Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 17, 1993 TAG: 9310170153
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The Keydets rallied from 12 points down, forced two overtimes and beat the Moccasins 35-29 Saturday in a Southern Conference game for their first victory of the season.
The high drama paralleled that of last year's game when VMI engineered the biggest comeback in school history to beat the Mocs 37-34 in one overtime.
"I wish we could play UTC more often," said senior halfback Rob Clark, who scored the winning touchdown on an 8-yard run, 3 hours and 30 minutes after the opening kickoff.
UTC had tied the score 22-22 with four minutes remaining in regulation on a 33-yard field goal by Rob Godoy.
In overtime in the Southern Conference, each team gets a chance to score from the opponent's 25-yard line. If the score remains tied, each tries again.
The Mocs won the coin toss and allowed the Keydets the first try at scoring in the first overtime. VMI needed just seven plays to send freshman members of the corps to the ground for obligatory push-ups. Quarterback Erik Reynolds, who finished with 84 yards rushing on 18 carries, ran in from 1 yard out for the touchdown.
On the third play of UTC's drive, fullback Jerry Ellison ran untouched into the end zone from the VMI 17, forcing the second overtime.
The Mocs (3-3 overall, 1-2 conference) got first crack at scoring this time and moved the ball 13 yards in five plays. VMI free safety Kevin Reardon slammed the door on UTC by intercepting a Kenyon Earl pass in the end zone.
"I just dropped back, read the quarterback's shoulders and eyes and he led me right to his receiver," Reardon said. "This [victory] lets us know that maybe it is all worthwhile."
The Keydets (1-5, 1-3) opened the game with a strong, 10-play, 48-yard drive. Chris Meacham, who finished with 90 yards rushing, capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run.
It was only the second touchdown in 11 quarters for the Keydets and the first time they had led in a game since the opener at Richmond.
"I thought the way we were going, we'd pull away," Meacham said. "I don't think we knew what to do. We haven't been in that situation at all this year."
UTC retaliated quickly, driving 85 yards in a span of 2 minutes, 30 seconds on its first possession. Earl scored his first rushing touchdown of the season, an 11-yard run to the right edge of the end zone to tie the score.
Sophomore tailback Tobe Taylor put the Mocs up 13-7 at the 6:41 mark in the second quarter by scampering in from 2 yards out. Taylor filled in for James Roberts, the team's leading rusher, who strained a hamstring in the second quarter and did not return. Taylor finished with 88 yards on 23 carries.
"That injury to [Roberts] hurt them a little bit," VMI coach Jim Shuck said, "but with the way we've been playing, they were probably in shock that we were still in the game."
Reynolds attributed the offensive jump start to an effective line and potent running backs.
"After the first series, after I saw what the line and the backs could do, I knew I had to get it up," Reynolds said. "I knew we could beat this team."
The Keydets almost beat themselves by fumbling twice in the fourth quarter, one of the fumbles leading to Godoy's tying field goal. VMI had 22 fumbles entering the game and added five Saturday.
"What I was hoping for was to eliminate those four or five turnovers," Shuck said. "That's still a big concern for us.
Shuck had much to be happy about offensively. His team gained a season-high 398 yards rushing. Their previous high was 178 yards against Army on Sept. 25.
Reynolds, who entered the game 7-of-29 passing for 96 yards, completed three of eight passes for 34 yards.
"I thought Erik made nice decisions and did a good job controlling the football game," Shuck said.
The defense, which got better as the game progressed, held UTC to 80 yards rushing in the second half.
Sophomore linebacker Drew Dunnington paced the Keydets' defense with eight tackles for a loss of 13 yards. Junior defensive end John Cross added seven tackles and two sacks.
"I was proud of all the kids and coaches," Shuck said. "They've been playing hard all year. . . . Obviously, any win is a big win for us, but this is a definite 10."
\ NOTES: It was Parents Weekend at VMI, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was in attendance with his son Jamal, a third-classman. . . . VMI set season superlatives in seven categories, including total offense (432 yards), first downs (27) and points scored. . . . This was the only the second time either team had gone to overtime since the Southern Conference instituted overtime three years ago. . . . Sophomore receiver Marlon Anderson extended his catching streak to seven games. He had two receptions for 27 yards.
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB