Mistake-prone Cowboys hold off Redskins

[TK]

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Mistake-prone Cowboys hold off Redskins

06:59 PM CST on Sunday, November 2, 2003

By MATT MOSLEY / Dallas Web Staff

IRVING – In a game in which precision took a backseat, the Cowboys were able to pull out a 21-14 victory over Washington Sunday at Texas Stadium.

Dallas (6-2) maintains a one-game lead in the NFC East over Philadelphia, which held on to win at Atlanta Sunday. Washington fell to 3-5.

The most amazing thing about Sunday's two-hour first half was that the Cowboys were able to take a 7-6 lead despite four turnovers and two penalties that negated touchdowns.

Washington's first touchdown was set up when a Quincy Carter pass went through Terry Glenn's hands, bounced off his knee and into the waiting hands of Washington strong safety Ifeanyi Ohalete. The Redskins scored two plays later on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Ramsey to Laveranues Coles. Cowboys offensive tackle Flozell Adams blocked the extra point attempt.

Cowboys cornerback Derek Ross returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, but it was wiped off the board because of a holding penalty on Keith O'Neil.

Running back Troy Hambrick rushed for 59 yards in the first half, but he fumbled twice. His two-yard dive over the left side with 7:14 left in the first half got the Cowboys on the board.

Hambrick, who shared carries with running back Adrian Murrell, came back strong in the second half. He capped off a 10-play, 48-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown with 6:49 left in the third quarter.

The Cowboys put the game away when Quincy Carter connected with Glenn on a 19-yard touchdown pass. The play helped Glenn make amends for dropping three passes in the first half.

Patrick Ramsey hit Taylor Jacobs on a 19-yard scoring play, then added a two-point conversion pass to Darnerien McCants, to help Washington close the deficit to 21-14 with 2:30 left.

E-mail mmosley@dallasnews.com