Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 20, 1993 TAG: 9309200076
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JIM DUCIBELLA LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: PHILADELPHIA LENGTH: Medium
They thought so watching quarterback Cary Conklin, making his first NFL start, grow in confidence as the game wore on and he weathered shot after shot to throw three touchdown passes against a still-biting Eagles pass rush.
They thought so when rookie Reggie Brooks scooted 85 yards to give them a seven-point lead - douse Philadelphia's momentum - with 8 minutes, 2 seconds to play.
They thought so when they held the Eagles to a field goal on the next series, leaving them only 4:57 to kill.
They thought so when they executed a fourth-down miracle, snapping the ball to up-blocker Brian Mitchell on a fake punt and he gained 6 yards and a crucial first down at midfield with 3 1/2 minutes to go.
And, finally, they thought they had it when they pinned the Eagles at their 17 with 1:54 to play, knowing quarterback Randall Cunningham had to march them the distance.
Not once were they right.
Cunningham drove the Eagles on a series only an Elway or Montana is supposed to engineer - 83 yards with no timeouts against an experienced defense that knew what was coming.
With 10 seconds left, Cunningham stood in the pocket, waited, waited, then rifled a bullet to Calvin Williams, behind rookie Tom Carter in the end zone, capping a wild, 34-31 victory.
Williams made his eighth catch and scored his third touchdown of the game - both career bests - with four seconds to play.
"I just saw the two safeties split and I just fell into that hole," Williams said. "I picked up Randall's eyes, and he saw me."
That play, and a couple that Redskins defensive backs didn't make, made the Eagles 3-0. After a bye, Washington (1-2) plays at Miami, then at home against the New York Giants (3-0).
"Randall did a heck of a job and Calvin Williams did a real number on us," Washington coach Richie Petitbon said. "A lot of what we did was to try to keep the ball out of his hands. We needed a play at the end, and we didn't get it."
Four plays after Mitchell's fake-punt run, punter Reggie Roby pinned the Eagles at their 17.
On the sideline, Philadelphia coach Rich Kotite took Cunningham aside and told him, "You're just like a surgeon; just go out and cut these guys up."
Cunningham hit Williams for 12 yards, then found Herschel Walker for 7. He went back to Williams for another 24, a play on which Washington safety Brad Edwards injured an ankle, forcing the Redskins to call time out and saving the Eagles precious seconds.
Cunningham swept around right end for 9 yards, then aimed a low pass at Williams. Darrell Green, who already had made two interceptions, got his hands on the ball but couldn't hold it.
"I should have had that one," Green said, "but the ball had so much speed on it, and I was trying to twist my body so I could get my hands underneath it."
Cunningham hit Fred Barnett for 2 yards, then spiked the ball to stop the clock. On second down, the Redskins blitzed, didn't get there, and Cunningham found Williams for 19 more.
After an incompletion to Williams that bounced off several hands in the end zone, Cunningham and his favorite target of the day teamed up one last time.
The loss spoiled a gutty performance by Conklin, starting in place of injured quarterback Mark Rypien. Under steady pressure the final three quarters, the fourth-year pro from Washington completed 17 of 36 passes, including touchdowns to Tim McGee, Ricky Sanders and, on a third-quarter fourth-and-goal play, to Ron Middleton. \
see microfilm for box score
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB