THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9611030190
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: 69 lines
William and Mary's Brian Shallcross did in overtime what he had failed to do in regulation - make a field goal. And even then, everyone in the stadium had to wait for the officials' ruling before the Tribe could celebrate.
Shallcross' 42-yard field-goal attempt cleared the crossbar, hit the back support and then trickled back over as the No. 15 Tribe defeated sixth-ranked Delaware 10-7 at Zable Stadium on Saturday before an announced crowd of 8,177.
Mike McGowan's interception on Delaware's subsequent possession sealed the victory, as William and Mary (7-2, 5-1) moved ahead of the Blue Hens (7-2, 5-2) in the Yankee Conference's Mid-Atlantic Division.
``I didn't see it,'' the 6-foot Shallcross said of his third field-goal attempt of the day. ``Everybody was standing up in front of me.''
But standing on the sideline with a clearer view, Tribe coach Jimmye Laycock's first reaction was that of others.
``I thought he missed it,'' Laycock said. ``I saw the ball bounce. . . . I thought the referees blew it.''
Playing in the school's first-ever overtime game, the Tribe still had to make a defensive stop following Shallcross' kick.
Starting from the William and Mary 25, Delaware quarterback Leo Hamlett ran on first down for no gain. On the next play, the Hens were hoping to catch the Tribe defense off guard.
``It was play-action,'' Hamlett said. ``I thought I could get everyone to bite, but obviously the middle linebacker didn't. . . .''
Not at all.
``All game long I was keying in on the fullback, but down in the red zone, we changed our coverage,'' McGowan said.
The pass, thrown in the middle of the field, hit McGowan right between the numbers as the Tribe recorded its fourth interception on the day.
The extra period was set up when Delaware's Sean Leach missed a 35-yard field-goal attempt with six seconds left in regulation.
``I second-guessed myself,'' Delaware coach Tubby Raymond said later of his decision to kick on third down. ``But I've been there before, fooling around trying to get another shot at the touchdown.''
From the Tribe's standpoint, Delaware should not have even been in position to win the game that late. Delaware committed six turnovers, none of which were turned into points by the Tribe. And in addition to the missed field-goal attempts of 20 and 25 yards by Shallcross, William and Mary also had a drive end with an interception in the end zone.
``We had a lot of opportunities to get points,'' Laycock said. ``I thought as the game went on, `How many shots are you going to get at the end zone?' ''
William and Mary scored on its first possession of the game on Mike Cook's 11-yard pass to Josh Whipple.
On eight other possessions prior to overtime, the Tribe failed to capitalize on Delaware's miscues despite Alvin Porch's 183 yards on 32 carries.
Porch, the conference's No. 2 rusher averaging 106.3 yards a game, surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the season.
Cook, the conference's top-rated passer, was 12 for 24 for 128 yards and two interceptions.
The second of Hamlett's four interceptions was by free safety Darren Sharper, who tied the school record for interceptions in a career (20) set by Mark Kelso in 1984. Yet it was a missed opportunity by Sharper in the fourth quarter that had a bigger impact on the game.
With 12:19 left in the game, from William and Mary's 32, Hamlett fired downfield to split end Eddie Conti. Sharper, running toward the receiver, had the ball go straight through his hands and into those of Conti, who took it in for Delaware's only score.
``I was in perfect position,'' Sharper said. ``I just didn't make the play.'' by CNB