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By ALISON HISCHAK; Times Leader Sports Correspondent
Saturday, September 20, 1997     Page:

WILKES-BARRE- No one was more surprised than Isiah Walker when GAR’s
starting lineup was announced Friday night.
   
Walker started at defensive back for the Grenadiers, and put on a
performance that will not be soon forgotten.
    The sophomore intercepted three passes as GAR (2-2) defeated Pocono
Mountain, 27-14 at Wilkes-Barre Memorial Stadium.
   
“He got the chance to start last week when one of our guys got hurt,” said
Grenadier head coach Charlie Fick. “And he really pulled our butts out of the
fire tonight with the interceptions.”
   
Walker’s first interception came in the second quarter with Pocono holding
a 14-7 lead and driving deep into Grenadier territory. Walker picked Chris
Stiff’s pass near the GAR 10, preventing another Cardinal score.
   
“I lost it in the lights,” said Walker. “But I saw the line was rushing, so
I knew I had a chance. I just used my basketball skills to play defense.”
   
Walker’s last two interceptions were both in the fourth quarter and quickly
squelched any opportunity for a Pocono comeback.
   
In addition to Walker, Paul Jefferson, another sophomore, came up huge for
the Grenadiers. Jefferson carried the ball 15 times for 130 yards and a
touchdown, and was also a force on defense.
   
“He’s our linebacker, our fullback and our punter,” said Fick of Jefferson.
“He’s part of our machine and we’re happy to have him.”
   
Fick then placed a heavy expectation on the shoulders of Jefferson. “We’re
hoping for another Harold Jackson, but we’re not sure of that yet.”
   
The Grenadiers trailed 14-13 at halftime, but quickly turned the tables in
the second half.
   
On its first possession of the second half, GAR marched 62 yards with
tailback Dave Myers punching it in from 1 yard out to give the Grenadiers the
lead. Myers then caught the two-point conversion pass from Lance Wren to give
the Grenadiers the lead for good at 21-14.
   
The Grenadiers added another score later in the fourth quarter on Myers’
5-yard touchdown scamper. The two-point conversion failed and the Grenadiers
led 27-14 late in the game.
   
GAR takes its two-game winning streak into a game with Bishop Hoban next
Saturday.
   
Pocono Mountain 7 7 0 0- 14
   
GAR 7 6 8 6- 27
   
First Quarter
   
PM- Vican 57 run (Voelker kick)
   
GAR- Wren 3 run (Jarnot kick)
   
PM- Delk 85 kick return (Voelker kick)
   
Second Quarter
   
GAR- Jefferson 1 run (conversion run failed)
   
Third Quarter
   
GAR- Myers 1 run (Wren to Myers conversion)
   
Fourth Quarter
   
GAR- Myers 5 run (conversion run failed)
   
Pocono GAR
   
First Downs 11 13
   
Rushes-Yards 25-114 48-212
   
Passing yards 96 127
   
Passes 10-23-3 5-16-0
   
Sacks by 2-12 1-5
   
Punts-Avg 3-34.6 5-37.2
   
Fumbles-lost 7-5 6-3
   
Penalties-Yards 4-30 7-65
   
Individual Statistics
   
Rushing: Pocono- Vican, 8-70, TD; Stiff 12-27. GAR- Jefferson 15-130; Myers
26-77, 2 TD.
   
Passing: Pocono- Stiff 10-23-3, 96 yards. GAR- Wren 5-16-0, 127.
   
Receiving: Pocono- Lanier 5-58. GAR- Walker 2-35; Griffin 1-33.