Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 18, 1993 TAG: 9304180162
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
TECH TAILBACK WHITE SHINES FOR WHITE TEAM
Virginia Tech tailback Ranall White is tired of being called a walk-on.White ran with something to prove in Tech's spring football game Saturday night and he landed the offensive player of the game award.
"My mother will like that," he said.
Playing on the White team in the intrasquad scrimmage, White rushed nine times for 55 yards and his team's only touchdown.
The Maroon team - composed of the first-string offense and second-string defense - edged the White 9-7. Tech's second offense and first defense - aligned in the new 4-3 formation - made up the White team.
White was not listed in Tech's 1990 recruiting list after he graduated from Lafayette High in Brooklyn, N.Y. He came to Blacksburg and earned a scholarship when one became available late in the summer.
"The newspapers say our other backs are highly recruited, and they just say I'm a walk-on," said White, who carried just twice last season. "But that's not accurate. I did sign a letter of intent at Virginia Tech.
"I have to show people I can run for a Division I team. It hurts to be called a walk-on. All spring I've tried to prove I belong and I hope I've opened somebody's eyes."
White carried six times for 30 yards in his team's 14-play, 80-yard scoring drive in the third quarter. His 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal tied the score at 7-7 with 1:22 left in the 10-minute quarter.
"Getting more carries was up to us," said White, who will be a redshirt junior in the fall. "We had to prolong a series. I was trying to get the guys pumped up to rally. They made my job easy."
Tech coach Frank Beamer cited the tailback position, White in particular, as one of the night's few offensive highlights.
"White looked faster tonight than he has," Beamer said. "He may be one of those guys that gets a little quicker when the lights come on. He had a good spring and an exceptional game."
The Maroon offense, led by quarterback Maurice Deshazo, struggled against the 4-3 defensive set. The Maroons punted eight times and fumbled once.
Drops and cool, breezy weather conspired against the passing game - Deshazo was 3-for-12 and three White team quarterbacks were 4-for-18 with two interceptions.
Deshazo had several long runs early and finished with 45 yards. Tailback Dwayne Thomas compiled 90 rushing yards on 12 carries.
Thomas raced 59 yards with an option pitch from Deshazo in the first quarter to set up Deshazo's 4-yard touchdown run with 4:06 left.
The Maroons added the game-winning safety six seconds into the fourth quarter. White tailback Tommy Edwards fumbled into his own end zone, quarterback Cody Whipple fell on the ball and defensive tackle Jeff Holland downed Whipple for two points.
Edwards, the former Radford High runner, finished with 57 yards on 11 carries, but injured his right thumb on the hit that forced the fumble.
Beamer was pleased with his new-look defense.
"There was one long play [Thomas' run], but for the most part, the defense played very well," Beamer said. "We were swarming toward the football.
"We had a scrimmage Wednesday and the offense was much better than the defense. It's good to see the defense come back.
"The thing I'm most disappointed with is that we didn't throw well. We have done well with that all spring, but we didn't do a good job tonight."
Maroon linebacker Andy Miller had 12 tackles and was voted the defensive player of the game.
\ NOTE: The spring practice awards were announced at halftime. Center Jim Petrovich and defensive tackle Jeff Holland were named the most improved players. Defensive tackle Chris Breheny and fullback Joe Swarm were given the Frank Moseley awards for hustle.