Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, October 17, 1993                   TAG: 9310170147
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

TECH FELLS OWLS WITH SHOTGUN

On Saturday against Temple, Tech introduced the shotgun formation.

"That brings a great, big smile to my face," said receiver Antonio Freeman, who had career highs of eight catches and 194 yards in a 55-7 Hokies victory.

Tech ran 16 plays out of the shotgun with four wide receivers and a tailback, a not-so-subtle imitation of what Florida State is doing with quarterback Charlie Ward.

"You've got the ability to take a simple play and turn it into a long one, like what happened with Steve Sanders," Tech coach Frank Beamer said, referring to a slant pattern that became a 52-yard touchdown. "I just think it fits us."

The Hokies' Maurice DeShazo, , was 11-of-15 from the shotgun for 179 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Three times he rolled out from the formation; once, he handed to Dwayne Thomas for a 9-yard gain on a draw play.

Beamer said Tech will keep a straight drop-back package, but he said the shotgun is here to stay, likening DeShazo's abilities to those of Ward.

"It gives a guy who's been a basketball player [in high school], a point guard, a chance to sit back there and direct the football team," Beamer said. "I like that. I think Maurice is ready to do that."

Beamer said the shotgun needs work - DeShazo threw his interception, Temple's first of the year, from the formation - but he believes it gives Tech's offense an extra dimension.

The Hokies have struggled offensively against better teams this year.

The roll-out, Beamer said, is something Florida State doesn't do with Ward, but something that puts pressure on a defense.

"What kind of pass rush do you want to put on us [inside or outside]?" he said. "I like the flexibility of sprinting out of it."

DeShazo doesn't mind it, either.

"It feels good," he said.

"I've got a long way to go to contend with the things [Ward] does," DeShazo said of the Heisman Trophy front-runner. "It's just my first day. I've got some time."

Keywords:
FOOTBALL