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

DATE: SATURDAY, November 20, 1993                   TAG: 9311200105
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FOR A CHANGE, THIS GAME HAS REAL MEANING

For the first time, the state's only Division I-A football teams will play with each having as many as seven victories. For the first time, Tech and UVa will meet as nationally ranked foes. Before this lunchtime feast on the fake Lawn at Mr. Jefferson's University, scalpers - er, brokers - will be making a big deal of this on the pavement outside Scott Stadium.

Those who aren't Hokies or 'Hoos rarely have gotten a kick out of this game. This time, the 75th time, it's different. It's not a big game because it's a rivalry. It's not a big game because it's the last of the regular season, or an imagined recruiting edge, or television presence.

It's a big game because it's between good teams this year. It's in Virginia, where these programs rarely have experienced common wealth. Perhaps we should be thankful it's in Virginia, period, since the schools' athletic directors agreed to move their late-season basketball game to Maryland this winter.

Yes, that really is March madness, but enough talk about those tackling dummies.

The Hokies and Cavaliers have played schedules of similar strength. They have combined for an average of 885 yards per game. Each averages more than 200 yards per game with the run and the pass. At the same time, each has been inconsistent enough at times to allow an element of the unexpected to heighten the anxiousness for today's kickoff.

The Cavaliers are favored by about a touchdown. Had this game been played four weeks ago, few objective observers who had viewed both teams wouldn't have figured they were just being fed a line.

However, the Cavaliers have sandwiched road losses around a home win in which they really did need a Wake-up call. Tech, coming off a tough loss at Boston College, ripped Syracuse in a fashion only Miami and West Virginia - now, there's even a bigger game today - had earlier this season.

The biggest difference between a year ago and now in coach Frank Beamer's rebuilt Tech program isn't the defensive changes or the renewed discipline or the depth at running back, but the maturation of quarterback Maurice DeShazo. Right now, considering his "forcing-it" play of the last three weeks, UVa sophomore quarterback Symmion Willis is right where DeShazo was last year. It just takes time.

Virginia's intermediate passing game has disappeared in recent games, partially because of the loss of key receivers Aaron Mundy and Patrick Jeffers. Against an aggressive Tech defense that plays much in the blitzing style used for years by the Washington Redskins, the Cavaliers must open up the field with air success against the Hokies' man coverage.

DeShazo has run the option superbly, and that attack has troubled UVa in the past, although the Cavaliers' huge win over North Carolina last month was rooted in their success holding the UNC option game 152 yards below its ground average. The Tech QB, however, is more mobile and a better deep passer than UNC's Jason Stanicek.

UVa's defense has been strong against opponents' air games, despite the lack of a consistent pass rush. Only Florida State and Carolina have better defenses in the ACC. It is turnovers - 13 in the last three games - that have plundered coach George Welsh's team.

The kicking game, at times, has left Welsh and Beamer kicking and screaming. Neither placekicker has made a field goal from 40 yards or longer. Four-down territory for both teams includes a lot of real estate.

Tech kicker Ryan Williams is only 4-for-9 on field goal tries, and in the past two weeks he's missed two FGs and two point-after boots, too. UVa's Kyle Kirkeide is more accurate, but has a weaker leg.

The punting is better. Tech punter Robbie Colley ranks last in the Big East, but then he has to kick six games in Lane Stadium, which would wind-chill anyone's average. UVa punter Will Brice, however, ranks 15th nationally with a 42.3-yard average.

Virginia may have more to play for today. The Hokies already have a bowl bid. The Cavaliers may need to win one. There is little question, however, which team has played with emotion more consistently, and Virginia's loss of veteran guard Mark Dixon's eligibility less than 24 hours before kickoff removes a big block.

It's the seventh straight time UVa has been favored in the series, and a month ago who could have argued? Since, however, the Cavaliers have fallen like the leaves, so the pick from this pressbox pundit is Tech, 33-27, and 'Hoos to argue with that.