Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 5, 1993 TAG: 9309050254
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Long
Bowling Green's touchdown wounded Tech's pride but not its loss column, though, because the Hokies kept a promise to themselves by pounding the Falcons 33-16 before 37,737 spectators at Lane Stadium.
"We worked our butts off [in preseason practice]," said rover Stacy Henley. "There was no way this team was going to let somebody beat us."
Tech won for the first time since Sept. 19 last year over Temple and broke an eight-game non-winning streak, the school's longest such mark since an 11-game skid in 1949-50.
During fall two-a-day practices, players muttered about exhausting workouts.
"I don't think anybody wanted to go out there and say that hard work was for nothing," said senior receiver Steve Sanders, whose second-quarter catch and run through two defenders for a touchdown gave Tech its lead.
The Hokies put their hard work to use against their Mid-American Conference opponent, which had lost just three times in the past two years but entered Saturday's opener with a young defense and a new quarterback.
The Hokies outgained Bowling Green 485 yards to 282, holding the Falcons to 45 rushing yards - Tech's best mark since Louisville gained 27 in 1991. Maurice DeShazo completed 16 of 21 passes in the most efficient game of his career. Tech's offense had the ball for 38 minutes, 32 seconds - the longest since they kept it 38:39 against Kentucky in 1981.
Tech avoided the penalties on kick returns that had buried its offense last year. And, Tech allowed the Falcons only nine yards on punt returns and a 15.4-yard average on kickoff returns. The Falcons didn't start a drive outside their 22-yard line until Ryan Williams' kickoff bounced out of bounds with 8:14 left, giving Bowling Green the ball at its 35 with Tech ahead 33-10.
Perhaps most importantly, the Hokies brushed off a play that probably would have goosed the '92 team: On Tech's first offensive possession, DeShazo fumbled on the option and the ball bounced into Falcon Chache Leal's hands. He ran 57 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Bowling Green lead.
The Hokies, however, tied it on their next possession on DeShazo's 46-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Freeman, and Sanders scored with 3:20 left in the second quarter for a 14-7 lead. In between the Hokies' touchdowns, Bowling Green advanced the ball 26 yards on three possessions.
"The way we won?" Henley said. "Just fantastic."
Probably just as reassuring to a team that couldn't avoid losing last year, squandering five fourth-quarter leads. That personality, at least for one game, was exorcised.
DeShazo forced an end-zone pass that was intercepted late in the second quarter, and Bowling Green turned it into a 42-yard Brian Leaver field goal 25 seconds before halftime to make the score 14-10.
The Hokies opened the second half with an 11-play, 60-yard drive that finished with Dwayne Thomas' 4-yard touchdown run, during which he shed linebacker Vince Palko, one of only three returning starters on Bowling Green's defense.
"Things are not going to go right in a ballgame [sometimes]," DeShazo said. "You've just got to get over it.
"I was hungry. [I said] `We should go out and score.' "
Tech led 21-10, and the Falcons' next series ended at their 47 when DeWayne Knight sacked Ryan Henry for a 13-yard loss.
"People need to reap some rewards," Tech coach Frank Beamer said, referring to the players' off-season and preseason work. "In that third quarter today, we could see that."
Added Henley: "We knew we were in control [then]."
Tech's new 4-3 defensive set overcame a veteran Falcons offensive line and held tailback Zeb Jackson, who had 61 rushing yards two years ago against Tech, to 37 yards.
"Their athletes wouldn't stay blocked," Bowling Green coach Gary Blackney said. "The tailback offense never got a chance to get going.
"I was a little bit disappointed in our [pass] protection. Virginia Tech was more power-rushing us and collapsing the pocket than they were blitzing us."
Tech had only one sack, but Henry was harassed often and was hit at least twice as he threw. For a pass rush, absent much of last year, the secondary sends thanks.
"The defensive front was getting off the ball so good it didn't take much in the secondary to cover [receivers]," free safety Antonio Banks said.
Tech and Bowling Green each introduced a mostly new secondary, but the Falcons suffered most. George Johnson, a converted tailback playing his first year at cornerback, and sophomore safety Steve Rodriguez were victims of Freeman's and Sanders' touchdown plays.
Tech's running sweeps set up Freeman's touchdown.
"I knew the way they were pursuing, that play was going to be a touchdown when we ran it," said Freeman, whose touchdown made the score 7-7 with 4:44 left in the first quarter.
Sanders, on the other hand, caught a short pass and broke two tackles en route to a 23-yard touchdown play that gave Tech a 14-7 lead with 3:20 left in the first half.
Rodriguez had the last shot at Sanders.
"I didn't see [him] coming," Sanders said. "I'm surprised he didn't tackle me."
Perhaps, for the first time in almost a year, it was Tech's day.
"I was excited to see those big drives," center Jim Pyne said. "We're a young team. This is a great win. There's a lot to build on." \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB