Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 19, 1993 TAG: 9309190128
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
\ Smoke from the opening cannon blast had barely dissipated Saturday when the VMI offense became dilapidated.
The Keydets fumbled three times and were intercepted twice in the first half as East Tennessee State spoiled VMI's homecoming and Southern Conference opener 10-7 in front of 8,137 spectators at Alumni Memorial Field.
"Early in the football game we were absolutely atrocious," VMI coach Jim Shuck said. "Last week it was the third quarter; this week it was the first."
Shuck alternated between junior quarterbacks Spike Johnson and Eric Reynolds, but neither could ignite the Keydets' offense.
VMI (0-2 overall, 0-1 in the Southern Conference) controlled the ball only seven minutes in the first half, recording 80 yards of offense, 49 of which came on the closing three plays. Fullback Chris Meacham made runs of 13 and 12 yards, and Johnson, who started at quarterback, connected with halfback Rob Clark for 24 yards.
Clark finished with a team-high three catches for 39 yards, including VMI's touchdown in the fourth quarter. Marlon Anderson, the Southern Conference's freshman of the year last season, set up the touchdown with a 42-yard reception that landed the Keydets on the ETSU 4-yard line. Johnson then found Clark in the end zone with 1:41 left.
ETSU (3-0, 1-0) opened the scoring in the first quarter by converting an interception by Nakia Thomas into a 25-yard field goal by Pat Crust at the 4:41 mark.
The Buccaneers went up 10-0 a minute into the second quarter on a 7-yard run by freshman Larry Bell, who finished with a team-high 52 yards on 21 carries.
"I turned to the chaplain and said, `Thank God it's only 10-0.' The offense couldn't have played worse," Shuck said.
At that point, Shuck replaced Johnson with Reynolds, who played until the 3-minute mark of the fourth quarter.
"With Eric, we were getting a few more things done offensively," Shuck said. "Obviously, we're not a big pass team, and we got in trouble early passing [with Johnson].
"Later, we needed to get things going. I knew we wanted to throw, and Spike's who we needed out there."
Reynolds said, "Coach is just picking the better player to go to at the time, whatever clicks. I came in late to camp, and I'm sure that has something to do with it. But Spike's a great player; he should be starting."
Reynolds completed four of 10 passes for 59 yards. Johnson was 3-of-8 for 68 yards. Each threw one interception.
Shuck wouldn't comment on which quarterback would start next week when the NCAA Division I-AA Keydets travel to West Point, N.Y., to meet Division I-A Army.
VMI had several other opportunities to score in the fourth quarter, but Geoff Goff's 42-yard field-goal attempt at the 6:33 mark rocketed into the offensive line. His 24-yard attempt with 4:09 to play sailed wide left.
Meacham led the Keydets in rushing with 88 yards on 16 attempts. Clark gained 62 yards on nine carries.
VMI's defense was more effective, holding the Bucs to 129 yards rushing and 77 yards passing. ETSU entered the game averaging 206 yards on the ground and 250 in the air.
ETSU quarterback Gabe Berry was 11-for-15 with one interception. \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB