COVINGTON – Scoring on the first play from scrimmage, Coach Larrie Tisdale’s Covington Buccaneers took and 8-0 first period lead, stretched it to 16-6 at halftime and then exploded with a 38-point second half to humble the Northwestern Warriors, 54-14, before last night’s huge Homecoming crowd at Smith Field.
With the game only six seconds old, end Herb Stevenson slipped behind the Northwestern secondary and took Brad Barker’s pass on a 70-yard touchdown jaunt. Ed Shilt swept the left side for points after and Covington took an 8-0 lead.
“Fumbilitis” then hit the Buccaneers, who turned the ball over five times in the first half, and once again in the third period, twice resulting in TD’s for the Warriors.
Northwestern got on the board early in the second quarter on a 48-yard pass play from McFarland to Funderburg, but a pass for conversion went astray and the score stood 8 to 6 Covington. Terry Swallow’s four-yard TD burst and subsequent conversion moved Covington out in front 16-6 as a hard fought first half ended.
Ed Shilt’s 43-yard off-tackle scamper opened scoring action in the second half with less than three minutes off the clock; Swallow added two more on a sweep and Covington went ahead 24-6. The Warriors, however, capitalized on the Buccaneer’s sixth and final fumble and with 3:52 remaining in the third stanza, McFarland hit Funderburg for a four-yard touchdown, and Steve Baugh converted to narrow the margin to 24-14.
But then Tisdale’s tigers took over, scoring 22 points in two minutes and 58 seconds, which put the game out of reach. At 1:19 in the third period, Shilt scored from seven yards out, Barker converted on a keeper play and it was 32-14.
With only three seconds elapsed in the final quarter, Ron Lamb tallied on a four yarder, a pass attempt for points after failed, but Covington had a 38-14 advantage; and 36 seconds later Brad Barker fired a 38-yard aerial to Herb Stevenson for another TD. Terry Swallow hit the line for two points and with 11:21 to go the Buccaneers enjoyed a 46-14 lead.
Covington’s final eight points was added by freshman scatback Denny Cain, who flashed nine yards for a touchdown and then wormed his way into the endzone with 0:27 remaining to give the Buccaneers a 54-14 MRVL victory.
FROM THE PRESSBOX:
Stymied at the line, Northwestern launched 32 aerials, completed 13, but had two stolen. The Buccaneers were 5 for 7 in the air. Covington rolled to 16 first downs, the Warriors 7. Northwestern was penalized 10 yards, Covington 30. The Warriors bobbled twice and lost the ball on both occasions, while Covington committed six miscues, giving the ball away each time, twice costing them TD’s, but the defense got the ball back on four occasions. Ron Lamb’s running was very impressive. The Buccs show tremendous team spirit and desire, are playing well together…and isn’t little Denny Cain exciting!
