - RAMS 20
WITH A SHARE OF FIRST PLACE ON THE LINE,the Raleigh Rams came to Virginia poised to upset the division leading Rhinos and grab their share of first place. With that in mind, Va. Beach played keep away and took control of the clock and marched 66yards for the early 7-0 lead behind Qb Andre Conyers 1yd plunge. Having to account for the most gifted Qb/Wr combo this league has seen,the Va Beach defense mis-communicated and stumbled and the Rams were knocking at the door. However, an errant center snap and defensive fumble recovery closed the door on the drive. Once again the Rhinos offense took control and from 6yds out HB Arvin Hendricks was in the endzone 13-0. Needing to make something happen, Raleigh's Qb found his rthymn and slowly dissected the Va. Beach defense and 23yds later his favorite target was in for the score 13-6. Clearly feeling the heat the Rhinos offense re-established themselves and a late first half TD from Conyers to wideout Tyree Sanderson made it 19-6. Adjustments at the half by the Rams quickly turned a thirteen point deficit into two second half TD's. Facing another potential scoring threat,the Va. Beach defense pressured the Rams Qb into his third INT of the game. Three minutes and eighteen seconds separated the Rhinos from a heartbreaking loss or sole possession of first place. A textbook 80yard drive capped off by a nifty eleven yard catch and run by wideout Sanderson for the game winning score 25-20. Ed.
RHINOS 7 - FALCONS 0
EVEN THOUGH CAROLINA ARRIVED LATE,their defense quickly jumped on top of the Rhinos offense,forcing(4)Va Beach turnovers,with two coming inside the redzone. Still fuming over the week two loss,the Falcons offense was out to make a statement by scoring the game's first (legitimate) TD. However,Va Beach free safety Daryl Huskey had other plans and intercepted Carolina's pass attempt at the six yard line. Having fumbled away another offensive opportunity,the Rhinos defense was called upon again to make something happen,and just like before FS Huskey had his second pick of the afternoon. Would the second half produce the same stellar defensive effort? Or would the Va Beach offense start to click? Another Rhinos drive and another costly turnover. With Carolina gaining offensive momentum,the Va Beach defense needed to answer the call... and that call was answered first, by a devastating hit from LB Jontrey Elliott and the second, by DB Darius Carr's drive ending interception. With the game clock winding down and a 0-0 score, overtime was not an option. Set-up with great field position behind the INT,the offense once again sputtered and found themselves facing a fourth and six at the Falcons 47. A gutsy play call from the sidelines for the first down kept the chains moving, along with outstanding execution from the Rhinos offense on the game winning drive for the 7-0 score, as well as a workman like effort from the defense, helped Va Beach stay atop the division. Ed.
PIRATES 27 - RHINOS 0
WHAT STARTED OFF BAD,got even worse. Va Beach came to Norfolk looking to put some distance between themselves and the Pirtaes in the division. The Pirates wanted to make a statement that things are a lot closer than one might think. Forcing a Pirates turnover on their first possession,Va Beach found out right away things were about to get out of control,when two Norfolk defenders dove over the top of center Rob Webb (no neutral zone infraction penalty?),and Va Beach fumbled away good fortune. Minutes later,the Pirates were on the board 7-0. A nice kick return aided by a facemask penalty set the Rhinos up with great field position,but another stalled drive and punt ended the series. Having pinned the Pirates deep inside their territory and (2)Rhinos players sent to the sidelines with injuries,the Va Beach defense had to step up. A missed field goal and the Rhinos had the ball again. Another offensive breakdown and the Pirates were up 13-0 at the half. Watching the second half unfold was like being in the twilight zone...phantom holding calls,a personal foul penalty called on the coaches box,no calls on late hits,spearing and (2) more Rhinos players sent to the sidelines with injuries. Having allowed another Norfolk score 20-0, Va Beach was right back in it on the ensuing kickoff, when kick returner/DB Charles Owens III blazed down the sidelines 77 yards to give the Rhinos offense the ball at the Pirates 13. Once again, no gains on consecutive runs and an interception ended the series. During the fourth quarter on the Pirates next offensive series,Defensive back Charles Owens III came off the corner for run support and one of the most violent collisions ever witnessed occured,both players hit the turf,the Pirates ball carrier got up, Charles did not. He lay motionless until Paramedics arrived. After the delay, play resumed,a forced Pirates turnover,great field position,and once again the offense turned it over with an INT. Norfolk added another score 27-0, ball game. [It was later reported that Charles Owens III had sustained a neck and spinal cord injury,surgery was required]. This young man was the ultimate teammate,having displayed great instincts and athletic ability, sadly, his football days come to an early end. Please say a prayer for this youngman with hopes of a full and healthy recovery. Ed.
RHINOS 24 - RAMS 6
A QUALITY WIN IS THE MAGIC ELIXIR. Traveling to Raleigh battered and bruised,Va. Beach wanted to show the host Rams that they were about to feel the same way. From the onset,Rb Chris Hill (12 carries for 146 yds) ran over and through Raleigh's defense, setting up Rb Arvin Hendricks' 2 yard plunge 6-0. Another big run for Hill, a 6yd TD for Hendricks(2TD) 14-0. Not to be out shined, the Rhinos defense shut down the leagues best Qb/Wr combo,forced four Rams turnovers and added to it's already impressive league leading 25 takeaways. In the second half,Va Beach put more pressure on Raleigh's Qb and recorded their third sack of the day in the Rams endzone for the safety 16-0. Following the free kick,the Rhinos next series ended with a costly turnover and Raleigh found new life. Making some needed adjustments and excecuting great runs of their own,the Rams went to the air and found a receiver in the corner for the score 16-6. Nothing hurts worse than a bruised ego and giving up the shut-out. So the Rhinos offense went to work, three great runs behind that stellar offensive line and an outstanding catch by TE Steve Phillips and Va. Beach had the ball at the 1 . Qb Andre Conyers' sneak up the middle sealed it 24-6. Good win, better medicine. Ed.
PIRATES 9 - RHINOS 0
THE FOOTBALL GODS COULDN'T HAVE PLANNED IT ANY BETTER than to have the (5-1) Virginia Beach Rhinos play host to the (5-1) Norfolk Pirates for the VA/NC Division title. Not rain,thunder and lightning(play suspended for 15minutes)could halt these two teams from calling themselves division champions. With 3:12 left in the 3rd quarter and a scoreless second half,a bad coach's call left a defender out of position to aid with the deep coverage and just like that the Pirates were on the board 6-0. Va Beach's next series found themselves driving into Norfolk territory entering the fourth,but a badly overthrown pass for the INT dashed any hopes of a tying TD. The Rhinos defense was once again called upon to bail out the offense, and a forced fumble was the answer. Another opportunity for the offense and another badly thrown pass for the INT. Could the Rhinos defense rise up again? Norfolk was held to a field goal 9-0. Seven minutes and twenty-five seconds stood in the way of Va Beach's first out right division title or second loss of the season. A defensive stop,a Pirates punt,a wide open sideline and a bad coach's call cost the Rhinos an uncontested punt return for a possible TD. As time ticked away,the Virginia Beach Rhinos could only hope that they would get another shot at the Pirates for a much bigger prize...Ed.
RHINOS 26 - FALCONS 2
TRYING DESPERATELY TO SALVAGE A DISAPPOINTING SEASON,the Carolina Falcons took the opening kickoff an forced the flat Virginia Beach Rhinos to play defense. Four plays later, the Falcons were at the Rhinos 3 yard line and an early panic set in. Were it not for the help of two critical Carolina penalties and a timely turnover, the Rhinos would have found themselves down for the first time in three meetings with the Falcons. Bring on the Va. Beach offense,and flat they came as well. Three and out,a bad punt formation snap that hit the upright for the safety, and just like that the Falcons were ahead 2-0. Following the free kick and Carolina's next possession,the Va. Beach defense awakened from it's stuper, forced a Qb turnover and defensive end Keith Enoch scooped up the fumble and raced 62yds to put the Rhinos up 6-2 heading into the break. Needing to put some distance between themselves and the Falcons,the Rhinos offense went to work when Qb Andre Conyers found his rhythm on consecutive passes finding a rejuvinated TE Steve Phillips(3-69) and capping off the drive with an 18yd strike to WR Tyree Sanderson to go up 14-2. Defense went to work,forced another turnover and from 4yds out RB Chris Hill found the endzone for the offense 20-2. Clearly confusing the Falcons offense with a mixed bag of coverages and defensive fronts,another forced turnover was the end result and the Rhinos offense put the exclaimation point on Carolina's winless season with a 30yd burst up the middle by RB Arvin Hendricks for the 26-2 regular season victory. Ed.
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