THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 22, 1995 TAG: 9510220163
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PISCATAWAY, N.J. LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
The field was a quagmire. The offensive coordinator was at a hospital trying to pass a kidney stone. The quarterback wondered if he'd get to pass with the running backs coach calling the plays.
Turns out there was little need for concern on all accounts. Virginia Tech and moved into sole possession of second place in the Big East with a 45-17 victory over Rutgers in the bog at Rutgers Stadium, where there were more no-shows (21,019) than fans (19,292) because of the miserable conditions Saturday. The Hokies, winners of five in a row, averted the fourth-quarter collapses that have marked this series with a couple of defensive touchdowns in the final period.
Tech improved to 5-2, 3-1 in the Big East and trails only Syracuse (6-1, 3-0) in the league standings. The Hokies seem virtually assured of a third consecutive bowl bid.
The Hokies' day started poorly when offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle was taken to a local hospital . That left running backs coach Billy Hite in command of the offense.
``The play calling was not too conservative in the rain,'' quarterback Jim Druckenmiller said. ``I thought it might be with the running backs coach back there calling the plays.''
Druckenmiller threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-29 accuracy and did not have an interception for his second consecutive game. The Hokies also ran for 119 yards on 47 tries.
Rutgers, meanwhile, were stuck in the mud on the ground.
The Scarlet Knights (1-5, 0-3) came into the game leading the Big East in rushing offense (212 yards per game) and total offense (441). The Hokies, however, are fourth nationally against the run and held Rutgers to season lows of 78 yards rushing and 223 total yards.
``We just tried to swarm around the ball,'' said Tech defensive tackle J.C. Price, who had four tackles-for-loss. ``Of course, the conditions probably helped us out. Willis is a slasher, and he was not able to make the cut-backs he normally would on a dry field.''
Rutgers wasn't much better through the air - 13 of 38 for 145 yards and two interceptions.
The Hokies led 14-10 at the half, partly because of a big assist from the Scarlet Knights. Tech was driving but was out of timeouts when Druckenmiller downed the ball at Rutgers' 27 with 17 seconds left. But after the play, Rutgers' defensive tackle Rashod Swinger pushed Hokies center Billy Conaty to the ground, and when a flag was thrown defensive end Rudy Smith kicked the ball in disgust and apparently someone said something an official took umbrage to.
The Scarlet Knights were called for a personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct, 20 yards of penalties that gave the Hokies first-and-goal at the 7. On second down, Druckenmiller hit Bryan Still for a touchdown with six seconds left in the half.
``I think that was a key part of the game,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said. ``We had the momentum, we were the ones feeling good going into the half.''
Offensive coordinator Bustle got to feeling better and rejoined the team at halftime. And Tech's offense felt better after scoring 17 third-quarter points.
But then Ken Oxendine fumbled with 14:47 to play at Tech's 11 and Rutgers quickly turned it into a touchdown. Suddenly the Hokies had a 31-17 lead and a mountain of bad memories. Tech had been outscored 62-7 by Rutgers in the fourth quarter of their previous three games as the Scarlet Knights have fought back from big deficits.
``You start to figure `Here it goes again,' '' Hokies defensive end Hank Coleman said.
But Coleman changed the script. Tech linebacker Korey Irby sacked Rutgers quarterback Robert Higgins and the ball popped into the air. Coleman grabbed it and ran 51 yards for a touchdown and 38-17 Hokie lead with 5:41 to play.
Tech linebacker Myron Newsome put the final touches on the win a little more than a minute later with a 71-yard interception return. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Virginia Tech's Loren Johnson latches on to Rutgers' Reggie
Funderburk. The Hokies defense put two touchdowns on the board
Saturday.
by CNB